Raised in Canada, Portugal, Israel and Austria

After parents' divorce, moved with mother and brother to Vancouver

Dropped out of school at age 16 to form first band, Shock

Joined band Sweeney Todd; began writing songs with Jim Vallance

Signed to a recording contract by A&M Records, Canada; had minor hit with "Let Me Take You Dancing" (1979)

Released first solo album, the self-titled "Bryan Adams"

Made first tour of USA

Had first US Top Ten hit song, "Straight From the Heart"

Made appearance on "American Bandstand"

Third album, "Cuts Like a Knife", went platinum

First song to be featured in a film, "Heaven" used in "A Night in Heaven"; song not originally written for the film

Contributed first original songs for a feature soundtrack to the film "Teachers"

Had first Number One single, "Heaven"

First Number One album, "Reckless"

Feature film debut, small role in "Pink Cadillac"; also contributed song to the soundtrack

Earned first Oscar nomination for "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"

With Rod Stewart and Sting, recorded "All for Love", the theme for the remake of "The Three Musketeers"

Got second Oscar nomination for "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" from the film "Don Juan DeMarco"

Collaborated with Barbra Streisand, Marvin Hamlisch and Robert 'Mutt' Lange on "I Finally Found Someone", the love theme for Streisand's "The Mirror Has Two Faces"

Released collection of greatest hits "The Best of Me"

Wrote and recorded songs for the soundtrack of the animated film "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron"

Released "Anthology," a two disc retrospective collection of hits

Published his first book of photos in the US with Calvin Klein titled American Women; proceeds from the book went to breast cancer research

Earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for Never Gonna Break My Faith, which was featured in the film "Bobby"