Sonny Bono
Encyclopedia
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American
recording artist, record producer
, actor
, and politician
whose career spanned over three decades.
Jean and Santo, Sonny was the youngest of three siblings; he had two older sisters, Fran and Betty. Bono attended Inglewood High School
in Inglewood, California
, but did not graduate.
where his song "Things You Do to Me" was recorded by Sam Cooke
, and went on to work for the legendary record producer Phil Spector
in the early 1960s as a promotion man, percussionist and "gofer
". One of his earliest songwriting efforts was "Needles and Pins" which he co-wrote with Jack Nitzsche
, another member of Spector's production team. Later in the same decade, he achieved commercial success, along with his then-wife Cher
, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher. Bono wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records with singles like "I Got You Babe
" and "The Beat Goes On
", although Cher received more attention as a performer. He also played a major part in Cher's early solo career with recordings such as "Bang Bang
" and "You Better Sit Down Kids
".
Bono also recorded as a solo artist under the name of Sonny. He had only one hit single as a solo artist, "Laugh At Me
". "Laugh At Me" was released in 1965 and peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In live concerts, Bono would sing the song with an introduction of, "I'd like to sing a medley of my hit." His only other single as a solo artist was a follow-up release, "The Revolution Kind", which reached number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 later that same year. Bono also recorded an unsuccessful Sonny album titled Inner Views
in 1967.
Sonny continued to work with Cher through the early and mid-'70s starring in a popular television variety show
, The Sonny and Cher Show, which ran on CBS
from 1971 to 1974. From 1976 to 1977, the couple returned to performing together on The Sonny and Cher Show despite being divorced. Their last appearance together was on Late Night with David Letterman
on November 13, 1987, when they sang "I Got You Babe
".
Bono continued his acting career, doing bit roles in such shows as Fantasy Island
and The Love Boat
. He played the part of mad bomber Joe Selucci in Airplane II: The Sequel
and the part of Franklin Von Tussle in John Waters' Hairspray. In the film Men In Black
, Bono is one of several oddball celebrities seen on a wall of video screens that monitor extraterrestrials living among us. In 1986 he also appeared in the horror movie Troll
. He also appeared in several episodes of P.S. I Luv U
starring Connie Sellecca
and Greg Evigan
during the 1991-92 TV season as the Mayor of Palm Springs [which he really was at the time]. His last acting role was in the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
(Season 1, Episode 9, originally aired on November 21, 1993), in which he played the Mayor Frank Berkowitz. He also made a minor appearance as himself in the 1996 film First Kid
.
Sonny poked a little fun at himself when he guest-starred on The Golden Girls
, in the episode "Mrs. George Devereaux", aired November 17, 1990, as himself vying with Lyle Waggoner
for Dorothy's (Beatrice Arthur
) affection in a dream, where Blanche (Rue McClanahan
) dreams her husband is still alive. In the dream, Sonny uses his power as mayor of Palm Springs, California to have Waggoner falsely arrested just so he can have Dorothy to himself. Later on, after Blanche awakens from the dream, Dorothy is thrilled to learn she picked Sonny this time.
. With conservative
talk radio host Marshall Gilbert
as his campaign manager, Bono placed a successful bid to become the new mayor
of Palm Springs. He served four years (1988 to 1992). He was instrumental in making the city more business-friendly and in spearheading the creation of the Palm Springs International Film Festival
, which is now held each year in Bono's memory.
Bono ran for the Republican
nomination for United States Senate
in 1992, but the nomination went to the more conservative Bruce Herschensohn
, and the election to the Democrat Barbara Boxer
. Bono and Herschensohn became close friends after the campaign. Bono was elected to the United States House of Representatives
in 1994 to represent California's 44th congressional district
. He was one of twelve co-sponsors of a House bill extending copyright
. Although that bill was never voted on in the Senate, a similar Senate bill was passed after his death and named the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act in his memory.
