John
Francis Bongiovi, Jr. (born March 2, 1962), known as Jon Bon Jovi, is an
American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor, best known as
the founder and the lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was formed in
1983.
During
his career, he has released two solo albums and eleven studio albums with his
band, which to date have sold over 130 million albums worldwide making them one
of the world's best-selling music artists. Besides his music career, Jon Bon
Jovi started an acting career in the 90s, starring roles in several movies
include Moonlight and Valentino and U-571 and also made appearances on TV
Series include Sex and the City and Ally McBeal
As a
songwriter, Jon Bon Jovi inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.[1][2]
In 2012, Jon Bon Jovi ranked number fifty on the list of Billboard magazine's
"Power 100", a ranking of "The Most Powerful and Influential
People In The Music Business".[3] In 1996, People magazine named him as
one of the "50 Most Beautiful People In The World". In 2000, the same
magazine named him as the "Sexiest Rock Star" and he was also placed
at number thirteen on VH1's "100 Sexiest Artists ".
In
addition, Jon Bon Jovi is the one of the majority owners of the AFL team
Philadelphia Soul. He is the founder of The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation which
was founded in 2006 and exists to combat issues that force families and
individuals into economic despair. He also campaigned for Al Gore in the 2000
Presidential election, John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election, and Barack
Obama in the 2008 Presidential election. In 2010, President Barack Obama named
Jon Bon Jovi to the White House Council for Community Solutions. He was also
awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University in 2001.
Early
life
Jon Bon
Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the son of
two former Marines, barber John Francis Bongiovi, Sr. and Playboy Bunny turned
florist Carol Sharkey.[4] He has two brothers, Anthony and Matthew.[5] His
father was of Italian (from Sciacca, Sicily) and Slovak ancestry and his mother
was of German and Russian descent.[6][7] He has stated that he is a blood
relative of singer Frank Sinatra.[8] Bon Jovi was raised Catholic.[9] He spent
summers in Erie, Pennsylvania, with his grandparents, and sold newspapers.[10]
As a child, John attended St. Joseph High School, in Metuchen, New Jersey,
during his freshman and sophomore years.[11] He later transferred to Sayreville
War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey.[12]
John
spent most of his adolescence skipping school to opt for music activities
instead, and ended up playing in local bands with friends and his cousin Tony
Bongiovi, who owned the then famous New York recording studio, The Power
Station. As a result, his academic records displayed poor grades. By the time
he was 16, John Bongiovi was playing clubs. It was not long before he joined up
with keyboardist David Bryan (real name: David Bryan Rashbaum), who played with
him in a ten-piece rhythm and blues band called Atlantic City Expressway. John
also performed with bands called The Rest, The Lechers and John Bongiovi and
the Wild Ones.
When he
was seventeen, Jon Bon Jovi was working sweeping floors at his cousin Tony
Bongiovi's recording studio. In 1980, when Meco was there recording Christmas
in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album, Tony Bongiovi recommended him for
the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas." This became his first
professional recording (credited as John Bongiovi)
Music career
In June
1982, Jon Bon Jovi recorded a song called Runaway. The studio musicians who
helped record "Runaway" – known as The All Star Review – were
guitarist Tim Pierce, keyboardist Roy Bittan, drummer Frankie LaRocka, and
bassist Hugh McDonald. He went to several record companies, including Atlantic
Records and Mercury (PolyGram), but they all turned him down. Jon Bon Jovi
visited major rock station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" in New York City.
He spoke directly to the promotion director John Lassman, who accepted the song
"Runaway" for inclusion on the station's compilation album of local
homegrown talent. Runaway became a local hit. Along the way, Mercury Records
gave Jon Bon Jovi a recording contract in 1983, and to promote Runaway, Jon Bon
Jovi called up David Bryan who in turn called bassist Alec John Such, drummer
Tico Torres. Tapped to play lead guitar was Jon Bon Jovi's neighbor, Dave Sabo
who later formed the group Skid Row. Sabo was eventually replaced by Richie
Sambora. After Jon Bon Jovi claimed he wanted a group name, a friend of Richard
Fischer and an employee of Doc McGhee, suggested they call themselves Bon Jovi,
following the example of the other famous last name bands such as Van Halen and
Dokken. This name was chosen instead of the original idea of Johnny Electric.
