History of Bryan Adams in Timeline
Bryan Adams is a highly successful Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and photographer. He's one of the best-selling music artists globally, with estimated sales ranging from 75 to over 100 million records and singles. Adams dominated Canadian radio in the 2010s and has achieved widespread recognition with numerous top-15 singles in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the music industry.
November 5, 1959: Bryan Adams' Birth
On November 5, 1959, Bryan Guy Adams was born. He would later become a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and photographer who has sold millions of records worldwide.
1970: Purchased an imitation Strat guitar
In 1970, Bryan Adams bought an imitation Strat guitar in Reading, England. It felt real at the time.
1971: Purchased an imitation Les Paul guitar
In 1971, Bryan Adams bought an imitation Les Paul guitar at a Five and Dime store in Ottawa, Canada. He was heavily into Humble Pie's Rockin' the Fillmore album at the time, and both Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott were on Les Pauls.
1974: Moved to North Vancouver
In 1974, Bryan Adams, his mother, and his younger brother Bruce moved to North Vancouver while his father was posted abroad. During this time, he attended Argyle Secondary School and Sutherland Secondary School.
1977: Recorded Second album
In 1977, Bryan Adams band recorded their second album If Wishes Were Horses with Adams billed as "Bryan Guy Adams" on vocals.
1978: Met Jim Vallance and left the band
In 1978, Bryan Adams met Jim Vallance, marking the start of a prolific songwriting partnership. Also in 1978, Adams left the band at age 16.
1978: Signed to A&M Records
In 1978, Bryan Adams signed to A&M Records for one dollar, marking the beginning of his professional recording career.
1978: Keith Moon death
In 1978, The Roger Daltrey sixth solo album Under a Raging Moon was a tribute to The Who's drummer Keith Moon, who died in 1978.
March 1979: Disco Song Chart Entry
In March 1979, A&M remixed one of Bryan Adams' demos as a disco song "Let Me Take You Dancing". It made the Canadian RPM chart along with its B-side "Don't Turn Me Away".
November 1979: Recording Debut Album
In November 1979, Bryan Adams recorded most of his debut album, co-produced with Jim Vallance, at Manta Studios.
February 1980: Release of debut album
In February 1980, Bryan Adams's self-titled debut album, largely co-written with Jim Vallance, was released. Most of the album was recorded in October and November 1979 at Manta Studios and co-produced by Adams and Vallance.
1981: Release of You Want It You Got It album
In 1981, Bryan Adams released his second album, You Want It You Got It, which featured the album-oriented rock radio hit "Lonely Nights".
May 1982: You Want It You Got It Tour
In May 1982, Bryan Adams spent months traveling on his "You Want It You Got It Tour".
1982: Voted Canada's Best Male Singer
In 1982, The Music Express national popular opinion poll voted him Canada's best male singer.
January 1983: Release of Cuts Like a Knife album
In January 1983, Bryan Adams released Cuts Like a Knife, which became his breakout album. "Straight from the Heart" was the first single released from the album.
July 30, 1983: Performance at Day on the Green
On July 30, 1983, Bryan Adams performed at Day on the Green at Oakland Coliseum, marking a significant performance in his career.
September 1983: Bonnie Tyler released her version of 'Straight from the Heart'
In September 1983, Bonnie Tyler released her version of "Straight from the Heart" for the studio album Faster Than the Speed of Night.
1983: Release of Cuts Like a Knife
In 1983, Bryan Adams rose to fame in North America with the release of his top ten album Cuts Like a Knife. The album featured the title track "Cuts Like a Knife" and the hit ballad "Straight from the Heart", which became his first US top-ten hit.
1983: Juno Award for Best Male Vocalist
In 1983, Bryan Adams won the Juno Award for Best Male Vocalist, marking the first of several consecutive wins in this category.
1983: Famine in Ethiopia
In 1983, The mission of "Tears Are Not Enough" was to raise funds to help the 1983-85 famine in Ethiopia.
1983: "Lonely Nights" cover by Uriah Heep
In 1983, the song "Lonely Nights" from Bryan Adams' album You Want It You Got It, was reinterpreted by Uriah Heep for their album Head First.
December 1984: Started Reckless World Tour
In December 1984, Bryan Adams embarked on a two-year world tour to promote his album Reckless. The tour included dates with Tina Turner for her Private Dancer Tour.
1984: Release of Reckless Album
In 1984, Bryan Adams released his Canadian and US number one album, Reckless, which became the first album by a Canadian to be certified diamond in Canada. The album's six charting singles included "Run to You", "Summer of '69", and the number one hit "Heaven".
February 1985: Recorded "Tears Are Not Enough"
In February 1985, Bryan Adams recorded the charity single "Tears Are Not Enough" as a member of The Northern Lights, which aimed to raise funds for the 1983-85 famine in Ethiopia.
July 1985: Performed at Live Aid
In July 1985, Bryan Adams performed "Tears Are Not Enough" at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, in front of over 100,000 people.
September 1985: Co-wrote songs for Roger Daltrey
In September 1985, Bryan Adams co-wrote two tracks, "Let Me Down Easy" and "Rebel", for Roger Daltrey's sixth solo album Under a Raging Moon.
