Jon Bon Jovi is the American singer, songwriter, record producer, philanthropist and actor who founded and fronts the rock band Bon Jovi. He has sold more than 130 million albums worldwide, earning himself a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also the founder of The Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which combats issues that force families and individuals into economic despair. Jon has appeared in a variety of films and TV shows, including Moonlight and Valentino, and is a majority owner of the Arena Football League team Philadelphia Soul.
When Bon Jovi formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey with bassist Alec John Such, drummer Tico Torres, and guitarist Richie Sambora, they were a glam rock outfit who were catapulted from Garden State clubs to opening for the Scorpions and Kiss thanks to their heartthrob looks and 1984 Top 40 hit Runaway. The album Slippery When Wet followed in 1986 and set the stage for the group’s international success.
On September 11, 2001, Jon and the band were preparing to start work on their eighth studio album. However, their lives were forever changed by the events of that day. Within days of the terrorist attacks, Bon Jovi recorded Public Service Announcements for the Red Cross and performed at two live telethons to raise funds for the families in their local communities that were affected.
In the ’90s, Jon Bon Jovi built on his music career by nurturing an acting one with starring roles in movies like Moonlight and Valentino. He also made regular guest appearances on Ally McBeal until the series ended in 2002.
After the hiatus in 1989, Bon Jovi regrouped and released the album Young Guns II, which featured the single “Wanted Dead or Alive.” This track was written after actor Emilio Estevez approached the band about using their song as the title of his movie.
Following a brief hiatus in 1996, Bon Jovi released their thirteenth album Bounce. It produced the hits Miracle and This Ain’t a Love Song. “This Ain’t a Love Song” is another song that features the excellent backing vocals of Richie Sambora and the amazing guitar playing of Jon Bon Jovi.
In 2017, Bon Jovi released I Still Can’t Get Over Loving You, which was their first studio album without their original guitarist Richie Sambora. This album was the group’s highest selling album to date. It also marked their return to the Billboard top 10 after a six-year absence. The album has also won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. It was followed in 2020 by the release of Limitless, their fourteenth studio album. This is their first album since 2013 to be produced entirely by longtime collaborator Desmond Child. It is also the first album to not feature any input from Sambora since his departure from the band in 2013.