Sonny Bono
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 44th district
In office 1994 - 1998 Final term completed by widow Mary Bono US Congressional picture of Sonny Bono File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Map Californias 44th District currently covers an area of Southern California from San Clemente in Orange County on the coast, north-by-northeast inland to Riverside County, including the cities of Corona, Norco, Rubidoux, and Riverside. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ...
Preceded by	Alfred A. McCandless
Succeeded by	Mary Bono
Born	February 16, 1935(1935-02-16) Detroit, Michigan
Died	January 5, 1998 (aged 62) South Lake Tahoe, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Bono Cher, aka Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere (divorced June 27, 1975) Alfred A. McCandless (b. ... Mary Bono Mary Whitaker Bono (born October 24, 1961), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1998, representing the 45th District of California (map) which includes most of central and eastern Riverside County, including Palm Springs. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (Latin for, We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) Location in Wayne County, Michigan Coordinates: Country United States State Michigan County Wayne County Settled 1701 Incorporation 1806 Government  - Type Strong Mayor-Council  - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Area  - City  143. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... South Lake Tahoe is a city located in El Dorado County, California, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Mary Bono Mary Whitaker Bono (born October 24, 1961), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1998, representing the 45th District of California (map) which includes most of central and eastern Riverside County, including Palm Springs. ... Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere (better known as Cher) (born on May 20, 1946),[1] is an Academy Award-winning American actress, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. ... June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...
Religion	Roman Catholic(Public) Scientologist(Private)

Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (February 16, 1935(1935-02-16) – January 5, 1998) was an American record producer, singer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A Scientologist is a believer in Scientology. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Ercole de Roberti: Concert, c. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ...

Entertainment career

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Bono began his music career working for the legendary record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s as a promotion man, percussionist and "gofer." One of his earliest songwriting efforts was "Needles and Pins." Later in the same decade, he achieved commercial success, along with his then-wife Cher, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher. Bono wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records with singles like "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On," although Cher received more attention as the musical talent. Sonny and Cher starred in a popular television variety show, The Sonny and Cher Show, which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1977. Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Harvey Phillip Spector (born December 26, 1939) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. ... Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere (better known as Cher) (born on May 20, 1946),[1] is an Academy Award-winning American actress, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. ... Sonny and Cher were an American rock and roll duo, made up of husband and wife team Sonny Bono and Cher in the 1960s and 1970s. ... I Got You Babe is a 1965 number-one hit single by American rock music duo Sonny & Cher. ... The Beat Goes On is a song that Sonny & Cher released in 1967 on their album In Case Youre in Love. ... A variety show is a show with a variety of acts, often including music and comedy skits, especially on television. ... The Sonny and Cher Show was a United States television variety show of the 1970s starring singing duo (and then husband and wife) Sonny Bono and Cher. ... CBS is one of the largest radio and television networks in the United States. ...

Bono continued his acting career, doing bit roles in such shows as Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. He played the part of mad bomber Joe Seluchi in Airplane II: The Sequel and the part of Franklin von Tussle in John Waters's Hairspray. In the film "Men In Black," Bono is one of several oddball celebrities seen on a wall of video screens that monitor extra-terrestrials living among us. Fantasy Island refers to two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network. ... The Love Boat was an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from 1977 until 1986. ... It has been suggested that Tracy Turnblad be merged into this article or section. ... Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy action film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent DOnofrio. ...

Political career

Bono entered politics after experiencing great frustration with local government bureaucracy in trying to open a restaurant in Palm Springs, California. With conservative talk radio host Marshall Gilbert as his campaign manager (and later as the godfather of his two children by his wife, Mary), Bono placed a successful bid to become the new mayor of Palm Springs. He was instrumental in making the city more business-friendly and in spearheading the creation of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, now held each year in Bono's memory. Palm Springs is a famed Riverside County, California, desert resort city, approximately 110 miles east of Los Angeles. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... A godparent, in some denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a childs baptism. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ...

After unsuccessfully running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1992, Bono was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 to represent California's 44th District. He introduced the controversial Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act during his tenure to benefit the music industry. The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 extended copyright terms in the United States by 20 years. ...

He championed the restoration of the Salton Sea, bringing the giant lake's plight to national attention. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich made a public appearance and speech at the shore of the lake on Bono's behalf. The Salton Sea is an inland saline lake, located in the Colorado Desert in Southern California, north of the Imperial Valley. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the... Newton Leroy Gingrich (born June 17, 1943), Ph. ...

In their book "Tell Newt to Shut Up", David Maraniss and Michael Weisskopf credit Bono with being the first person to recognize Gingrich's public relations problems in 1995. Drawing on his long experience as a celebrity and entertainment producer, Bono (according to Maraniss and Weisskopf) recognized that Gingrich's status had changed from politician to celebrity, and that Gingrich was not making allowances for that change: David Maraniss (1949- ) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. ... Michael Weisskopf is a senior correspondent for Time magazine. ...

"You're a celebrity now," he told Gingrich. "The rules are different for celebrities. I know it. I've been there. I've been a celebrity. I used to be a bigger celebrity. But let me tell you, you're not being handled right. This is not political news coverage. This is celebrity status. You need handlers. You need to understand what you're doing. You need to understand the attitude of the media toward celebrities."

Maraniss and Weisskopf go on to say that Gingrich did not heed Bono's advice. Gingrich was not interested in image for image sake, but rather in fulfilling his role as an elected leader.

Although a conservative, Bono's celebrity status and easy-going manner allowed him to develop friendships across party lines. In addition, Bono brought a plain-spoken sensibility to Congress. Asked for his views on illegal immigration, he responded, "what can I say, it's illegal." It is also noted that when his daugther Chastity came out as a lesbian that he was more accepting than Cher was at first. Coming out of the closet (very often shortened to coming out in winking reference to the public introduction of debutantes) describes the voluntary public announcement of ones (often homosexual or bisexual) sexual orientation, gender identity, or paraphilia. ... Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere (better known as Cher) (born on May 20, 1946),[1] is an Academy Award-winning American actress, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. ...