1985: Album of the Year Juno Award
In 1985, Bryan Adams won the Juno Award for Album of the Year for his album Reckless.
January 1986: Background Vocals on "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)"
In January 1986, Bryan Adams contributed ending background vocals to the song "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" by Canadian rock band Glass Tiger for their debut album The Thin Red Line.
1986: Debut Album Certified Gold
In 1986, Bryan Adams's self-titled debut album, released in February 1980, was certified gold in Canada.
1986: MTV Award for Best Stage Performance
In 1986, the song "It's Only Love" by Bryan Adams and Tina Turner won an MTV award for Best Stage Performance. In 1986 the song "It's Only Love" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
December 1987: Contribution to A Very Special Christmas
In December 1987, Bryan Adams contributed the song "Run Rudolph Run" to the compilation album A Very Special Christmas, a charity album to benefit the Special Olympics.
1987: Release of Into the Fire Album
In 1987, Bryan Adams released Into the Fire, a follow-up album to Reckless, dealing with more serious subjects. It contained hit songs like "Heat of the Night" and "Hearts on Fire".
1987: Juno Award for Best Male Vocalist
In 1987, Bryan Adams won the Juno Award for Best Male Vocalist, one of his consecutive wins from 1983 to 1987.
May 1988: Tommy Mandel joined Adams' Band
In May 1988, Tommy Mandel became the new keyboardist for Bryan Adams' band, adding a new dimension to their music.
1989: Became a Vegan
In 1989, at the age of 29, Bryan Adams became a vegan.
1989: Backing Vocals for "Smoke On The Water" Rerecording
In the summer of 1989, Bryan Adams joined artists to provide backing vocals on a re-recording of the Deep Purple hit "Smoke On The Water" in aid of victims of the 1988 Armenian earthquake.
April 20, 1990: Member of the Order of Canada
On April 20, 1990, Bryan Adams was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
1990: Relationship with Cecilie Thomsen
In 1990, Bryan Adams began a relationship with Danish model Cecilie Thomsen.
1991: Release of "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" and Waking Up the Neighbours album
In 1991, Bryan Adams released "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", which reached number one in at least 19 countries and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song was included on his album Waking Up the Neighbours, also released in 1991, which was a worldwide number one album.
1992: Grammy Award Win
In 1992, Bryan Adams won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television.
1993: Release of "Please Forgive Me" and "All for Love"
In 1993, Bryan Adams released the worldwide number one hit "Please Forgive Me" and the worldwide hit "All for Love", which contributed to his continued success as a ballad singer.
1995: Release of "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?"
In 1995, Bryan Adams released the worldwide hit "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?", which topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, further solidifying his success as a ballad singer.
May 6, 1998: Officer of the Order of Canada
On May 6, 1998, Bryan Adams was promoted to Officer of the Order of Canada.
2002: End of relationship with Cecilie Thomsen
In 2002, Bryan Adams ended his relationship with Danish model Cecilie Thomsen.
2002: Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
In 2002, Bryan Adams received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.
2005: Publication of 'American Women'
In 2005, Bryan Adams published "American Women" for Calvin Klein, with proceeds benefiting the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
2006: Lead Award for Fashion Photography
In 2006, Bryan Adams won a Lead Award in Germany for his fashion photography.
2007: Golden Globe Nomination
In 2007, Bryan Adams was nominated for his fifth Golden Globe for songwriting for the film Bobby.
May 1, 2010: Governor General's Awards in Performing Arts
On May 1, 2010, Bryan Adams received the Governor General's Awards in Performing Arts – Lifetime Artistic Achievement for his 30 years of contributions to the arts.
April 2011: Birth of first daughter
In April 2011, Bryan Adams and his partner Alicia Grimaldi had their first daughter.
June 2012: Lead Award for Fashion Photography
In June 2012, Bryan Adams won a Lead Award in Germany for his fashion photography.
October 2012: Release of 'Exposed'
In October 2012, Steidl released Bryan Adams' first retrospective book of photos, titled "Exposed".
2012: Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
In 2012, Bryan Adams received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
February 2013: Birth of second daughter
In February 2013, Bryan Adams and his partner Alicia Grimaldi had their second daughter.
2013: Release of 'Wounded – The Legacy of War'
In 2013, Bryan Adams released the photography book "Wounded – The Legacy of War" to highlight the human consequences of war.
September 16, 2015: Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society
On September 16, 2015, Bryan Adams received an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in London for his photographic work.
October 2015: Lead Award for Fashion Photography
In October 2015, Bryan Adams won a Lead Award in Germany for his fashion photography story in Helmut Berger.
2015: Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society
In 2015, Bryan Adams was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society.
2017: Continued Partnership with Jim Vallance
As of 2017, the songwriting partnership between Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, which began in 1978, is still in existence, although discontinuous, and continues to produce music.
2021: Shooting Pirelli Calendar
In the summer of 2021, Bryan Adams shot the 48th edition of the Pirelli Calendar in Los Angeles and Capri, photographing various celebrities.
July 20, 2023: Co-founded SongBox
On July 20, 2023, Bryan Adams was announced as the co-founder of SongBox, a Scottish-based music start-up.
2023: Nomination for Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2023, Bryan Adams was nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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