Adams joined his first band at age 15 and at age 20 his eponymous debut album was released. He rose to fame in North America with 1983 Top 10 album "Cuts Like a Knife", featuring its title track and the ballad "Straight From the Heart", his first US Top 10 hit. His 1984 album, "Reckless", made him a global star with tracks like "Run to You" and "Summer of '69", both Top 10 hits in the US and Canada, and the power ballad "Heaven", a US number 1 hit. His 1987 album "Into the Fire" went to number 2 in Canada and the Top 10 in several other countries.