He championed the restoration of the Salton Sea
, bringing the giant lake's plight to national attention. Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich
made a public appearance and speech at the shore of the lake on Bono's behalf.
In their book Tell Newt to Shut Up, David Maraniss
and Michael Weisskopf
credit Bono with being the first person to recognize Gingrich's public relations problems in 1995. Drawing on his long experience as a celebrity and entertainment producer, Bono (according to Maraniss and Weisskopf) recognized that Gingrich's status had changed from politician to celebrity, and that Gingrich was not making allowances for that change:
Bono remains the only member of Congress to have scored a #1 pop single on the US Billboard Hot 100
chart.
Author Ronald Kessler mentioned Bono in his expose book Inside Congress. Kessler pointed out that Bono was widely ridiculed and was named one of the "dimmest bulbs" in Congress by Progressive Magazine and that The Washington Post referred to him as the "idiot savant from way beyond the Beltway". Kessler also mentioned that a young staffer named Frederique J. Sandretto had accused Bono of sexually harassing her.
; their daughter Chastity (now legally named Chaz after gender transition
) was born on March 4, 1969. In 1975 the couple divorced. Bono then married Susie Coelho, but divorced her in 1984. He wed the much-younger Mary Whitaker in 1986 and they had 2 children, son Chesare Elan on April 25, 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria on February 2, 1991. He became a Scientologist
, partly because of the influence of Mimi Rogers
, but stated that he was a Roman Catholic on all official documents, campaign materials, web sites, etc. Mary Bono also took Scientology
courses.
Bono was named a godparent
of Anthony Kiedis
who would go on to become one of the biggest musicial artists in the world with his band, Red Hot Chili Peppers
. Sonny was a close friend of Anthony's father, Blackie Dammett
, and would often take the boy on weekend trips.
Bono was a champion of the Salton Sea
in southeastern California, where a park
was named in his honor. The 2005 documentary film
Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea
(narrated by John Waters
) features Bono and documented the lives of the inhabitants of Bombay Beach
, Niland
, and Salton City
, as well as the ecological issues associated with the Sea.
on the Nevada
side of Heavenly Ski Resort
near South Lake Tahoe, California
. His death came just a little less than a week after Michael Kennedy, a son of Robert F. Kennedy
, died in a similar skiing accident in Aspen, Colorado
. After Bono's death, Mary told an interviewer from TV Guide
that Sonny had been addicted to and was seriously abusing prescription drugs, mainly Vicodin
and Valium. Though Mary claimed that Sonny's drug use caused the accident, the autopsy performed by the Douglas County
Coroner
showed no indication of any substances or alcohol.
Bono was survived by his wife Mary Bono and children Christy, Chianna, Chesare, and Chaz. His mother Jean Bono, also survived him, and died on January 15, 2005 at the age of 90.. At Mary Bono's request, Cher
gave a eulogy
at Sonny's funeral. His remains were buried at Desert Memorial Park
in Cathedral City, California
. The epitaph on Bono's headstone reads: "And the Beat Goes On."
Bono's wife, Mary, was elected to fill the remainder of his Congressional term. Over 10 years after his death, she continues to champion many of Sonny's causes, including the ongoing fight to save the Salton Sea
.
American hip-hop artist Eminem
references Bono's skiing accident in his songs "Who Knew" and "Role Model"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
recording artist, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
whose career spanned over three decades.
Early life
Born in Detroit to Italian immigrantsItalian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
Jean and Santo, Sonny was the youngest of three siblings; he had two older sisters, Fran and Betty. Bono attended Inglewood High School
Inglewood High School (California)
Inglewood High School is a public high school in Inglewood, California, USA. Opened in 1905, it is part of Inglewood Unified School District.-Notable alumni:*Sonny Bono, did not graduate*Jason Hart, NBA basketball player...
in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, but did not graduate.
