View source for Sonny Bono

{{short description|American singer, record producer, comedian, actor, and politician (1935–1998)}}
{{for|the lead singer of U2|Bono}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Sonny Bono
| image               = Sonny Bono in 1966.jpg
| caption             = Bono in 1966
| state               = [[California]]
| district            = {{ushr|CA|44|44th}}
| term_start          = January 3, 1995
| term_end            = January 5, 1998
| predecessor         = [[Al McCandless]]
| successor           = [[Mary Bono]]
| order1              = 16th
| office1             = Mayor of Palm Springs
| term_start1         = April 1988
| term_end1           = April 1992
| predecessor1        = [[Frank Bogert]]
| successor1          = Lloyd Maryanov
| birth_name          = Salvatore Phillip Bono
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1935|2|16}}
| birth_place         = [[Detroit, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1998|1|5|1935|2|16}}
| death_place         = [[South Lake Tahoe, California]], U.S.
| death_cause         = [[Blunt trauma]] as a result of a [[skiing]] accident.
| resting_place       = [[Desert Memorial Park]], [[Cathedral City, California]], U.S.
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Donna Rankin|1954|1962|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Cher]]<!-- was her name at the time of marriage -->|1969|1975|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Susie Coelho]]|1981|1984|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Mary Bono|Mary Whitaker]]<!-- was her name at the time of marriage -->|1986}}}}
| children            = 4, including [[Chaz Bono|Chaz]]
| residence           = [[Palm Springs, California]], U.S.
| occupation          = {{flatlist|
* Singer 
* songwriter 
* actor 
* politician
}}
| module              = {{Infobox musical artist
  |embed           = yes
  |origin          = [[Inglewood, California]], U.S.
  |genre           = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[pop rock]]|[[Folk music|folk]]|[[Rock music|rock]]}}
  |years_active    = 1963–1998
  |instruments     = Vocals
  |past_member_of  = [[Sonny & Cher]]
}}
}}
'''Salvatore Phillip''' "'''Sonny'''" '''Bono''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|oʊ|n|oʊ}} {{respell|BOH|noh}}; February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American singer, songwriter, actor, and politician. In partnership with his second wife, [[Cher]], he formed the singing duo [[Sonny & Cher]]. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], Bono served as the 16th [[mayor of Palm Springs, California]], from 1988 to 1992, and served as the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for [[California's 44th congressional district|California's 44th district]] from 1995 until his death in 1998.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9801/06/bono.obit/|title=CNN – Sonny Bono killed in skiing accident – Jan. 6, 1998|website=CNN}}</ref>

The United States [[Copyright Term Extension Act]] of 1998, which extended the term of copyright by 20 years, was named in honor of Bono when it was passed by Congress nine months after his death. [[Mary Bono]] (his widow and successor in Congress) had been one of the original sponsors of the legislation, commonly known as the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.copyright.gov/reports/annual/2002/litigation.html |title=U.S. Copyright Office: Annual Report 2002: Litigation |publisher=Copyright.gov |access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Bono was born in [[Detroit]], the son of Zena "Jean" ({{née|DiMercurio}}) and Santo Bono.<ref name=Larocque>{{cite book |last=Larocque |first=Jason |date=2013 |title=Cher: You Haven't Seen The Last of Me |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xYfUBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA35 |location=Charlotte, NC |publisher=Baker & Taylor |page=35 |isbn=978-1-300-88858-1}}</ref> His father was born in [[Montelepre]], [[province of Palermo|Palermo]], Italy; his mother was also of Italian descent. His mother called him "Sono" as a term of endearment, which evolved over time into "Sonny".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800057596/bio |title=Sonny Bono Biography |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |access-date=October 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217050528/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800057596/bio |archive-date=February 17, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilovepalmsprings.us/2016/02/palm-springs-remembers-sonny-bono.html |title=Palm Springs Remembers Sonny Bono – February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998 |last=Kephart |first=Robert |date=February 16, 2016 |website=I Love Palm Springs! |publisher=Palm Springs Guru |location=Palm Springs, CA |access-date=January 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213083315/http://www.ilovepalmsprings.us/2016/02/palm-springs-remembers-sonny-bono.html |url-status=usurped}}</ref> Sonny was the youngest of three siblings; he had two sisters, Fran and Betty.<ref name="Larocque" /> The family moved to [[Inglewood, California]], when he was seven, and his parents divorced soon afterwards.<ref name="Larocque" /> Bono decided early in life to become part of the music business, and began writing songs as a teenager.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Morris |first1=Chris |last2=Holland |first2=Bill |date=January 17, 1998 |title=Bono Recalled as Politician and Performer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rg0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location=New York, NY |page=16}}</ref> "Koko Joe", a song he wrote at age 16, was recorded by [[Don and Dewey]] in 1958, and later covered by several other artists, including [[the Righteous Brothers]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hodenfield |first=Chris |date=May 24, 1973 |title=As Bare As You Dare With Sonny and Cher |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/as-bare-as-you-dare-with-sonny-and-cher-177349/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=New York, NY}}</ref> Bono attended [[Inglewood High School (California)|Inglewood High School]], but did not graduate, opting to drop out so he could begin to pursue a career as a songwriter and performer.<ref name="Larocque" /><ref name=chronology>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-07-mn-5814-story.html |title=Sonny Bono, a Chronology |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 7, 1998 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |first=Nona |last=Yates}}</ref> He worked at a variety of jobs while trying to break into the music business, including waiter, truck driver, construction laborer, and butcher's helper.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bego |first=Mark |date=2001 |title=Cher: If You Believe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zH6rkKoFLWkC&pg=PA21 |location=Lanham, MD |publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing |page=21 |isbn=978-1-58979-135-0 |author-link=Mark Bego}}</ref>

