Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi on March 2, 1962) is the lead singer of the highly successful rock band Bon Jovi.

Biography

Jon Bon Jovi was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and raised in Sayreville. His mother, Carol Sharkey, was a former playboy bunny and his father, John Bongiovi, was a coiffeur/hair stylist of partial Italian ancestry.

John Bongiovi attended Sayreville War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey, and later adopted the stage name Jon Bon Jovi at the behest of the record company that he signed with. His early career was assisted by his cousin, Tony Bongiovi, a notable record producer who owned the Power Station recording studio. Jon worked as a janitor at the studio, and in periods of studio downtime recorded his own material, helped by his uncle. An album of these early recordings The Power Station Years was released in 1999.

Bon Jovi married Dorothea Hurley on April 29, 1989 in the Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. He fathered one daughter, Stephanie Rose Bongiovi (born on May 31, 1993), and three sons, Jesse James Louis Bongiovi (born on February 19, 2005) Jacob Hurley Bongiovi (born on May 7, 2002) and Romeo Jon Bongiovi (born on March 29, 2004).

Bon Jovi discovered the band Cinderella in 1985, at the Empire Rock Club in Pennsylvania. They opened for Bon Jovi during the Slippery When Wet tour and Bon Jovi has remained an avid supporter of the band ever since.

Bon Jovi is a credited actor in the movies Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Anywhere But Here,Destination Anywhere, Homegrown, Little City, No Looking Back, 'Row Your Boat, Vampires Los Muertos, U-571, Cry Wolf and National Lampoon's Pucked . He also had a supporting role in the movie Pay It Forward, where he played Helen Hunt's abusive ex-husband. His TV series appearances include Sex and the City and an extended stint on Ally McBeal, as well as a guest appearance on The West Wing.

Jon Bon Jovi can also be seen very briefly in Young Guns 2: Blaze of Glory. Uncredited, cowboy in pit.

Bon Jovi's first appearance in any musical production was in the 1980 Star Wars album, Christmas in the Stars. He was the lead in singing the song, "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas." (Credited as John Bongiovi).

Jon Bon Jovi has recorded two solo albums: Blaze of Glory (1990) and Destination Anywhere (1997) and sold over 100 million albums with the band Bon Jovi.

Jon Bon Jovi has worked on behalf of the Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and other groups.

On June 15, 2001, Jon Bon Jovi addressed the Oxford Union debate society.

In 2004 he became founder and owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League with friend and fellow band member Richie Sambora. He appeared in several television commercials for the league. Bon Jovi claims to have been a football fan, especially of the New York Giants, for his entire life.^*

On September 21, 2005, during an appearance on her show, the Bon Jovi band donated $1,000,000 to Oprah Winfrey for her Angel Network foundation. As of 2006, this is the highest amount donated by any single celebrity on Oprah's show.

His cousin is Robert Hegyes, who played Epstein on the 1970s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.

He currently lives in a wealthy part of Middletown, New Jersey. He has donated more than 25 000 dollars to the Democratic Party of U.S

Awards

1989: American Music Award: Best Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group; award shared with his band
1990: Golden Globe: Best Song, Blaze of Glory (from Young Guns II soundtrack)
1991: MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award; shared with his band
2001: Humanitarian of the Year by The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties for his charitable work on behalf of the people of New Jersey
2001: Honorary doctorate in Humanities degree from Monmouth University in New Jersey, for his success as an entertainer and his humanitarian work
2004: He and his band get the Award of merit at the American music awards for their long career and during that year he campaigned strongly for John Kerry
2005: He and his band get the Diamond award at the Worlds music awards for selling 100 million albums
2006: Along with Jennifer Nettles, won an award for Best Collaborative Video for 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' from Bon Jovi's Have a Nice Day CD

Discography

Bon Jovi Discography

Jon Bon Jovi Discography

External links