Entertainment career
Bono began his music career working at Specialty RecordsSpecialty Records
Specialty Records was an American record label based in Los Angeles. It was originally launched as Juke Box Records in 1946, but later renamed by its owner Art Rupe when he parted company with a couple of his original partners...
where his song "Things You Do to Me" was recorded by Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
, and went on to work for the legendary record producer Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
in the early 1960s as a promotion man, percussionist and "gofer
Gofer
A gofer or go-fer is an employee who is often sent on errands. "Gofer" reflects the likelihood of instructions to go for coffee, dry cleaning, or stamps, or to make other straightforward or familiar procurements. The term gofer originated in North America...
". One of his earliest songwriting efforts was "Needles and Pins" which he co-wrote with Jack Nitzsche
Jack Nitzsche
Bernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche was an arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others...
, another member of Spector's production team. Later in the same decade, he achieved commercial success, along with his then-wife Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher. Bono wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records with singles like "I Got You Babe
I Got You Babe
"I Got You Babe" is a 1965 #1 single by American pop music duo Sonny & Cher.-Background and composition:Sonny Bono, a songwriter and record producer for Phil Spector, wrote the lyrics to and composed the music of the song for himself and his then-wife, Cher, late at night in their basement. Session...
" and "The Beat Goes On
The Beat Goes On
"The Beat Goes On" is a Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit song written by Sonny Bono and recorded by Sonny & Cher. It was issued as a single and appeared on their 1967 album In Case You're In Love...
", although Cher received more attention as a performer. He also played a major part in Cher's early solo career with recordings such as "Bang Bang
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
"Bang Bang " is the second single by singer-actress Cher from her second studio album The Sonny Side of Chér. The song was written by Sonny Bono and released in 1966. The song reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100...
" and "You Better Sit Down Kids
You Better Sit Down Kids
"You Better Sit Down Kids" is a major hit single release by American singer/actress Cher in 1967. The song reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in Canada #7....
".
Bono also recorded as a solo artist under the name of Sonny. He had only one hit single as a solo artist, "Laugh At Me
Laugh At Me
"Laugh At Me" was a one-hit wonder for Sonny Bono as a solo artist under the name Sonny. The song was released in 1965 and became a #1 hit for Bono in Canada on the RPM national singles chart , and a top-40 hit in the U.S., peaking at #10...
". "Laugh At Me" was released in 1965 and peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In live concerts, Bono would sing the song with an introduction of, "I'd like to sing a medley of my hit." His only other single as a solo artist was a follow-up release, "The Revolution Kind", which reached number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 later that same year. Bono also recorded an unsuccessful Sonny album titled Inner Views
Inner Views
Inner Views is the only album by American singer Sonny Bono as a solo artist, released in November 1967 by Atco Records.-Album history:Following the success of Sonny and Cher, Bono released his first and only solo album, Inner Views, in 1967...
in 1967.
Sonny continued to work with Cher through the early and mid-'70s starring in a popular television variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, The Sonny and Cher Show, which ran on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1971 to 1974. From 1976 to 1977, the couple returned to performing together on The Sonny and Cher Show despite being divorced. Their last appearance together was on Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
on November 13, 1987, when they sang "I Got You Babe
I Got You Babe
"I Got You Babe" is a 1965 #1 single by American pop music duo Sonny & Cher.-Background and composition:Sonny Bono, a songwriter and record producer for Phil Spector, wrote the lyrics to and composed the music of the song for himself and his then-wife, Cher, late at night in their basement. Session...
".
Bono continued his acting career, doing bit roles in such shows as Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
and The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
. He played the part of mad bomber Joe Selucci in Airplane II: The Sequel
Airplane II: The Sequel
Airplane II: The Sequel is an American comedy sequel to the 1980 film Airplane!. First released on December 10, 1982, the film was written and directed by Ken Finkleman and stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Chad Everett, William Shatner, Rip Torn, and Sonny Bono.-Plot:In the near...
and the part of Franklin Von Tussle in John Waters' Hairspray. In the film Men In Black
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
, Bono is one of several oddball celebrities seen on a wall of video screens that monitor extraterrestrials living among us. In 1986 he also appeared in the horror movie Troll
Troll (film)
Troll is a 1986 cult dark fantasy film. Its plot has no relation to the films Troll 2 and Troll 3, which are intended to be more horror than fantasy. Its "sequel", Troll 2 is considered to be one of the worst films of all time.-Plot:...
