Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986 in New York City. She is the first and eldest of the children in her family of Italian descent.
At age four she was already playing the piano and at age 13 she wrote her first piano ballad. Gaga attended Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private Catholic school up until the age of 17 when she got early admission to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.She later quit school to pursue her music career.
Her stage name was come up with by a friend of hers, Rob Fusari, by complete fluke. He intended to suggest she use the name Radio Gaga but his phone ended up doing auto check and somehow the first word was changed to Lady. Gaga immediately loved it.
She started off writing for other artists like Britney Spears, Fergie and The Pussycat Dolls. During that time, recording artist and now colleague Akon was able to see her vocal potential and signed her to his record label as well (although she was already with Interscope Records they managed a deal). Soon after, she released singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", which were immediate #1 hits on "Billboard Hot 100", and focused on getting her debut album finished and released. She named it "The Fame". The album was highly successful, and also won the Grammy Award for "Best Electronic/Dance Album". In 2009, she released her second studio album "The Fame Monster". The first single off the album, "Bad Romancetopped" charts worldwide.
Her music influences are extravagant rockers such as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie, as well as pop icons like Madonna and Michael Jackson. Her fashion style is very extravagant and consists of costumes in the real sense of the word, not wardrobe.
She is active in fighting for gay right and is considered to be a gay icon on the rise.
