Born Barbara Joan Streisand in Brooklyn, New York, on April 24, 1942, her father, Emmanuel Streisand, died when she was only 15 months old. Her relationship with her step-father, Louis Kind, was turbulent at best, and he put her down often when she was a child, saying things to her like, “you are too ugly to eat ice cream.” Her well-intentioned mother discouraged her daughter’s dream of becoming a star because she felt she was not attractive enough. Barbara grew up with a deep sense of insecurity about her appearance, which has not left her, despite her enormous talent and tremendous success. She graduated Erasmus Hall High School fourth in her class in 1959. She never attended college, becoming a nightclub singer while still in her teens.
She appeared in a few Off Off Broadway productions, including one with Joan Rivers, but drifted towards the gay Greenwich Village club scene in the early 1960s where she became very successful. At this time, she shortened her name to Barbra. In 1962, she signed her first recording contract with Columbia records and her first album, “The Barbra Streisand Album”, won two Grammys in 1963. Her first three albums appeared simultaneously on Billboard’s pop albums Top Ten, and starting in 1962, she also appeared on Broadway in a small but important role in “I Can Get It For Your Wholesale.” Her success in this film landed her the role that would make her star as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” (1964).
Almost all of her 60 albums have been recorded with Columbia Records. She had a very big hit with Laura Nyro’s “Stoney End” in 1971, and the early 1970s were good years for her, with number one hits like, “The Way We Were”, “Evergreen”, “No More Tears” and “Woman In Love.” She was named the most successful female singer in the United States with only Elvis Presley and The Beatles having sold more albums. Barbra has had a prominent career in films as well, and has produced some of her own, most notably “Yentl” (1983). Over the years, she has received many awards and her star is still rising and may never stop shining.
She is currently married to actor James Brolin and has one son, Jason, by former husband, actor Elliot Gould.
What are some of YOUR favorite Streisand songs and performances?
See also “Babs And Her Men” at: ” http://blogs.families.com/admin/b2browse.php?blog=30&p=3730