Known for his soaring guitar riffs, sultry voice and his rock star persona, Jon Bon Jovi has been the front man and founder of one of the most popular rock bands of all time. His band has sold over 130 million albums worldwide and has sold out concerts in 43 countries. He is also an actor and songwriter. He has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jon Bon Jovi was born on March 2, 1962, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. His parents were former models. His father was Tony Bongiovi, who was born in Sciacca, Sicily, and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania. His mother was Carol Sharkey, who was a member of the original Playboy Bunnies.
Jon Bon Jovi started out on the music scene at age 13 when he joined the John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones band. He played guitar and piano. Jon later played in a club called the Fast Lane. He also sang in a band called Raze. Jon Bongiovi’s first professional recording was “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” which was recommended by his cousin, Tony Bongiovi.
After playing in various bands, Jon Bon Jovi formed his own band, the Rest, when he was 16. The band was signed to PolyGram, and its first album was recorded at Bob Rock’s studio in New York. The band’s first single was “Runaway,” which was also released on a local radio station’s compilation tape. Jon Bon Jovi signed with Mercury Records to promote “Runaway” in 1983. After that, Bon Jovi started to record several solo albums, including his first, What About Now, released in 1990. He also recorded the album Destination Anywhere, which sold over 14 million copies worldwide.
Jon Bon Jovi has also made a career out of political activism. He has worked with many Democratic politicians, including former Senator John Kerry. He was also involved in a charity organization called the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which addresses issues such as hunger, homelessness, and environmental sustainability.
Jon Bon Jovi is also the co-founder of the Arena Football League team Philadelphia Soul. He is also a close friend of the New England Patriots’ owner, Robert Kraft. He has also been a campaigner for presidential candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry. He has also performed at the Patriots’ home field, Gillette Stadium. He also toured extensively for Kerry in 2004. He has also performed at rallies for the Kerry-Edwards ticket and for Al Gore. He has been appointed by President Obama to the White House Council for Community Solutions.
Jon Bon Jovi is a two-time winner of the Golden Globe, having won the award for the song “Blaze of Glory” in 2006. He was also named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 1996. He also was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of fame in 2009. In 2010, Bon Jovi was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.