Salvatore Phillip Bono (1935 - 1998)

Born 16 Feb 1935 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Died 5 Jan 1998 at age 62 in Stateline, Nevada, United States

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Biography

Sonny Bono is Notable.

Sonny Bono has Italian Roots.

Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (/ˈboʊnoʊ/; February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American recording artist, producer, and politician who came to fame in partnership with his second wife Cher, as the popular singing duo Sonny & Cher. He was mayor of Palm Springs, California, from 1988 to 1992, and congressman for California's 44th district from 1995 until his death in 1998.

The United States Federal Copyright Term Extension Act, which extended the term of copyright by 20 years, is now commonly known as the Sonny Bono Act.

Salvatore "Sonny" Bono was the son of Italian immigrant Santo Bono and Zena "Jean" La Valle Bono. He was the youngest and only son of three children.

The family moved from Detroit to Santa Barbara in 1942. Sonny was given his nick name by his mother and it stuck throughout his life.

Sonny began his music career in the late 1950's when he went to work for Speciality Records and met some of the superstars of that era. One of Sonny's first songs -"You Bug Me, Baby" - written with and sung by Larry Williams, peaked at #45 on the US charts in 1957. Sonny quickly emerged as a mainstay for Phil Specter's groups writing for the Standells, Jackie DeShannon and the Searchers, before starting his own career with his second wife Cher.

Sonny and Cher's first hit "I Got You, Babe" reached #1 on the Billboard Charts in 1965 and is listed as one of the top 500 songs by the magazine Rolling Stone.

Sonny and Cher turned their musical act into a weekly TV variety show which ran from 1971-1974, and again in 1976-77.

Sonny was married four times. First to Donna Rankin, on November 3, 1954. The couple had one child, a daughter, Christine ("Christy"), born on June 24, 1958. They divorced in 1962.

In 1964, Sonny married Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) and they had one child, Chastity (later Chaz Bono), born March 4, 1969. They divorced in 1975, but remained working partners.

In 1983 Sonny married Susie Coelho, but divorced her in 1984. There were no children from this union.

Finally, Sonny married Mary Whitaker in 1986 and they had two children, son Chesare Elan on April 25, 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria on February 2, 1991.

Sonny became interested in politics after he had problems with licensing for opening a second restaurant in Palm Springs, California. He ran successfully for Mayor of Palm Springs and served four years from 1988-1992. During his time as Mayor, he helped establish the Palm Springs Film Festival which is still held annually in his honor.

Sonny was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1994 to represent California's 44th congressional district. He held this position at the time of his death in 1998. His widow, Mary Bono, succeeded him and held office until 2013.

Sonny died as a result of injuries received in a skiing accident. He is buried at the Desert Memorial Park, in Cathedral City, Riverside County, California, USA, Plot: B-35, #294.

Sources

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Bono

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHSJ-FLF : accessed 20 August 2016), Salvatore Bono in household of Santo Bono, Ward 21, Detroit, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 84-1505, sheet 6B, family 118, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1885.

Congress.gov - https://www.congress.gov/member/sonny-bono/B000622

Music VF .com - http://musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Sonny+Bono&tab=songasperformerorwriterchartstab&sort=datedown&filter=all

Pat Dimercurio, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Pat and others.