Jon Bon Jovi has sold over 120 million albums worldwide, making him one of the most successful rock stars in history. He has a string of hit singles to his name, and has won numerous awards and accolades during the course of his career. The New Jersey native is a philanthropist with a heart of gold, and founded a charitable foundation to help those in need. He is also a talented actor, and has starred in a variety of films and television shows.
The singer’s love of music and his knack for writing songs have made him a global icon. Bon Jovi has an arsenal of All-American songs that have found a welcoming reception on a wide global stage. Solid songcraft is lauded as a hallmark of their success, and has helped them maintain a steady stream of top 10 hits.
Bon Jovi formed in 1983, releasing their eponymous debut album the following year and generating a Top 40 hit with the original version of “Runaway.” In 1984, the band broadened their sound with Slippery When Wet, which included twangy power ballads in the Springsteen mold (Wanted Dead or Alive) as well as blue-collar rock anthems (“Livin’ on a Prayer”). It was a breakthrough that catapulted them to superstardom.
The band remained on top with successive albums, Blaze of Glory and Keep the Faith, and continued to expand their reach in the ’90s with the Max Martin-assisted “It’s My Life” and the country-infused
Bon Jovi has enjoyed a remarkable run over the years, and in 2019 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They remain a force to be reckoned with, still selling records and playing shows around the world. The rock titan has even ventured into the arena of professional sports, owning an Arena Football League team, the Philadelphia Soul. Despite all that, Jon still remains a true family man, with a wife and two children, and still finds time to help those in need with his charity foundation. In an age where celebrity is everything, he is a refreshingly down-to-earth figure who takes the success of his career seriously but doesn’t let it go to his head.