. He also appeared in several episodes of P.S. I Luv U
P.S. I Luv U
P.S. I Luv U is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS as a part of its 1991-92 schedule. The title derived from the phone number of fictitious Palm Security and Investigations, which was 774-5888, which can be reached by dialing "PSI-LUVU" on a standard North American...
starring Connie Sellecca
Connie Sellecca
Connie Sellecca is an American actress and former model, primarily known for her roles on television.- Early life :She was born Concetta Sellecchia in The Bronx, New York, New York to Italian parents. At age twelve, she moved to Pomona, New York and attended Pomona Junior High School...
and Greg Evigan
Greg Evigan
Gregory Ralph "Greg" Evigan is an American actor best known for the TV series B.J. and the Bear, My Two Dads, P.S. I Luv U and TekWar.-Personal life:...
during the 1991-92 TV season as the Mayor of Palm Springs [which he really was at the time]. His last acting role was in the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books...
(Season 1, Episode 9, originally aired on November 21, 1993), in which he played the Mayor Frank Berkowitz. He also made a minor appearance as himself in the 1996 film First Kid
First Kid
First Kid is a 1996 Disney comedy film directed by David Mickey Evans and stars Sinbad and Brock Pierce. It was mostly filmed in Richmond, Virginia.-Plot:...
.
Sonny poked a little fun at himself when he guest-starred on The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...
, in the episode "Mrs. George Devereaux", aired November 17, 1990, as himself vying with Lyle Waggoner
Lyle Waggoner
Lyle Wesley Waggoner is an American actor and former model, best known for his work on The Carol Burnett Show from 1967 to 1974 and for playing the role of Steve Trevor in the Wonder Woman television series from 1975 to 1979...
for Dorothy's (Beatrice Arthur
Beatrice Arthur
Beatrice "Bea" Arthur was an American actress, comedienne and singer whose career spanned seven decades. Arthur achieved fame as the character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcoms All in the Family and Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls, winning Emmy Awards for both...
) affection in a dream, where Blanche (Rue McClanahan
Rue McClanahan
Rue McClanahan was an American actress, best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on Maude, Fran Crowley on Mama's Family, and Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls, for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1987.-Early life:McClanahan was born Eddie Rue...
) dreams her husband is still alive. In the dream, Sonny uses his power as mayor of Palm Springs, California to have Waggoner falsely arrested just so he can have Dorothy to himself. Later on, after Blanche awakens from the dream, Dorothy is thrilled to learn she picked Sonny this time.
Political career
Bono entered politics after experiencing great frustration with local government bureaucracy in trying to open a restaurant in Palm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
. With conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
talk radio host Marshall Gilbert
Marshall Gilbert
Marshall Gilbert is best known for his conservative talk shows, which aired on a number of different radio stations in Palm Springs, California for more than a dozen years....
as his campaign manager, Bono placed a successful bid to become the new mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Palm Springs. He served four years (1988 to 1992). He was instrumental in making the city more business-friendly and in spearheading the creation of the Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival is a film festival held in Palm Springs, California. It was started in 1989 and is held annually in January...
, which is now held each year in Bono's memory.
Bono ran for the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1992, but the nomination went to the more conservative Bruce Herschensohn
Bruce Herschensohn
Stanley Bruce Herschensohn is an American political commentator and senior fellow at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy in Malibu, California....
, and the election to the Democrat Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
Barbara Levy Boxer is the junior United States Senator from California . A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives ....
