Biography
Who is Desmond Child?
Real name and early life
Desmond Child was born John Charles Barrett on October 28, 1953, in Gainesville, United States. He is the biological son of Hungarian baron Joseph S. Marfy and Cuban songwriter Elena Casals. Until he was eighteen, Desmond believed his father was John Frederick Barrett, who was married to his mother at the time of his birth. His parents' background influenced his musical path and his later interest in his heritage. He eventually received dual American-Hungarian citizenship in 2016.
Early music career
In 1975, Desmond Child formed a pop rock group called Desmond Child and Rouge. He worked with singers Myriam Valle, Maria Vidal, and Diana Grasselli for this project. The band gained some attention for their appearance on The Warriors soundtrack in 1979 with the track Last of an Ancient Breed. They also had a song called Our Love is Insane, which reached number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Despite receiving favorable reviews for their two albums, the group disbanded in 1980.
Songwriting achievements
Desmond Child became a productive songwriter responsible for numerous chart-topping hits. His credits include famous songs like I Was Made for Lovin' You by Kiss and I Hate Myself for Loving You by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. He also wrote several major tracks for Bon Jovi, including You Give Love a Bad Name, Livin' on a Prayer, Bad Medicine, and Born to Be My Baby.
Awards and professional recognition
Throughout his career, Desmond has received significant industry recognition for his contributions to music. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2013, he helped co-found the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside composer Rudy Pérez. His work has also earned him a Latin Grammy Award, along with nominations for four Grammy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Personal life and family
Desmond Child resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with his husband, Curtis Shaw, and their twin sons. The couple documented their path to start a family through surrogacy in the film titled Two: The Story of Roman and Nyro. He also wrote an autobiography titled Livin' on a Prayer: Big Songs Big Life with David Ritz, which was published on September 19, 2023.
Birthday and age
Desmond Child was born on October 28, 1953, which makes Desmond 73 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Desmond shares the date with 63 other famous people.
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