Personal life

Bono married his first wife, Donna Rankin, on Nov. 3, 1954 and they had a daughter, Christine ("Christy"), born on June 24, 1958, before divorcing in 1962. Bono and Cher had a daughter, Chastity Bono, on March 4, 1969. Six years later, in 1975, Bono and Cher divorced. Bono then married Susie Coelho, but divorced her in 1984; he married again in 1986 to the much younger Mary Whitaker. The couple had two children, Chesare Elan Bono (a son, born 1988) and Chianna Marie Bono (a daughter, born 1991). He became a Scientologist, partly because of the influence of Mimi Rogers, but stated that he was still a Roman Catholic on all official documents, campaign materials, web sites, etc. Mary Bono also took Scientology courses.^[1] Chastity Bono (born March 4, 1969) is an American actress as well as advocate for human rights and gay rights. ... Susie Coelho (born 7 December 1953) is a television personality on Home and Garden Televisions Surprise Gardner and Outer Spaces and formerly the third wife of Sonny Bono. ... Mary Bono Mary Whitaker Bono (born October 24, 1961), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1998, representing the 45th District of California (map) which includes most of central and eastern Riverside County, including Palm Springs. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. ... Mimi Rogers (born Miriam Spickler on January 27, 1956 in Coral Gables, Florida) is an American movie actress and competitive poker player. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Mary Bono Mary Whitaker Bono (born October 24, 1961), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1998, representing the 45th District of California (map) which includes most of central and eastern Riverside County, including Palm Springs. ...

Death

On January 5, 1998, Bono died of injuries after striking a tree while skiing on the Nevada side of the Heavenly Ski Resort that was near South Lake Tahoe, California. He was 62 years old. Bono's death came just days after Michael Kennedy died in a similar accident. Bono's widow, Mary, was elected to fill the remainder of the Congressional term. She has since been re-elected in her own right. She continues to champion many of her late husband's causes, including the ongoing fight to save the Salton Sea. January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... Alpine skier carving a turn on piste Members of the U.S. Air Force skiing (and snowboarding) at Keystone Resorts 14th Annual SnoFest Downhill Ski Racing This article is about snow skiing. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Heavenly Mountain Resort is a ski resort located on the California-Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe. ... South Lake Tahoe is a city located in El Dorado County, California, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Salton Sea is an inland saline lake, located in the Colorado Desert in Southern California, north of the Imperial Valley. ...

His ex-wife, Cher, gave a tearful eulogy at Bono's funeral, after which the attendees sang the song "The Beat Goes On". His final resting place is Desert Memorial Park in nearby Cathedral City, California, the same cemetery in which Frank Sinatra was laid to rest later that same year. The epitaph on Bono's headstone reads: "And the beat goes on" Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere (better known as Cher) (born on May 20, 1946),[1] is an Academy Award-winning American actress, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Fountain of Life in front of the city hall Cathedral City is a city located in Riverside County, California. ... Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was a jazz oriented popular singer and Academy Award-winning actor. ...

Trivia

• Bono was a champion of the Salton Sea in south-eastern-southern California where a park was later named in his honor. The 2005 documentary film Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (narrated by John Waters) features Bono and documented the lives of the inhabitants of Bombay Beach, Niland, and Salton City, as well as the ecological issues associated with the Sea.
• The rock band A have a song named "I Love Lake Tahoe" (featured on the A vs Monkey Kong album) which includes the line, "Yeah the trees are pretty wide / That's where Sonny Bono died.".
• He was the godfather of the Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis.
• The All Saints song "Never Ever" is dedicated to Bono's memory.
• Since his death, rapper Eminem has used Bono and the circumstances surrounding his death as a line in several songs, including "Role Model" and "Who Knew".
• A plaque near Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. reads: "In Memory of my friend Sonny Bono"
• American pop singer Britney Spears did a cover of "The Beat Goes On" later in the same year that Bono died. The song appears on her debut album ...Baby One More Time

Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... John Waters (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A godparent, in some denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a childs baptism. ... Red Hot Chili Peppers is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. ... Anthony Kiedis (born November 1, 1962) is the lead singer and a co-founder of the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. ... All Saints is a British Pop girl band that released their debut self-titled album in 1997. ... Never Ever was the second single released from All Saints debut album, All Saints. ... Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known as Eminem or Slim Shady, is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor from the Detroit, Michigan area. ... Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is a Grammy Award-winning[1] American pop singer, dancer, actress, author and songwriter. ... ...Baby One More Time is the debut album from American pop singer Britney Spears. ...

Note

1. ^ Proud Mary Bono, George, August 1999

See also

• Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act
• List of famous skiing deaths
• List of actor-politicians
• Sonny Bono Park

The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 extended copyright terms in the United States by 20 years. ... Related lists Lists of people by cause of death Skiing and skiing topics Categories: Skiing | Lists of people by cause of death ... Partial list of politicians who also worked as actors: Sonny Bono (U.S. Representative, California) Shirley Temple Black (U.S. diplomat) Michael Cashman (UK) Clint Eastwood (Mayor of Carmel, California) Helen Gahagan (U.S. Representative, California) Fred Grandy (U.S. Representative, Iowa) Nancy Kulp (Democratic nominee for U.S. House... Sonny Bono Park is a park in northwest Washington, D.C., at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue, 20th Street, and O Street. ...

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• http://www.who2.com/sonnybono.html
• Sonny Bono: Laugh At Me ATCO Home Page, Inner Views Album and Singles