Background

Bolton was born Michael Bolotin in New Haven, Connecticut, on February 26, 1953, the son of Helen and George Bolotin. He has a brother, Orrin, and a sister, Sandra, both older. His family was Jewish. His maternal grandmother was born in England to Russian Jewish parents, and his other three grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants.

Career

Michael Bolton began his musical career as a solo artist, performing under his original last name: Bolotin. His first albums appeared in the mid-1970s, comprising a mix of cover songs and his own material, delivered in a gruffer voice than his later fans would grow to love. When success as a solo artist proved elusive, Bolton signed on as the lead singer of a heavy-metal band called Blackjack, which produced two albums before parting ways in the early 1980s. His next move was to change his last name to Bolton and embrace the solo career he had given up years before. With the launch of the new Michael Bolton, he hit the scene as a soft-rock balladeer.

Bolton's first solo record upon relaunch was the self-titled Michael Bolton. The album was released in April 1983 and made its way onto the Top 100 chart. With this moderate success came another bigger breakthrough: the Bolton-penned (he was a co-writer) "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," a ballad sung by Laura Branigan, became a Top 40 hit, and it proved that he could write a hit song as well as sing one.

With his second solo album falling short critically and with audiences, his real foray into the mainstream would come with The Hunger, which appeared in 1987. Gone was the hard-rock sound of old, and in its place was a soulfulness he hadn’t explored previously. A song that he wrote, "That's What Love Is All About," and a cover of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" became his first Top 40 hits, and it was off to the races from there, with Soul Provider (1989) transforming Bolton into a chart-topping superstar. The album sold 4 million copies and had five singles land in the Top 40 during the album's climb into the Top 10. The record featured Bolton's own version of "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," which hit No. 1 and won Bolton a Grammy Award (best male pop vocal performance).

His next album, Time, Love & Tenderness, came out in April 1991 and sold more than 8 million copies domestically and 16 million worldwide, hitting No. 1 and producing several hits, including "Love Is a Wonderful Thing," which later cost Bolton and his production team $5.4 million when the Isley Brothers sued him for plagiarism.

Subsequently, Bolton released an album of covers, an album of original songs, a greatest hits compilation and a Christmas album, all of which were smash hits.

With all of the success he had experienced, it was surprising to have him release a flop, which is just what happened 1997's All That Matters, which cracked the top 40 by the skin of its teeth. His next release was a collection of his favorite operatic pieces, an odd change in direction that proved enough to jolt his career back to life. After several more albums, which usually were received favorably by fans, Bolton switched gears once again, taking part in season 11 of TV's Dancing with the Stars. He also scored points with a new fan base by singing on the hip-hop parody "Jack Sparrow," which first appeared as on Saturday Night Live.

As of February 2015, Bolton was working on the recording of a new studio album. He has collaborated with Indian musician A. R. Rahman for a song which was recorded in February 2011 for Gems – The Duets Collection. In 2013 Bolton released the album Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville U.S.A., which featured duets with Kelly Rowland, Melanie Fiona, and Orianthi. In 2013 and 2014, Bolton appeared in Honda commercials in which he sings. In 2015 Bolton sang on John Oliver's Last Week Tonight episode concerning the IRS. In 2018, Bolton announced his intention to do a tour performance in Birmingham, the UK in November 2018, after two years since last time he visited the UK.

Bolton has made a number of cameo appearances in feature films and television, usually appearing as himself, such as in Meet Wally Sparks and The Nanny. Although he has been rumored to have appeared as an extra in Dune as a "spice-eyed" drummer, Bolton has stated in interviews that it is not him. In 2015, Bolton starred in a Pizza Hut commercial as himself singing Jingle Bells while the family opens up their pizza order.

Achievements

• Michael Bolton has enjoyed one of the most successful and extraordinary music careers. This legendary singer is well appreciated and known for his distinct and unique strained vocal elegance and his tenor and countertenor voice. His achievements include selling more than 75 million records, recording eight top 10 albums and two number-one singles on the Billboard charts, as well as winning six American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards.

Works

More photos

• music

  • Every Day of My Life 1976
  • Michael Bolton 1983
  • Everybody's Crazy 1985
  • The Hunger 1987
  • Soul Provider 1989
  • Time Love & Tenderness 1991
  • Timeless: The Classics 1992
  • One Thing 1993
  • This Is the Time: The Christmas Album 1996
  • All That Matters 1997
  • My Secret Passion 1998
  • Timeless 1999
  • Only a Woman Like You 2002
  • Vintage 2003
  • Til the End of Forever 2005
  • Bolton Swings Sinatra 2006
  • One World One Love 2009
  • Gems: The Duets Collection 2011
  • Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Tribute To Hitsville 2013
  • Songs of Cinema 2017

Religion

Bolton is Jewish, descending from two Russian-Jewish parents. His grandparents were devout and lived the kosher lifestyle, though it doesn’t seem as though his immediate family was as observant. Bolton describes himself as a “rebel Jew,” which I take to mean he is not particularly devout. But he certainly appreciates his heritage: "I feel some sort of ancient connection that seems to be innate in me."

