Christopher Ciccone

Christopher Ciccone (born November 22, 1960) is an American artist, interior decorator, and designer in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. He is the younger brother of singer Madonna. Ciccone began his professional career as a dancer with La Groupe de La Place Royal. He was a dancer for his sister Madonna early in her career. He eventually became the art director for Madonna's Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990 and he was the tour director for her tour, The Girlie Show, in 1993. Ciccone has also directed music videos for Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett among others. In 2008, he released The New York Times Best Seller book, Life with My Sister Madonna. In 2012, he launched a footwear line, Ciccone Collection. Life and career Ciccone was born on November 22, 1960, in Bay City, Michigan, to Catholic parents Madonna Louise Ciccone (née Fortin) and Silvio "Tony" Ciccone. His father's parents were Italian emigrants from Pacentro while his mother was of French-Canadian descent. His siblings are Anthony (1956–2023), Martin (b. 1957), Madonna (b. 1958), Paula (b. 1959) and Melanie (b. 1962). In 1963, Ciccone's mother died from breast cancer at age thirty. Their father remarried in 1966 to the family's housekeeper, Joan Gustafson, and had two more children: Jennifer (b. 1968) and Mario (b. 1969). After graduating from high school, Ciccone attended Western Michigan University and then transferred to Oakland University where he took dance classes. In 1980, he began his career as a dancer with Le Groupe de La Place Royale in Ottawa. In 1982, he moved to New York to support his sister Madonna's career as her backup dancer. Ciccone appeared in the music video for her single "Lucky Star" in 1984 and performed on her early television performances. Around this time, he worked at the Italian boutique, Fiorucci. Ciccone always had an interest in art and in 1984, he was hired as a receptionist at the Diane Brown Gallery in SoHo, Manhattan. As Madonna's fame grew and she embarked on arena tours, Ciccone was her "dresser". He created the artwork for the 12" version of her single "Like a Prayer" in 1989. Ciccone was the art director for Madonna's Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990. He also was the tour director for her The Girlie Show tour in 1993. Ciccone stated that Madonna demeaned and underpaid him throughout their working relationship.