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Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21, 1985, in Manhattan, New York, Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter known for her unique musical style and aesthetic. Before settling on the stage name Lana Del Rey, inspired by her Cuban friends, she performed under several names, including Lizzy Grant, Lana Rey Del Mar, Sparkle Jump Rope Queen, and May Jailer.
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Lana Del Rey is from Manhattan, New York, US
Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and music video director. She was born on June 21, 1985, in Manhattan, New York, US. Del Rey, whose real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is known for her unique musical style that blends morose themes with classic Americana and a nostalgic, cinematic aesthetic.
Before adopting the stage name Lana Del Rey, she performed under names such as Lizzy Grant, Lana Rey Del Mar, Sparkle Jump Rope Queen, and May Jailer. Her musical journey began during her time at Fordham University in the Bronx, where she studied philosophy and specialized in metaphysics. During her gap year, she started performing in clubs and writing songs under the name Lizzy Grant.
In 2008, Del Rey graduated from college and released her first extended-play (EP) album, "Kill Kill," under the name Lizzy Grant. This early work failed to chart, but it caught the attention of producer David Kahne, who collaborated with her on her next project. In 2010, she released her self-titled debut album, "Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant," which was her first under the moniker Lana Del Rey. However, the digital release was only available for a short period.
Del Rey's breakthrough came in 2011 with the viral success of her debut single, "Video Games." She signed with Interscope and Polydor that same year, setting her on the path to becoming the iconic artist she is today.
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She studied at Fordham University in the Bronx
Born in Manhattan, New York City, on June 21, 1985, Lana Del Rey—born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant—grew up in Lake Placid, New York. At the age of 14, she was sent to Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut, to deal with her alcoholism. She was offered a chance to go to university but chose to skip a year and move in with her aunt and uncle, where she worked as a waitress.
When she was 19, Lana Del Rey moved to the Bronx to study metaphysics at Fordham University. After moving to New York City, she started performing in local bars as a singer-guitarist. She made many demos before signing to a record label, including a demo album called Sirens in 2006. She released her first single as Lana Del Rey, "Video Games", in August 2011. It reached number one in the singles charts in six countries.
Lana Del Rey graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 2008. After graduating, she released a three-track EP, Kill Kill, under the name Lizzy Grant, featuring production by David Kahne. She explained:
> David asked to work with me only a day after he got my demo. He is known as a producer with a lot of integrity and who had an interest in making music that wasn't just pop.
Lana Del Rey has cited a wide array of musical artists as influences, including Britney Spears, Thomas Newman, Eminem, Elvis Presley, Antony and the Johnsons, and Kurt Cobain.
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She was born on 21 June 1985
Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, came into the world on 21 June 1985 in Manhattan, New York City. Her parents, Robert England Grant Jr. and Patricia Ann "Pat" Grant, worked in advertising at the time. However, they soon left their city lives behind and moved to Lake Placid, a small town in the Adirondack Mountains, when Del Rey was still an infant.
Del Rey was raised in upstate New York and moved to New York City in 2005 to pursue her music career. Before achieving fame as Lana Del Rey, she performed under her real name, Lizzy Grant, and other pseudonyms such as Lana Rey Del Mar, Sparkle Jump Rope Queen, and May Jailer. Lizzy Grant's music was described as "Hawaiian glam metal," while her May Jailer project was acoustic.
In 2011, Del Rey uploaded self-made music videos for her songs \"Video Games\" and \"Blue Jeans\" to YouTube. "Video Games" became a viral sensation, showcasing her distinctive production technique of splicing webcam footage with vintage film clips. The song's success led to her signing with Interscope Records and Polydor later that year.
Del Rey's debut major-label album, "Born to Die," was released in 2012 and topped the UK Albums Chart. It featured a moody, hip-hop-influenced sound and included the sleeper hit "Summertime Sadness." The album's success cemented her place in the music industry and marked the beginning of her career as Lana Del Rey.
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Her birth name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Lana Del Rey's birth name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. She was born on June 21, 1985, in Manhattan, New York City, and grew up in Lake Placid, New York. Her parents worked in advertising but left city life behind when she was a baby. Grant was raised Catholic and sang in her church choir as a child. She was sent to Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut, at age 14 to deal with her alcoholism. She later moved to the Bronx to study metaphysics at Fordham University.
Grant began performing in local bars as a singer-guitarist after moving to New York City. She made several demos before signing with a record label, including a demo album called Sirens in 2006. In 2008, she released a three-track EP, Kill Kill, under the name Lizzy Grant, which was produced by David Kahne. By 2010, she had rebranded herself as Lana Del Rey and released her self-titled debut studio album. The album did not chart, and she later bought back the rights to it to avoid confusion with her new moniker.
Del Rey's stage name is a combination of the late Hollywood actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey car. She has said that she wanted a name she could shape her music towards. She also explained that the name reminded her and her friends of "the glamour of the seaside." Del Rey has released nine albums and four EPs since 2008, with her breakthrough song being "Video Games" in 2011.
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She is a singer, songwriter, poet, model and music video director
Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21, 1985, in Manhattan, New York, US, Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter. She is also a poet, model, and music video director. Del Rey's music is noted for its melancholy exploration of glamor and romance, with frequent references to pop culture and 1950s–1970s Americana. She has been praised for her expansive contralto vocal range, which spans three-plus octaves and has been described as captivating and highly emotive.
Del Rey has released nine albums to date, including one under her real name, Lizzy Grant, and one EP. Her first album, released in 2010, was titled 'Lana Del Ray A.K.A Lizzy Grant'. The album was initially released on iTunes, but it was unlisted at the singer's request after a few months. In 2012, Del Rey released her first major-label album, 'Born to Die', which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 7 million copies worldwide. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the album was a commercial success and included popular songs such as "Summertime Sadness".
Del Rey has been the recipient of various accolades, including multiple MTV Europe Music Awards, Brit Awards, and a Satellite Award. She has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 2023, Rolling Stone placed Del Rey on their list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time," while Rolling Stone UK named her the "Greatest American Songwriter of the 21st Century".
In addition to her musical pursuits, Del Rey has also ventured into modelling, poetry, and photography. She has modelled for fashion retailer H&M and released a spoken word poetry collection titled 'Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass' in 2020. Del Rey has also contributed photography to the book 'Flip-Side: Real and Imaginary Conversations with Lana Del Rey' by James Franco and David Shields.
Del Rey has had a significant impact on the music industry, with her unique artistic vision and emotional connection with her listeners. Despite facing criticism and questions about her authenticity early in her career, she has grown to become a successful and influential artist with a dedicated fan base.
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Frequently asked questions
Lana Del Rey is from Manhattan, New York, USA. She was born on June 21, 1985, and raised in Upstate New York.
Her real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. She adopted the professional moniker of Lana Del Rey, inspired by her Spanish-speaking Cuban friends.
Lana Del Rey is a singer-songwriter, poet, model, and music video director. She is known for her melancholic and nostalgic sound, with references to classic Americana and Hollywood's golden era. Her notable albums include "Born to Die" and "Ultraviolence".