Bolton has spoken of anti-Semitic sentiment he experienced growing up–that New Haven was not particularly kind to Jews. But his family was very adamant about being tolerant despite the treatment they received: "Speaking ill of another person because of their background or ethnicity just did not fly in my house. I’m grateful and proud that I was raised with those beliefs."

Politics

Bolton was surrounded by politics from an early age. Apparently, his father was some kind of figure in the local New Haven community and would often help local politicians with their campaigns.

After becoming the multi-platinum recording artist that he is now, he began gaining favor with America’s elite–including the Clintons – whom he calls personal friends. In fact, Bill Clinton (a saxophone player) once asked to join his band during a White House dinner.

So it’s no surprise that Bolton is a Democrat. His campaign contributions (small and few by celebrity standards) have all gone to either John Kerry or Bill Clinton. And needless to say, he is and has been an Obama supporter. During the 2008 campaign, he stumped for the president, saying: "I think Obama is what we need and what the world needs."

Bolton is particularly taken with vice-president Joe Biden. Bolton’s charitable foundation focuses on helping women and children who have been the victims of abuse and Joe Biden’s record of advancing women’s rights and protections hits home for Bolton: "Joe Biden has been my hero for years even though I love Hillary (Clinton) and have been very close to the Clintons for about 17 years. I would have wanted her to be the vice-presidential candidate but I think Obama made a wise choice in Biden."

Views

Michael Bolton is a philanthropist. In 1993, Bolton established "The Michael Bolton Foundation, later renamed The Michael Bolton Charities, to assist women and children at risk from the effects of poverty as well as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Bolton also serves as the honorary chairman of Prevent Child Abuse America, the national chairman for This Close for Cancer Research, and a board member for the National Mentoring Partnership and the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.

On July 25, 1993, Michael Bolton played against Michael Jordan in a televised charity softball game at the Chicago White Sox stadium, Comiskey Park. Michael Bolton's team, The Bolton Bombers, won the game 7-1 against Michael Jordan's team, Jordan's Air Force. The Bolton's Bombers were composed of Michael Bolton and his band while the Jordan's Air Force was composed of celebrities including Magic Johnson, Chris Chelios, Ahmad Rashād, Mark Harmon, MC Hammer, Tom Selleck, Stacey King, and Bo Jackson as coach.

In March 2003, Bolton joined with Lifetime Television, Verizon Wireless, and many others to lobby on behalf of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, urging legislation to provide more assistance for victims of domestic violence, such as affordable housing options.

Quotations: "You're presuming too much by using the word legacy - presuming that someone is going to care."

"You can't make everybody love what you do, but you can know how great you feel doing it."

"With the internet, things are so much more immediate. People taste-test things to see if they want to buy the CD."

"Whoever best serves the song is going to be served by the song."

"When you have great songs that are going to live longer than the composers, everything you can do to bring those different elements and nuances out, serve the song."

"When I started studying for the arias it was like going into training for a heavyweight title fight."

"There are certain people who have become better artists, but they're brilliant at marketing. I think someone who's been phenomenal like that is Madonna."

Membership

• 

  The Michael Bolton Charities

• 

  Prevent Child Abuse America

Personality

Michael Bolton is a born leader, with extra-ordinary drive and determination. Insisting on his right to make up his own mind, he demands freedom of thought and action, and does not let anything or anyone stand in his way once he is committed to his goal.

Always seeking the forefront and the limelight, Michael needs to feel in command of important undertakings, and resists supportive roles. He can become irritated and even domineering when important things do not go his way. Bolton can be impatient with his shortcomings and those of others.

In a Daily Mail interview, Bolton says he’s been a vegetarian for over 40 years and that he used to love meat, but wanted to eat better to remain healthy and to maintain his voice.

Physical Characteristics: Michael Bolton stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm). Over the years, the talented musician has maintained a trim physique with a body weight of 75 kg (165 lbs). In his heyday, Bolton was well-known for his shoulder-length hair which became one of his trademark features.

The singer admitted that he cannot whistle and hence it was required to dub for one of his whistling solos.

Interests

• Michael Bolton is an avid reader and likes to write.

• Sport & Clubs

  golf

• Music & Bands

  Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Beatles, Rolling Stones

Connections

Bolton was married to Maureen McGuire, but they divorced. They are the parents of three adult daughters: Isa, Holly, and Taryn.

Bolton was introduced to actress Nicollette Sheridan in 1992 by adult contemporary/jazz saxophonist Kenny G. Bolton and Sheridan dated until 1995, stopped dating, then reunited in 2005 and became engaged in March 2006; however, it was confirmed in August 2008 that they had broken off their engagement.

Father:

George Bolotin

Mother:

Helen Bolotin

Wife:

Maureen McGuire

Daughter:

Isa Bolton

Daughter:

Holly Bolton

Daughter:

Taryn Bolton

girlfriend:

Nicollette Sheridan

References

• Michael Bolton: Time, Love, and Tenderness
• Focus On: 90 Most Popular Jewish Rock Musicians
• Michael Bolton: The Passion, Secrets, Soul and Truths