Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono, born Salvatore Bono to Sicilian American parents in Detroit, was a multifaceted figure known for his contributions to music and politics. He gained fame in the 1960s as a singer and songwriter, especially through his collaboration with his then-wife, Cher, producing hits like "I Got You Babe." They also hosted "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour," a popular television variety show from 1971 to 1974. In addition to his entertainment career, Bono ventured into politics, motivated by frustrations over local governance while running his Italian restaurant in Palm Springs, California. He served as mayor from 1988 to 1992 before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. During his congressional term, he focused on environmental issues, notably the Salton Sea, and was instrumental in passing notable copyright legislation. Tragically, Bono died in a skiing accident at the age of sixty-two. His legacy includes significant contributions to both the arts and public policy, underscored by his famous line, "And the Beat Goes On," which reflects the ongoing impact of his work.
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Subject Terms
Sonny Bono
- Born: February 16, 1935
- Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
- Died: January 5, 1998
- Place of death: Heavenly Valley Ski Resort, South Lake Tahoe, California
During the 1990’s, Bono developed significant legislation on copyright and wild habitat protection. He is also beloved for catchy songs that defined an earlier age.
Born to Sicilian American parents in Detroit, Salvatore “Sonny” Bono developed talents that ranged from singing and songwriting to political service. As a promotion assistant in the 1960’s for record producer Phil Spector, Bono met many artists and was inspired to continue songwriting. He married his second wife, Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre, better known as Cher, in 1964, and the two began collaborating. In 1965, they produced the hit single “I Got You Babe” and went on to host a television variety show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, for the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) from 1971 to 1974. In 1969, they had a daughter, Chastity. Five years later, the couple divorced. By this point, Bono’s songs were well known, including “The Beat Goes On” and “Baby Don’t Go.”
Frustrated by the red tape he faced over placing a sign on his Italian restaurant in Palm Springs, California, Bono ran for mayor and won, serving from 1988 to 1992. People had scoffed at his mayoral bid, to which he replied that no one had thought him capable of succeeding at music, either, and he had still managed to earn many gold records. Keen on government change, he ran for a Senate seat in 1992 but lost in the Republican primary. In 1994, he was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican representing the Forty-fourth Congressional District.
During his time in office from 1995 to 1998, Bono worked to bring attention to the environmental problems of the Salton Sea in Southern California. In honor of his work, H.R. 3267 was named the Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Reclamation Act. Another act named for him is the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998. Bono had worked on an earlier version of this act, which added twenty years to all term provisions set forth in the Copyright Act of 1976.
When he died at the age of sixty-two in a skiing accident, his wife, Mary, carried on his job in Congress. His headstone quotes a line about the cycle of life: “And the Beat Goes On.”
Impact
Bono’s copyright legislation provided more protection for creative works, and his efforts to restore the Salton Sea raised public awareness of environmental issues.
Bibliography
Bono, Chastity. Family Outing. Boston: Little, Brown, 1998.
Bono, Sonny. And the Beat Goes On. New York: Pocket Books, 1992.
Cher. The First Time. New York: Isis, 1998.