The Glamorous Childhood You Didn't Know Adam Levine Had
Everyone loves a struggling musician story, especially one that ends with triumphing over adversity to achieve fame and fortune. But let's get real: not all of the artists on your iTunes or Spotify playlists had to struggle growing up or eat ramen every day while waiting on their big break. Some lucky celebs just happen to be a little more blessed then others, and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine is one example. Levine was never exactly a starving artist—in fact, he had a more glamorous childhood then even his biggest fans might suspect.
Fashion is in his blood
Levine currently has his own menswear line at Kmart—and the fashion bug was definitely passed down from his father's side of the family. His dad is none other than Fred Levine, who, along with his sister, founded the retail chain M. Fredric. The family-founded company has been in business for 35 years and operates a series of boutiques throughout Southern California, including locations in Beverly Hills, Calabasas, and Malibu. With an entrepreneur for a father, it's no wonder Levine has his hands in so many projects.
No public school for this kid
As a boy, Levine attended the Brentwood School, a private institution in California. People reports that while there, the 37-year-old met his soon-to-be bandmates Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, and Ryan Dusick. According to Newsday, he also attended classes with other celebrities, like friend Jason Segel. Getting into this school is no small feat. According to the school's website, a year's tuition will cost parents over $30,000—and that doesn't include assorted fees, books, or anything else a kid might need. Talk about the price you pay for education!
Parents nurtured his obvious talent
Levine talks about being shy when he was younger, but there's no question he showed musical talent early on. He honed his gifts at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, hosted in New York, and later said the experience changed his life. The French Woods website lists the current price for a camp session as ranging anywhere from $900 to $12,000. That isn't cheap, but what sets the camp apart is that the sessions are individualized to help each artist with their craft of choice. You can only assume that Levine, who is known to play multiple instruments as well as sing, must have had a blast here.
Dropped his first album in high school
Before there was Maroon 5, there was Kara's Flowers, the band Levine started in high school (and apparently named after a fan that liked the guys). While still worrying about tests, homework, and who to take to the school dance, the group released two albums: the self-released We Like Digging? and their 1997 major-label debut, The Fourth World. The group even landed a cameo on Beverly Hills 90210, performing "Soap Disco" in the show's Peach Pit After Dark nightclub. After the record flopped, the band members went to college, underwent a musical overhaul, and re-emerged as Maroon 5, proving a little more life experience never hurt any artist.