. Bono and Herschensohn became close friends after the campaign. Bono was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1994 to represent California's 44th congressional district
California's 44th congressional district
California's 44th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that currently covers an area of Southern California from San Clemente in Orange County on the coast, north-by-northeast inland to Riverside County, including the cities of Corona, Norco, Rubidoux,...
. He was one of twelve co-sponsors of a House bill extending copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
. Although that bill was never voted on in the Senate, a similar Senate bill was passed after his death and named the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act in his memory.
He championed the restoration of the Salton Sea
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault, predominantly in California's Imperial Valley. The lake occupies the lowest elevations of the Salton Sink in the Colorado Desert of Imperial and Riverside counties in Southern California. Like Death...
, bringing the giant lake's plight to national attention. Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
made a public appearance and speech at the shore of the lake on Bono's behalf.
In their book Tell Newt to Shut Up, David Maraniss
David Maraniss
David Maraniss is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. As a reporter for The Washington Post he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for his stories about the life and career of candidate Bill Clinton in the 1992 campaign for the U.S...
and Michael Weisskopf
Michael Weisskopf
Michael Weisskopf is a Polk Award-winning journalist, currently working as a senior correspondent for Time magazine. A Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1996 for the accounts he and David Maraniss gave of the activities in 1995 following the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives in 1994,...
credit Bono with being the first person to recognize Gingrich's public relations problems in 1995. Drawing on his long experience as a celebrity and entertainment producer, Bono (according to Maraniss and Weisskopf) recognized that Gingrich's status had changed from politician to celebrity, and that Gingrich was not making allowances for that change:
Bono remains the only member of Congress to have scored a #1 pop single on the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart.
Author Ronald Kessler mentioned Bono in his expose book Inside Congress. Kessler pointed out that Bono was widely ridiculed and was named one of the "dimmest bulbs" in Congress by Progressive Magazine and that The Washington Post referred to him as the "idiot savant from way beyond the Beltway". Kessler also mentioned that a young staffer named Frederique J. Sandretto had accused Bono of sexually harassing her.
Personal life
Bono married his first wife, Donna Rankin, on November 3, 1954. Their daughter Christine ("Christy") was born on June 24, 1958. They divorced in 1962. In 1964 Bono married singer/entertainer CherCher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
; their daughter Chastity (now legally named Chaz after gender transition
Transitioning (transgender)
Transitioning is the process of changing one's gender presentation to accord with one's internal sense of one's gender - the idea of what it means to be a man or woman...
) was born on March 4, 1969. In 1975 the couple divorced. Bono then married Susie Coelho, but divorced her in 1984. He wed the much-younger Mary Whitaker in 1986 and they had 2 children, son Chesare Elan on April 25, 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria on February 2, 1991. He became a Scientologist
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
, partly because of the influence of Mimi Rogers
Mimi Rogers
Mimi Rogers is an American movie actress and competitive poker player.-Early life:Rogers was born Miriam Spickler in Coral Gables, Florida, the daughter of Philip C...
, but stated that he was a Roman Catholic on all official documents, campaign materials, web sites, etc. Mary Bono also took Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
courses.
Bono was named a godparent
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
of Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis is an American vocalist/lyricist, and occasional actor best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis spent his youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his mother before moving, shortly before his 12th birthday, to Hollywood,...
who would go on to become one of the biggest musicial artists in the world with his band, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
. Sonny was a close friend of Anthony's father, Blackie Dammett
Blackie Dammett
Blackie Dammett or "Spider" is an American actor and father of Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers.-Name:He legally changed his name to Blackie Dammett as a tribute to his favorite writer Dashiell Hammett...
, and would often take the boy on weekend trips.
Bono was a champion of the Salton Sea
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault, predominantly in California's Imperial Valley. The lake occupies the lowest elevations of the Salton Sink in the Colorado Desert of Imperial and Riverside counties in Southern California. Like Death...
in southeastern California, where a park
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is located north of the Mexican border at the southern end of the Salton Sea in California’s Imperial Valley. Situated along the Pacific Flyway, the Refuge is the only one of its kind, located below sea level...
was named in his honor. The 2005 documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea is a documentary by filmmakers Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer, with narration by John Waters and music by Friends of Dean Martinez....