The band released their eponymous first album on January 21, 1984. The band
became an international act in the late 1980s, when they released their
breakthrough album Slippery When Wet. Their fourth album New Jersey, which was
released in 1988, became just as successful as its predecessor.
Following
the group’s success, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were asked to assist in
producing Cher’s self-titled album in 1987. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
co-wrote and sang backing vocals on Cher’s single "We All Sleep
Alone" and also produced several other tracks on the album, later going on
to co-produce Cher’s multi-platinum album Heart of Stone in 1989 and co-wrote
the song Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie
Sambora also produced and co-wrote the song called Hell Is Living Without You
on Alice Cooper's album Trash in 1989.
During
the Slippery When Wet Tour in 1987, Jon Bon Jovi's attempt to give it his all
during live shows and the tour's exhausting schedule greatly strained his vocal
cords, and he began receiving steroid shots to help him sing.[14] With the help
of a vocal coach, he was able to continue doing the tour. Despite the band
achieving massive success with Slippery When Wet and New Jersey, living on the
road almost destroyed the strong bond between the band members. The band
members were exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. Jon Bon Jovi note
that, each band member went their separate way, even departing in separate jets
after the New Jersey Tour ended in early 1990 which exceeded 232 shows on 5
continents.
In 1990,
Jon Bon Jovi recorded a soundtrack to the movie Young Guns II more commonly
known as Blaze of Glory. Having been originally approached by his friend Emilio
Estevez to lend "Wanted Dead Or Alive" as the theme song for his
upcoming Billy The Kid sequel, Jon Bon Jovi ended up composing an all new theme
song for the film's soundtrack and delivering his first solo album. The album
featured high profile guests such as Elton John, Little Richard and Jeff Beck.
The title track, "Blaze of Glory" peaked at number one the Billboard
Hot 100. In 1991 "Blaze of Glory" won an award for Favorite Pop/Rock
Single at the American Music Awards[15] and awarded a Golden Globe, as well.
The song also earned Jon Bon Jovi an Academy Award nomination and a Grammy
nomination.
Lost
Highway Tour
In 1991
Jon Bon Jovi he started his own label, Jambco Records, and produced Aldo Nova's
album Blood on the Bricks and Billy Falcon's album Pretty Blue World. Disillusioned
with the music business, despite all his success, and unhappy with the status
quo, in summer of 1991 he set off on a two-week cross-country motorcycle trip
that would significantly affect his creative juices.
In
September 1991, he fired the band's long time manager Doc McGhee, business
advisers, agents and created Bon Jovi Management. After that he put the band
together. Upon resolving their issues, they returned with the album Keep The
Faith, released in late 1992. Jon Bon Jovi cut his trademark hair and the band
turned away from the 80's hair metal to simply rock n roll and introduce a more
mature sound. The media focused considerable attention on Jon Bon Jovi's hair.
When Jon Bon Jovi cut his hair he made headlines on CNN. Despite the rise of
the grunge and alternative rock, adult contemporary-styled ballad hits include
"Bed of Roses" and "Always" helped sustain the band’s
popularity in the 90's.
Jon Bon
Jovi, wrote what would become his second solo album, 1997's Destination
Anywhere. A short movie of the same name was recorded right around the record's
release, based entirely on the songs from the record and starring Jon Bon Jovi,
Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon and Whoopi Goldberg. The film debuted on both MTV and VH1
in 1997 After five years since their last studio album, the band returned in
2000 and released their seventh studio album, Crush. The lead single,
"It's My Life" helped introduce the band to a new, younger fan base.
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