Michael Bolton, born Michael Bolotin on February 26, 1953, is a renowned American singer and songwriter. His musical journey spans several genres, starting in the hard rock and heavy metal realms from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, both as a solo artist and as the frontman of the band Blackjack.
However, he gained widespread recognition for his collection of emotive pop-rock ballads, which he began recording following a stylistic shift in the late 1980s.
Throughout his illustrious career, Bolton has left an indelible mark on the music industry. He boasts an impressive track record of over 75 million records sold, comprising eight top-10 albums and two number-one singles on the Billboard charts. His musical prowess has not gone unnoticed, as he’s clinched six American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards.
Moreover, his collaborations with fellow artists read like a who’s who of the music world, including luminaries like Lucia Aliberti, Patti LaBelle, José Carreras, Tony Cetinski, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Wynonna Judd, B.B. King, The Lonely Island, Luciano Pavarotti, Percy Sledge, and Zucchero.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Michael Bolton’s early life was marked by a musically inclined family. His father, George Bolotin, held a position as a local official within the Democratic Party, while his mother, Helen, was a homemaker. Within his immediate family, he has a brother, Orrin, and a sister, Sandra. Michael’s musical talents were evident from a young age; he began playing the saxophone at the tender age of 7 and started writing songs by the age of 9. His journey into the music industry commenced at 14 when he formed a group known as the Nomads.
Their talents were recognized by Epic Records, which signed them to a singles contract when Michael was just 16. With the blessing of his parents, he made the bold decision to drop out of high school at the age of 15 and embark on a cross-country journey along U.S. Route 66, fully committing himself to a career in music. During this period, he took on various odd jobs, including a role as Paula Abdul’s babysitter.
In the realm of music, Bolton’s early career began in 1975 with recording sessions at The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His debut album bore his original family name, Bolotin, and was self-titled. In the early stages of his musical journey, his focus was primarily on hard rock, with his band, Blackjack, even opening for the iconic heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne during one of his tours. At some point, there was a rumor circulating that in 1983, Bolton had auditioned for the lead vocalist role in Osbourne’s former band, Black Sabbath.
However, Bolton later clarified that this rumor was entirely unfounded, saying, “That rumor about me auditioning for Black Sabbath was only a rumor, I don’t know how on earth it started.” In a testament to his enduring impact on music, in 2015, Bolton’s 1980 song “Maybe It’s the Power of Love,” recorded with Blackjack, was sampled by rapper Kanye West in his track “Never Let Me Down.”
