#TBT: Lady Gaga Is Born

For this Throwback Thursday, I'd like to look at the stratospheric rise of Stefani Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga, who turns 30 on Monday, March 28.

In less than a decade since her first album, The Fame, Lady Gaga has made an indelible mark on pop music, even drawing comparisons to Madonna. There has been much written about Lady Gaga, a chameleon artist and fashion icon.

If you are intrigued by Lady Gaga's style, you should check out Johnny Morgan's Gaga, which is full of gorgeous photographs of the artist.

Wondering about the scene from which Lady Gaga emerged? Pick up Rivington Was Ours, written by Gaga's former boyfriend and deejay Brendan J. Sullivan, about club life on the Lower East Side of Manhattan before Lady Gaga shot to fame. Booklist notes, "Fans of Gaga and the downtown New York music scene will find this fascinating."

For those interested in how Lady Gaga has branded herself and reached icon status, look no further than Monster Loyalty.

Lady Gaga cites Madonna, Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Queen as influences and even performed a tribute to Bowie at the Grammys recently. I look forward to seeing what Gaga has in store for fans next.