A rock icon for the ages, Jon Bon Jovi was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. Founder and frontman of the multi-platinum band, Bon Jovi has sold over 130 million albums worldwide, with singles like “Runaway” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” topping charts. He’s also a businessman and philanthropist, owning the Arena Football League team Philadelphia Soul and founding The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation which combats issues that cause families to fall into economic despair.
In addition to his music, Bon Jovi is a prolific actor. He’s appeared in movies like Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Homegrown, New Jersey, U-571, Row Your Boat, and the upcoming National Lampoon’s Pucked, as well as TV shows including Sex and the City, 30 Rock, Las Vegas, The West Wing, and an uncredited appearance on Ally McBeal. He’s also had a long-running role as the lead singer of the Boston Pops Orchestra and has made several guest appearances on talk shows.
Here are some of the most memorable songs from the rock legend’s career.
1. “Runaway”
The song that started it all. Jon recorded Runaway at his cousin’s studio in 1980, and a local radio station included it on a compilation tape that received regular airplay. It eventually caught the attention of record producer Derek Shulman, who contacted Bon Jovi and tasked them with recording an album. They responded with Slippery When Wet, which exploded on the charts, selling over 14 million copies and becoming one of the top-selling albums in history alongside Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Jon Bon Jovi and his bandmates – drummer Tico Torres, bassist Alec John Such, and guitarists Richie Sambora and John Shanks – cemented themselves as hard rock royalty with the release of the album.
2. “Bad Medicine”
The follow-up to their massively successful debut. After releasing an album that topped the Billboard Hot 100, it was vital for Bon Jovi to produce a hit that was just as strong. They did just that with this power ballad about a high school romance that was probably inspired by Jon’s own relationship with his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley, whom he married in 1989. It’s one of the most played songs on the band’s live tours and has over 205 million streams on Spotify.
3. “New Jersey”
A swaggering cowboy rockstar anthem, “New Jersey” peaked at Number 13 in April 198 and remains the band’s fourth US number one. It’s been covered by the likes of Dolly Parton, and has over 206 million views on YouTube.
Born John Bongiovi, the New Jersey native is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor. He has released 14 studio albums and is an inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also an owner of the Arena Football League team Philadelphia Soul and founded the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in 2006. Jon is a spokesman for the American Red Cross and has performed at numerous fundraising concerts for presidential candidates, including Al Gore, John Kerry, and Barack Obama.