Jon Bon Jovi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jon Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi in 2012
Born	John Francis Bongiovi Jr. (1962-03-02) March 2, 1962 (age 63) Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	St. Joseph High School Sayreville War Memorial High School
Occupation	Singer songwriter musician actor
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Dorothea Hurley ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	4, including Jake
Relatives	Tony Bongiovi (cousin) Millie Bobby Brown (daughter-in-law)
Musical career
Genres	Hard rock glam metal arena rock pop rock country rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. (born March 2, 1962), known as Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He is most famous as the leader and singer of the rock band Bon Jovi. This band started in 1983.

With his band, he has released 16 studio albums. He also has two solo albums. In the 1990s, Bon Jovi began acting in movies and TV shows. He appeared in films like Pay It Forward and U-571. He was also in TV shows such as Sex and the City and Ally McBeal.

Bon Jovi was honored in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, Billboard magazine named him one of the "Most Powerful and Influential People in the Music Business." He was also a founder and owner of the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena Football League team.

Early Life and School Days

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. His father, John Francis Bongiovi Sr., was a barber and a former Marine. His family had roots in Italy and Slovakia. His mother's family came from Germany and Russia.

Bon Jovi grew up in the Catholic faith. He went to St. Joseph High School for his first two years. Later, he moved to Sayreville War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey.

Musical Journey

Bon Jovi (right) with Jonathan King in 1987

Starting Out in Music

Bon Jovi started playing music in 1974. He formed his first band, Raze, and joined a school talent show. At 16, he created a band called Atlantic City Expressway. David Bryan, who later joined Bon Jovi, was part of this band.

As a teenager, Bon Jovi played in the band John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones. They performed in clubs and opened for local groups. By 1980, he formed his first original band, the Rest. They opened for New Jersey bands like Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

Around this time, Bon Jovi worked at the Power Station recording studio. His cousin Tony Bongiovi owned the studio. One day, he sang on a Christmas album called Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album. This was his first professional recording.

The Band Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi performing on the Lost Highway Tour in November 2007

In March 1983, Bon Jovi formed his famous band. He called bassist Alec John Such, who then called drummer Tico Torres and guitarist Richie Sambora. Bon Jovi, Sambora, Such, Bryan, and Torres became the first members of Bon Jovi. The band released their first two albums in 1984 and 1985.

In 1986, the band became very popular worldwide with their third album, Slippery When Wet. This album sold 28 million copies. Slippery When Wet had three songs in the Top 10. Two of them, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer", reached number one.

The song "Next 100 Years" from the album Crush was first recorded in Japanese in 1999. It was part of efforts to help after the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.

As of 2019, Bon Jovi has released 15 studio albums, five collections, and three live albums. The band has sold over 130 million records globally. This makes them one of the best-selling American rock bands. Bon Jovi has played more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries. They have performed for more than 34 million fans. The band was added to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. They were also inducted into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Jon Bon Jovi's Solo Music

Bon Jovi performing in 2013

In 1990, Jon Bon Jovi recorded music for the movie Young Guns II. This music is known as Blaze of Glory. His friend Emilio Estevez asked him to use his song "Wanted Dead or Alive" for the movie. Instead, Bon Jovi wrote a brand new song for the film. This became his first solo album.

Famous musicians like Elton John and Jeff Beck were guests on the album. The main song, "Blaze of Glory", reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1991, "Blaze of Glory" won an award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single. It also won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award and a Grammy Award.

In 1991, Jon Bon Jovi started his own music label, Jambco Records. He produced albums for other artists through this label.

His second solo album was Destination Anywhere in 1997. A short movie with the same name was made using songs from the album. Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg starred in it. The film was shown on MTV and VH1 in 1997.

In 2012, Jon Bon Jovi recorded music for the movie Stand Up Guys. The main song, "Not Running Anymore," was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. In 2020, he released a Christmas single with three new holiday songs.

