Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and politician best known as one half of the pop duo Sonny & Cher.

Sonny Bono was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and politician best known as one half of the pop duo Sonny & Cher. He later served as mayor of Palm Springs, California, and as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He died in a skiing accident in 1998.

Early life and music career

Bono was born Salvatore Phillip Bono on February 16, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan. He worked in the music industry as a songwriter, producer, and performer before rising to prominence through his partnership with Cher in Sonny & Cher, which became a successful pop act in the 1960s and 1970s.

Sonny & Cher

As part of Sonny & Cher, Bono helped create a string of popular recordings and a television presence that made the pair widely known in entertainment. Their best-known songs included 'I Got You Babe' and 'The Beat Goes On'.

Political career

Bono entered politics later in life, serving as mayor of Palm Springs and then winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a Republican and served in Congress from 1995 until his death in 1998.

Death and legacy

Bono died on January 5, 1998, at age 62 after hitting a tree while skiing at Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe, California. His name later became associated with the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, and he is remembered both as a pop performer and as a public official.