Bryan Guy Adams was born on November 5, 1959, in Kingston, Ontario to Conrad and Elizabeth Adams.

His father was a military diplomat, and his mother a teacher and a librarian. The family moved extensively during his childhood, but after his parents separated, his mother returned to Ottawa with her two sons.

Bryan’s first gig came at sixteen when he joined Shock, an Ottawa band. In 1976 he joined Sweeney Todd, with whom he toured. He wrote three songs for their second album, If Wishes Were Horses, which was released in 1977, but left the band later that year.

In 1978, Bryan met Jim Vallance, formerly the drummer for Prism. Jim was tired of touring and wanted to try his hand as a songwriter. He was impressed with Bryan, and they started writing songs together. They sent out demos of Bryan singing their songs to various publishing companies, and in August, landed a deal with Irving-Almo Music. Bryan was also signed to a recording contract.

Bryan’s first single, "Let Me Take You Dancing," was released in February 1979. It was on the Billboard Dance chart for twenty-three weeks, selling 240,000 copies. Bryan Adams was released in Canada in February 1980, and although the self-named album wasn’t released in the U.S. until sometime later, his single, "Hiding From Love," hit the Billboard Dance chart. His second album, You Want It, You Got It, was released in 1981 in both Canada and the U.S., and he went on a U.S. tour opening for Foreigner and the Kinks.

Bryan continued to write with Jim Vallance, and at the same time, prepared to release his third album, Cuts Like a Knife. The single, "Straight From the Heart," was released in December 1982, and made the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100. When the album dropped in January 1983, it sold over a million copies.

Bryan toured non-stop in 1983, opening for Journey in the U.S. The same year, he recorded "Heaven" for the soundtrack of A Night in Heaven. In November 1984, he released his fourth album, Reckless, which spawned six hit singles including a duet with Tina Turner. The album sold over eight million copies worldwide, and Bryan earned two Grammy nominations. Bryan and Jim Vallance dissolved their partnership in 1989.

Bryan Adams’ biggest hit, "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," was written in 1991 as the theme song for Kevin Costner’s, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. This song was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, selling over eight million copies worldwide. He received six Grammy nominations, winning for best movie song. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award.

In 1995, Bryan wrote "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" for the soundtrack of the Johnny Depp film Don Juan DeMarco. Once again, the song was a hit and earned him Grammy and Oscar nominations.

More albums followed, including 18 'Til I Die in 1996, On a Day Like Today in 1998, and Room Service in 2004, and he shows no signs of slowing down. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Barbra Streisand, Lonestar, Celine Dion, Brandy, Loverboy, Roger Daltrey, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, Carly Simon, Tina Turner, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jack Jones, Luciano Pavarotti, John Williams, and Trisha Yearwood.

Bryan Adams has been honored for his philanthropic work, and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is also an award-winning photographer, and a photo that he took of Queen Elizabeth II was used on two Canadian stamps honoring her Golden Jubilee.

YUDDY