Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23; 1949) is an American songwriter; singer and gtrist. He has recorded and toured with the E Street Band. Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland rock infused with pop hooks; poetic lyrics; and Americana sentiments centered around his native New Jersey.His eloquence in expressing ordinary; everyday problems has earned him numerous awards; including eighteen Grammy Awards and an Academy Award; along with a notoriously dedicated and devoted global fan base. His most famous albums; Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A.; epitomize his penchant for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily life. He has sold over 65 million albums in the U.S. "The River" is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, accompanied by the E Street Band. It was the title track of his fifth album, The River, and was a hit single in some European countries. "The River"'s writing occurred after an earlier, one-record version of the album, tentatively called The Ties That Bind, had already been completed; following this new song, Springsteen penned others with a darker feel, delayed the album's release, and.