Sonny Bono facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonny Bono
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Bono in 1966
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 44th district |
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| In office January 3, 1995 – January 5, 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Al McCandless |
| Succeeded by | Mary Bono |
| 16th Mayor of Palm Springs | |
| In office April 1988 – April 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Bogert |
| Succeeded by | Lloyd Maryanov |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Salvatore Phillip Bono
February 16, 1935 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | January 5, 1998 (aged 62) Stateline, Nevada, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Skiing accident |
| Resting place | Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 4, including Chaz |
| Residences | Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Musical career | |
| Origin | Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1963–1995 |
| Associated acts |
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Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (born February 16, 1935 – died January 5, 1998) was an American singer, songwriter, actor, and politician. He became famous as part of the singing duo Sonny & Cher with his second wife, Cher.
Sonny Bono was a member of the Republican Party. He served as the mayor of Palm Springs, California, from 1988 to 1992. Later, he became a U.S. representative for California's 44th congressional district from 1995 until his death in 1998.
After his death, the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 was named in his honor. This law extended the time that copyrights last by 20 years. His widow, Mary Bono, helped create this important law.
Contents
Sonny Bono's Early Life
Sonny Bono was born in Detroit, Michigan. His parents were Zena and Santo Bono. His father was from Italy, and his mother also had Italian roots. His mother called him "Sono," which later became "Sonny."
When he was seven, his family moved to Inglewood, California. His parents divorced soon after. Sonny decided early on that he wanted to work in music. He started writing songs as a teenager.
One of his first songs, "Koko Joe," was recorded when he was just 16. Sonny went to Inglewood High School but left before graduating. He wanted to focus on his music career. He worked many different jobs while trying to become a musician, like a waiter and a truck driver.
Sonny Bono's Career Journey
His Entertainment Career
Sonny Bono began his music career writing songs for Specialty Records. He also worked for record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s. He helped with promotions and played instruments.
In 1965, he became very successful with his wife Cher as the singing duo Sonny & Cher. Sonny wrote, arranged, and produced many hit songs for them. These included "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On." He also helped Cher with her early solo songs, like "Bang Bang."
Sonny also had one hit song as a solo artist called "Laugh at Me" in 1965. It reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Sonny continued to work with Cher in the 1970s. They starred in a popular TV show called The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour from 1971 to 1974. Even after they divorced, they reunited for The Sonny and Cher Show from 1976 to 1977. Their last performance together was in 1987.
In 2011, Sonny Bono was honored by being added to the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
Acting in Film and Television
Sonny Bono also had an acting career. He appeared in many TV shows like The Man From UNCLE, Fantasy Island, and Charlie's Angels. He played a rock star in the 1975 TV movie Murder on Flight 502.
He also acted in movies. He was in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) and the horror film Troll (1986). He played Franklin von Tussle in the movie Hairspray (1988). In Men in Black (1997), he was one of the celebrities shown on screens monitoring aliens.
Sonny also played the Mayor of Palm Springs (which he actually was at the time) in some TV shows. He appeared in P.S. I Luv U and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. He also made a small appearance as himself in the comedy film First Kid (1996).
He guest-starred as himself on The Golden Girls in 1990. In a dream sequence, he tried to win Dorothy's affection.
His Political Career
Sonny Bono decided to enter politics because he was frustrated with local government rules. He had trouble opening a restaurant in Palm Springs, California. This led him to run for mayor of Palm Springs.
He won the election and served as mayor for four years, from 1988 to 1992. He helped start the Palm Springs International Film Festival, which is still held every year in his memory.
In 1994, Bono was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented California's 44th congressional district. He was one of the people who supported a bill to extend copyright terms. After his death, a similar bill was passed and named the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act in his honor.
Sonny Bono also worked to help the Salton Sea, a large lake in California. He brought attention to its problems. In 1998, the Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, even gave a speech at the lake to support Bono's efforts.
Sonny Bono is the only member of Congress to have had a number-one pop song on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Sonny Bono's Personal Life
His Marriages
Sonny Bono was married four times. His first wife was Donna Rankin. They married in 1954 and had a daughter named Christine. They divorced in 1962.
In 1964, he married Cherilyn Sarkisian, who became famous as Cher. They had one child, Chastity, who is now known as Chaz Bono. They divorced in 1975.
He married actress-model Susie Coelho in 1981, and they divorced in 1984.
His last marriage was to Mary Whitaker in 1986. They had two children, Chesare Elan and Chianna Maria.
The Salton Sea and Its Importance
Bono was a strong supporter of the Salton Sea in southeastern California. A park there, the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, was named in his honor. A 2005 documentary film, Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea, featured Bono and showed the environmental issues of the Sea.
Sonny Bono's Death
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Sonny Bono died on January 5, 1998. He was skiing at Heavenly Mountain Resort in California when he hit a tree and was badly injured.
At his widow Mary's request, Cher gave a speech at Sonny's funeral. He was buried at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California. The words on his headstone say, "AND THE BEAT GOES ON."
After his death, Mary Bono was elected to take his place in Congress. She served several more terms.
Honors and Tributes to Sonny Bono
Many things have been named or dedicated in Sonny Bono's memory:
- A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him in 1996.
- The Copyright Term Extension Act was named the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act in 1998.
- The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, a nature area, was renamed for him in 1998.
- A small park in Washington, D.C., was named Sonny Bono Memorial Park in 1998.
- An interchange on California State Route 60 was named the Sonny Bono Memorial Interchange in 2000.
- A 40-mile part of Interstate 10 near Palm Springs was named the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway in 2002.
- A concourse at Palm Springs International Airport was named the Sonny Bono Concourse in 2002.
- A Sonny Bono Memorial Fountain and Statue was dedicated in downtown Palm Springs, California, in 2002.
Images for kids
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Bono in 1966
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Sonny & Cher, 1976
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Sonny Bono in 1966 during a performance
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President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan are greeted by Sonny Bono and Mary Bono on their arrival via Air Force One in Palm Springs, California, December 29, 1988.
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Congressional portrait c. 1995
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Republican Congressman Sonny Bono (CA-44), in Washington, D.C., 1995.
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Sonny Bono's headstone at Desert Memorial Park
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Sonny Bono memorial statue in downtown Palm Springs
See also
In Spanish: Sonny Bono para niños
- List of actor–politicians
- List of famous skiing deaths
- List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–99)
