On this day in history, November 8, 1994, Salvatore 'Sonny' Bono is elected to the US Congress
On this day in history in 1994, Salvatore "Sonny" Bono, widely recognized as part of the Sonny and Cher musical duo, was elected to the US Congress.
Bono had already established a successful career in the entertainment world as a singer-songwriter, producer, and actor. His election to Congress, however, marked a significant turning point in his professional journey.
Bono's transition from the sparkle of Hollywood to the power halls of Washington DC was quite surprising. Before his decision to run for the mayor of Palm Springs, California, in 1988, he had no previous political experience.
His successful stint as mayor laid the groundwork for his congressional campaign.
Salvatore 'Sonny' Bono's music career
Born in Detroit, Sonny Bono was the son of Zena "Jean" and Santo Bono, both of Italian descent. He was the youngest of three siblings and moved to Inglewood, California, at the age of seven.
His mother apparently referred to him as "Sono" as a term of love, which turned into "Sonny" later on.
Bono reportedly decided to enter the music business early in life and began writing songs as a teenager. His song 'Koko Joe' was recorded by Don and Dewey in 1958 and covered by artists like The Righteous Brothers.
Bono apparently attended Inglewood High School but dropped out to pursue a career as a songwriter and performer. He worked various jobs, including as a waiter, truck driver, construction laborer, and butcher's helper, to break into the music industry.
Sonny Bono and his spouse Cher achieved commercial success in 1965. 'I Got You Babe' and 'The Beat Goes On' are only two of the popular records they made.
In Cher's early solo music career, Bono was also a major contributor, composing and producing hits like 'Bang Bang' and 'You Better Sit Down Kids'. In the early and middle 1970s, they carried on their collaboration as stars of TV programs, including 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour' and 'The Sonny Comedy Revue'.
Following their divorce, they went back to performing together on 'The Sonny and Cher Show'. In 1987, they made their final appearance on David Letterman's 'Late Night show'. In 2011, Bono became a member of the Michigan Rock & Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
Salvatore 'Sonny' Bono's acting career
Sonny Bono acted in a number of movies and television shows over his career. 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.', 'Fantasy Island', 'Charlie's Angels', 'The Love Boat', 'The Six Million Dollar Man', and 'CHiPs' were among the TV series in which he made cameo appearances. In the television movie 'Murder on Flight 502', released in 1975, Sonny portrayed the character of a rock star named Jack Marshall. He also made an appearance in the 1980 miniseries titled 'Top of the Hill'. In addition, he appeared in 'Troll', 'Hairspray', and 'Airplane II: The Sequel' among other movies.
Salvatore 'Sonny' Bono's election to Congress
Sonny Bono ventured into politics due to his dissatisfaction with local government bureaucracy when he attempted to establish a restaurant in Palm Springs, California.
His successful run for mayor led to his tenure from 1988 to 1992. As mayor, he was instrumental in founding the Palm Springs International Film Festival, which is now held annually in his honor.
In 1992, Bono sought the Republican nomination for the US Senate but was defeated by the more conservative Bruce Herschensohn, who subsequently lost the general election to Democrat Barbara Boxer. Despite the political rivalry, Bono and Herschensohn developed a close friendship.
In 1994, Bono initially considered running for lieutenant governor but shifted his focus to Congress when Republican Al McCandless announced his retirement.
Bono secured the Republican nomination and won the general election, representing California's 44th congressional district. He was reelected in 1996 and served until his untimely death.
'Sonny' Bono's personal life
Sonny Bono was married four times in his life. His first marriage was to Donna Rankin on November 3, 1954, and they had a daughter named Christine, born on June 24, 1958. The couple divorced in 1962.
In 1964, Bono married Cherilyn Sarkisian, who later gained fame as the singer and actress Cher. They had a daughter named Chastity, now known as Chaz, born on March 4, 1969. The couple ended their marriage in 1975.
Bono's third marriage was to actress-model Susie Coelho. They were married on New Year's Eve 1981 and divorced in 1984.
His fourth and final marriage was to Mary Whitaker in 1986. The couple had two children, a son named Chesare Elan born in 1988, and a daughter named Chianna Maria born in 1991. Mary was widowed after Bono's death, per LA Times.
How did Bono die?
Sonny Bono tragically died on January 5, 1998, due to injuries sustained from a skiing accident at the Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, California, per Washington Post.
Cher, at the request of Mary, delivered a heartfelt eulogy at Sonny's funeral. His final resting place is the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California, with his headstone bearing the poignant epitaph "AND THE BEAT GOES ON."
Following Sonny's death, his wife Mary Bono reportedly stepped into his congressional role. She was elected to complete the remainder of her husband's term and subsequently won seven more terms in her own right before her defeat in the 2012 election.