Michael Bolton was born in New Haven, Connecticut. His father was George Bolotin and Helen Bolotin.

George Bolotin was a local official in the Democratic Party, and his mother, Helen, was a homemaker.

By the age of 7, Bolton was able to play the saxophone. He began writing songs at the age of 9. At age 14, he formed a group, the Nomads, that was signed to a singles contract by Epic Records when Bolton was 16.

With his parent’s permission, he dropped out of high school and left home at the age of 15 to travel cross country along U.S Route 66 and pursue music full-time. He took odd jobs, including as Paula Abdul’s babysitter.

Bolton has sold more than 75 million records and recorded eight top-10 albums and two number-one singles on the Billboard charts, as well as winning six American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards.