The son of an army officer, Australian rocker Rick Springfield (real name Richard Lewis Springthorpe) first picked up the guitar at the age of 13.

His interest in music began whilst living in England in the early 1960s and, upon returning to Australia, he began playing in bands.

Joining the band Zoot, he gave them several self-written hits, as well as a hit cover of 'Eleanor Rigby'.

Going solo, he released a single 'Speak To The Sky', which reached number 1 in the Australian chart and, in 1972, his first solo album, 'Beginnings', was released.

That year, Springfield moved to the US, touted as a new teen sensation, and 'Speak To The Sky' made the US Top 20.

After two years off, he released 'Comic Book Heroes', soon followed by the cartoon tie-in, 'Mission Magic'. In 1976, 'Wait for Night' and 'Take a Hand' were promising, but Universal dropped him.

Beginning a new career as a TV actor, Springfield appeared in 'The Rockford Files' and 'Wonder Woman', before landing the lead, as Dr. Noah Drake, in 'General Hospital'.

With this new fame, his 1980 album, 'Working Class Dog', became a smash hit in 1980. It spawned the number one hit 'Jessie’s Girl', for which he won a Grammy Award. The follow-ups, 'I've Done Everything For You' and 'Don't Talk To Strangers' were also top 10 hits.

His 1982 album, 'Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet', continued his success, as did the hit single ‘Love Somebody’ from his film 'Hard to Hold', in which Springfield played a rock singer. He married in 1984.

His track ‘Bruce’, about being mistaken for Bruce Springsteen, was re-released the same year. However, he was injured in a serious ATV accident, and his world tour was cancelled.

In 1999, Springfield returned with the album 'Karma', his first album of new music in over 10 years.

He is currently starring in the Vegas show 'EFX Alive', replacing Tommy Tune in the lead role. 

Credit: thebiographychannel.co.uk