Other Activities

Acting Roles

Jon Bon Jovi has acted in many films. These include Moonlight and Valentino, Destination Anywhere, and New Year's Eve. He also had a supporting role in Pay It Forward.

On TV, he appeared in shows like Sex and the City, 30 Rock, and Ally McBeal. In Ally McBeal, he played a plumber who was Ally's boyfriend. In 2011, he was cast in the movie New Year's Eve as a rock star.

Sports Teams

In 2004, Bon Jovi became a founder and main owner of the Philadelphia Soul. This was an Arena Football League team. He appeared in TV ads for the league with football legend John Elway. Bon Jovi is no longer an owner of the Soul.

In 2014, Bon Jovi was part of a group that tried to buy the Buffalo Bills football team. However, the team was sold to another owner.

JBJ's Nashville Restaurant

On June 8, 2024, Jon Bon Jovi opened a restaurant and bar in Nashville, Tennessee. It is called JBJ's and has a Bon Jovi and rock music theme. The restaurant has live music every day. It has several levels with balconies looking down at the stage. The grand opening included a performance by Bon Jovi and his band. Many other musicians attended the event.

JBJ's also has a special machine that can show holograms of Jon Bon Jovi and his band. It can also "beam in" special guests as holograms.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Bon Jovi in 2009

In 2005, the band Bon Jovi gave $1 million to the Angel Network foundation. This was during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

In July 2007, Jon Bon Jovi announced a plan to fix up 15 homes in north Philadelphia.

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation started in 2006. It helps communities fight poverty and homelessness. On October 19, 2011, the foundation opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen. This is a special restaurant in Red Bank, New Jersey. Customers pay what they can afford for their meals. They can also volunteer their time to pay. As of 2023, three more locations have opened.

Jon Bon Jovi was one of 21 artists who sang on "Everybody Hurts." This was a charity song organized by Simon Cowell. It helped victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Community Involvement and Politics

Bon Jovi has supported many Democratic politicians. In 2004, he traveled a lot to support presidential candidate John Kerry. He played acoustic sets at rallies. In 2009, he performed at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.

On January 18, 2009, Bon Jovi sang with Bettye LaVette at Barack Obama's inauguration concert. They performed the song "A Change is Gonna Come." In 2009, he also performed a benefit show for New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.

On June 24, 2009, Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Andy Madadian recorded a song. It was a message of support for the people of Iran during protests. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Bon Jovi to the White House Council for Community Solutions.

In 2020, Bon Jovi supported Cory Booker for President of the United States. On January 20, 2021, Bon Jovi and the Kings of Suburbia performed "Here Comes the Sun" for Joe Biden's inauguration event.

Personal Life and Achievements

In 1989, during a tour stop, Bon Jovi secretly went to Las Vegas. He married his high school girlfriend, Dorothea Hurley, on April 29. They have four children: a daughter, Stephanie, and three sons, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo. The British actress Millie Bobby Brown is his daughter-in-law. She married his son Jake in May 2024.

Bon Jovi used to live in Rumson, New Jersey. He had his recording studio, Sanctuary Sound, in his home's basement there. He has described himself as a "recovering Catholic."

Bon Jovi is good friends with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. He owns two Super Bowl rings from the Patriots. He has also performed at their home stadium, Gillette Stadium, many times.

In 2019, Bon Jovi received an honorary degree in music from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2021, he received another honorary doctorate from Princeton University. These degrees recognized his work in music and helping the community.

In October 2021, Bon Jovi tested positive for COVID-19. He was fully vaccinated and recovered well. In April 2022, he shared how his COVID-19 experience affected his songwriting. He realized "how fragile life is" because of the pandemic.

On September 11, 2024, Bon Jovi helped prevent a woman from jumping off a bridge in Nashville.

Music Albums

Studio Albums

• Blaze of Glory (1990)
• Destination Anywhere (1997)

Live Albums

• At the Starland Ballroom Live (2009)

Compilation Albums

• The Power Station Years: The Unreleased Recordings (1998)

Film and TV Appearances

Movies

Television Shows