Sonny Bono
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American record producer, singer, actor, politician, and Catholic whose career spanned over three decades. Bono began his music career working for the legendary record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s. 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" though few people knew he did more than sing. Cher got more attention as a musical talent. Sonny and Cher starred in a popular television variety show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1974. But there again, Cher seemed lively and funny, and Sonny a bit slow. They had a daughter, Chastity Bono, and divorced in 1974. Sonny continued his acting career, doing bit roles in such shows as Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. He played the part of a mad bomber in Airplane: The Sequel. Bono married Susie Coelho and divorced her in 1984; he married again in 1986 to Mary Whitaker. He became a practicing Scientologist. The couple had two children, Chesare Elan Bono and Chianna Marie Bono. Bono entered politics after experiencing great frustration with local government bureaucracy in trying to open a restaurant in Palm Springs, California. With local conservative talk radio host Marshall Gilbert as his campaign manager (and later as the godfather of his two children by his wife Mary), Bono placed a successful bid to become the new mayor of Palm Springs. He was instrumental in making the city more business-friendly and in spearheading the creation of the Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival, now held each year in Bono's memory. After unsuccessfully running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1992, Bono was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1994 to represent the 44th Congressional District of California. He introduced the controversial Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act during his tenure to benefit the music industry and also 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. He died of injuries from hitting a tree while skiing at the Heavenly Ski Resort near South Lake Tahoe, California. His widow Mary was elected to fill his unexpired Congressional term, and has since been re-elected in 1998 and later elections in her own right. She continues to champion many of her late husband's causes, including the ongoing fight as how to best save the Salton Sea. Bono's final resting place is Desert Memorial Park in nearby Cathedral City, the same cemetery in which Frank Sinatra was laid to rest later that same year. The epitaph on Bono's headstone appropriately reads: "The Beat Goes On". This page about Sonny Bono includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Sonny Bono News stories about Sonny Bono External links for Sonny Bono Videos for Sonny Bono Wikis about Sonny Bono Discussion Groups about Sonny Bono Blogs about Sonny Bono Images of Sonny Bono |
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The epitaph on Bono's headstone appropriately reads:
"The Beat Goes On". He died of injuries from hitting a tree while skiing at the Heavenly Ski Resort near South Lake Tahoe, California. Todd Roper left the band after recording Comfort Eagle. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich made a public appearance and speech at the shore of the lake on Bono's behalf. Greg Brown left in 1998, replaced by Xan McCurdy. He introduced the controversial Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act during his tenure to benefit the music industry and also championed the restoration of the Salton Sea, bringing the giant lake's plight to national attention. Damiani left the band in 1997, replaced by Gabe Nelson. Senate in 1992, Bono was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1994 to represent the 44th Congressional District of California. Their musical style is quite unique, and has been compared to They Might Be Giants and the Talking Heads, though a more accurate sound-alike would be Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. After unsuccessfully running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Although their music is often classifed as alternative rock, Cake commonly combines multiple musical genres, such as funk, pop, jazz, rap, and country. Cake's music features droll lyrics rife with word play (laconically-voiced in a rap-like style by lead vocalist/guitarist John McCrea), catchy distorted guitar riffs (courtesy, until 1998, of guitarist Greg Brown and, until 1997, bass player Victor Damiani), and a solo trumpet (played by Vince DiFiore). He was instrumental in making the city more business-friendly and in spearheading the creation of the Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival, now held each year in Bono's memory. Cake is a Sacramento, California band, formed in 1991, who have had several hits throughout the 1990s and 2000s from their five recorded albums. With local conservative talk radio host Marshall Gilbert as his campaign manager (and later as the godfather of his two children by his wife Mary), Bono placed a successful bid to become the new mayor of Palm Springs. Todd Roper - Drums, percussion (left after Comfort Eagle). Bono entered politics after experiencing great frustration with local government bureaucracy in trying to open a restaurant in Palm Springs, California. John McCrea - Vocals, acoustic guitar, organ, vibraslap. The couple had two children, Chesare Elan Bono and Chianna Marie Bono. originally Victor Damiani (also left before "Prolonging the Magic" was recorded). He became a practicing Scientologist. Gabe Nelson - Bass guitar
They had a daughter, Chastity Bono, and divorced in 1974. Vince DiFiore - Trumpet, percussion. But there again, Cher seemed lively and funny, and Sonny a bit slow. Sonny and Cher starred in a popular television variety show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1974. Cher got more attention as a musical talent. Bono wrote, arranged and produced a number of hit records with singles like "I Got You, Babe" and "The Beat Goes On" though few people knew he did more than sing. 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 began his music career working for the legendary record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s. Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American record producer, singer, actor, politician, and Catholic whose career spanned over three decades. |