Jon Bon Jovi is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist and actor. He is the founder and lead vocalist of the band Bon Jovi, which has sold more than 130 million albums worldwide. He has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was named one of the 100 Greatest Singers by Rolling Stone magazine.
Born John Francis Bongiovi Jr in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the son of barber John Bongiovi Sr and Playboy Bunny turned florist Carol, he was raised Catholic. He attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, where he played football and sang in the school choir.
Bon Jovi formed in 1983 in New Jersey and started out as a stadium rock and glam metal band, complete with big hair. They are still one of the most popular bands in the world and have been around for over 30 years, despite original bassist Alec John Such dying in 2022 and guitarist Richie Sambora leaving in 2013. The band is made up of drummer Tico Torres, keyboardist David Bryan, singer Jon Bon Jovi, and guitarist Phil X.
The group’s biggest hits include ‘Slippery When Wet’, ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ and ‘Always’. Bon Jovi has also found success in film and TV, with credited appearances on the movies Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Homegrown, Row Your Boat, U-571, Cry Wolf, National Lampoon’s Pucked, and a short stint on Ally McBeal. He has been the host of his own radio show and has written two novels.
In addition to his music career, he has become involved in charity work, and in 2009, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation was founded. The foundation addresses issues of poverty, hunger, and homelessness in America. Bon Jovi has also worked on behalf of the Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and Covenant House.
In the sports arena, Bon Jovi has owned and operated his own professional indoor soccer team, the Philadelphia Soul, since 1994, and was a minority owner of the New Jersey Devils from 1997 to 2009. He tried to purchase the Buffalo Bills in 2011, but lost out to Terry and Kim Pegula. He is also the co-founder of the Bounce Entertainment Group and has several other business interests. In his personal life, he is an avid golfer and has been married twice. He has four children. He has been a supporter of Democratic politics, and has performed at a Manhattan fundraiser for Hillary Clinton to help lessen her 2008 campaign debt. He has also performed at a number of acoustic benefit shows for Democratic Governor Jon Corzine. Bon Jovi has a strong work ethic, and is an inspiration to young people. He has said that he never gives up on his dreams, and that no matter how bad things seem in the moment, they will turn around for the better eventually. He is a role model for many people, and continues to inspire with his live concerts.