by Katherine Johnson

Created on: July 23, 2010   Last Updated: October 12, 2011

Super star Lady Gaga started out as an everyday average young girl on the East Side of New York; her name was originally Stephani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. She was born to an Italian entrepreneur Joseph Germanotta and his wife, who raised their daughter to be a good Catholic girl. Young Joanne's family was a poor one, but they loved each other. Lady Gaga started becoming interested in music very early on, at age 4 she was learning to play the piano and became a performer by the time she was 14 years old.

At age 17, Lady Gaga got accepted to Tisch School of Arts in New York University on an early admission. She dropped out of school in her sophomore year. After having a falling out with her father over school, she moved out on her own.

She got her start in the music industry at Def Jam Records, but was dropped shortly thereafter. However she soon met songwriter, producer Red One and produced songs such as “Boys, Boys, Boys” and a few songs with Grandmaster Melle Mel. Her and a few friends also started the band the “Stefani Germotta Band. She eventually took the name Lady Gaga after prompting from Rob Fusari.

After lady Gaga teamed up with Lady Starlight, they started playing in many of the night club venues. They were billed as a burlesque rock show. She started out with a sound that was mostly electronic dance, but she decided that glam rock was more her style.

Soon she signed with Streamline Records, she also wrote for people such as Britney Spears and Pussycat Dolls. Soon she signed with another label called Kon Live Distribution. In collaboration with her friend Red One, she created the songs “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”.

Now Lady Gaga is an international pop star and is known by millions of people all over the world. She has gone from a lower income family to a mega star seemingly overnight. Many people all over the world have seen her on television, listened to her on the radio and she is a favorite of many people.

While many find her a little to “in your face” others find that eccentric behavior a little weird. At this time, Lady Gaga is at the top of her game, but no one knows what the future will bring.  Lady Gaga seems like she is here to stay, so the future seems particularly bright for this pop rock star.

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