(narrated by John Waters
John Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
) features Bono and documented the lives of the inhabitants of Bombay Beach
Bombay Beach, California
Bombay Beach is a census-designated place in Imperial County, California. It is located on the Salton Sea west-southwest of Frink. The population was 295 at the 2010 census, down from 366 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Centro, California Metropolitan Statistical Area.-2010:The 2010...
, Niland
Niland, California
Niland is a census-designated place in Imperial County, California. The town is located north of Calipatria, southeast of Salton Sea. The population was 1,006 at the 2010 census, down from 1,143 at the 2000 census...
, and Salton City
Salton City, California
Salton City is a census-designated place in Imperial County, California. The population was 3,763 at the 2010 census, up from 978 at the 2000 census. It is the largest Imperial County development on the Salton coast. It is part of the El Centro, California Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, as well as the ecological issues associated with the Sea.
Death
Bono died on January 5, 1998, a month and 11 days short of his 63rd birthday, of injuries sustained when he hit a tree while skiingSkiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
on the Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
side of Heavenly Ski Resort
Heavenly Ski Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a ski resort located on the California-Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe. It has 97 runs and 30 lifts that are spread between California and Nevada and four base facilities...
near South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe is the most populous city in El Dorado County, California, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The population was 21,403 at the 2010 census, down from 23,609 at the 2000 census...
. His death came just a little less than a week after Michael Kennedy, a son of Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, died in a similar skiing accident in Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
. After Bono's death, Mary told an interviewer from TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
that Sonny had been addicted to and was seriously abusing prescription drugs, mainly Vicodin
Vicodin
Hydrocodone/paracetamol is a combination of two analgesic products hydrocodone and paracetamol used to relieve moderate to severe pain...
and Valium. Though Mary claimed that Sonny's drug use caused the accident, the autopsy performed by the Douglas County
Douglas County, Nevada
Douglas County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2000, the population was 41,259. As of 2010, the population was estimated to be 46,997.- History :...
Coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
showed no indication of any substances or alcohol.
Bono was survived by his wife Mary Bono and children Christy, Chianna, Chesare, and Chaz. His mother Jean Bono, also survived him, and died on January 15, 2005 at the age of 90.. At Mary Bono's request, Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
gave a eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
at Sonny's funeral. His remains were buried at Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park is a cemetery in Cathedral City, California, United States, near Palm Springs. It is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District...
in Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 51,200 at the 2010 census. Sandwiched between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, it is one of the cities in the Coachella Valley of southern California...
. The epitaph on Bono's headstone reads: "And the Beat Goes On."
Bono's wife, Mary, was elected to fill the remainder of his Congressional term. Over 10 years after his death, she continues to champion many of Sonny's causes, including the ongoing fight to save the Salton Sea
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault, predominantly in California's Imperial Valley. The lake occupies the lowest elevations of the Salton Sink in the Colorado Desert of Imperial and Riverside counties in Southern California. Like Death...
.
American hip-hop artist Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
references Bono's skiing accident in his songs "Who Knew" and "Role Model"
See also
- Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act
- List of famous skiing deaths
- List of actor-politicians
- Sonny Bono ParkSonny Bono ParkSonny Bono Memorial Park is a park in Northwest Washington, D.C., at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, 20th Street, and O Street near Dupont Circle. It is named for Sonny Bono. The park was established in 1998 after Sonny Bono's death by Bono family friend Geary Simon, a local real estate...
Further reading
- Sonny Bono: And The Beat Goes On. New York: Pocket Books 1991. ISBN 0-671-69366-2
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 12th edition. Menomonee Falls WI: Record Research 2009 ISBN 0-89820-180-2 and 978-0-89820-180-2
External links
- Sonny Bono at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...