Lady Gaga Biography

Lady Gaga, singer, songwriter

Birthdate: March 20, 1986

Birthplace: Yonkers, New York

Sign: Pisces

Lady GaGa, born Stefani Gabriella Germanotta, is a dance pop singer/songwriter best known for her hit song "Just Dance" with Akon. She grew up in the Upper East Side of Manhattan and attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, the same private school attended by Nicky and Paris Hilton. She began playing the piano at age 4 and was writing songs as early as age 13. At the age of 14, she began playing open mic nights at New York club Bitter End and at the age 17 was one of only 20 students worldwide to receive early admission to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

In 2006, she began working with music producer Rob Fusari, who had worked with artists such as Beyonce and Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child. The name, Lady GaGa, came out when he would call her GaGa as a nickname, from the song "Radio Ga-Ga" by Queen when Fusari would liken her to lead singer Freddie Mercury. She began performing all over New York City clubs and her theatrical pop act started to create buzz for the artist.

She was initially signed to Def Jam Records at the age of 19 but was dropped three months later. The singer then caught the eye of Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine and was hired as a songwriter. She started to pen for other artists, including the Pussycat Dolls, before pairing up with rapper Akon and he signed her to a joint deal with Kon Live.

Her first single, "Just Dance", featured Akon and R&B singer Colby O'Donis and shot up to #1 in Canada and Australia. Her album, The Fame, was just released in the United States. She is also writing for other artists such as Britney Spears and New Kids on the Block