Considered as one of the best selling solo recording artists in the United States, Barbra Streisand was born Barbara Joan Streisand on April 24, 1942 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York to a Jewish family, whose father passed away when Barbra was only 15 months old.
After her mother's second marriage, the turbulent relationship of Barbra with her stepfather made her feel special aversion for her neighborhood. During this time, her mother was always reminding her that she was not beautiful or attractive enough to get an opportunity in show business so she would better aspire at becoming a secretary and learn to type.
Barbra Streisand attended Erasmus Hall High School and although she graduated in 1959, she never attended college. However, during those years she met fellow student Neil Diamond at the school choir and together tried to make music a career.
After a music competition, Barbra became a nightclub singer, also struggling briefly as an actress during the early 1960’s when she shortened her name to the actual spelling as a way to make it distinctive.
She received small roles in Broadway productions while continuing to sing in bars and restaurants. In 1963, she was signed by Columbia Records, which released her debut album, "The Barbra Streisand Album" achieving immediate success and talent recognition.
Barbra Streisand won two Grammy Awards in 1963 and chained success after success with her first three albums listed simultaneously on Billboard's pop albums Top Ten. Overtime, non-stoppable Barbra has recorded over 60 albums and sold RIAA's certified sales surpass 71 million albums.
Barbra's dream to become an actress also came true and she debuted in 1968 filming the reprise of her early Broadway hit, Funny Girl. That year she won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actress shared with Katharine Hepburn for "The Lion in Winter" which was the first time in Oscar history that such a tie occurred.
In the film industry, Barbra Streisand's most recent role is appreciated in "Meet the Fockers Roz Focker" (2004). In music, Columbia records released the double album "Live in Concert 2006" early in 2007, peaking later at number 7 on Billboard 200 chart.
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