== Career ==
=== Entertainment career ===
{{See also|Sonny & Cher}}
[[File:SonnyCher1966.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Sonny & Cher]], 1966]]

Bono began his music career as a songwriter at [[Specialty Records]], where his song "Things You Do to Me" was recorded by [[Sam Cooke]], and went on to work for record producer [[Phil Spector]] in the early 1960s as a promotion man, percussionist and "gofer". One of his earliest songwriting efforts, "[[Needles and Pins (song)|Needles and Pins]]", was co-written with [[Jack Nitzsche]], another member of Spector's production team. In 1965, he achieved commercial success with his wife [[Cher]] in the singing duo [[Sonny & Cher]]. Bono wrote, arranged and produced a number of hit records including the singles "[[I Got You Babe]]" and "[[The Beat Goes On (Sonny & Cher song)|The Beat Goes On]]", although Cher received more attention as a performer.<ref name=pc44 /> He played a major part in Cher's early solo recording career, writing and producing singles including "[[Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)|Bang Bang]]" and "[[You Better Sit Down Kids]]".

Under a pseudonym, Bono co-wrote "She Said Yeah",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?Main_Search_Text=she%20said%20yeah&Main_Search=Title&Sub_Search=Please%20Select&Search_Type=all&View_Count=0&Page_Number=0 |title=BMI &#124; Songview Search}}</ref> covered by [[the Rolling Stones]] on their 1965 LP ''[[Out of Our Heads]]''. His lone hit single as a solo artist, "[[Laugh at Me]]", was released in 1965 and peaked at No. 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In live concerts, Bono introduced the song by saying "I'd like to sing a medley of my hit". "[[Laugh at Me]]" was also covered by Mott The Hoople on their first album, released in 1969. His only other single as a solo artist, "The Revolution Kind", reached No. 70 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 later that year. His solo album, ''[[Inner Views]]'', was released in 1967.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rhinohandmade.com/product/inner-views |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210234725/http://www.rhinohandmade.com/product/inner-views |archive-date=February 10, 2015| title=Sonny Bono – Inner Views| publisher=[[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Handmade]] |access-date=June 1, 2024}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Sonny-Bono.jpg|thumb|left|Sonny Bono in 1966 during a performance]]

Bono continued to work with Cher through the early and mid-1970s, starring in a popular television variety show, ''[[The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour]]'', which ran on [[CBS]] from 1971 to 1974. Around the time that ''The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour'' was in development, Bono grew his now famous mustache, which he would continue to wear for the rest of his life. In 1974, his solo variety show, ''[[The Sonny Comedy Revue]]'', ran on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] for one season. From 1976 to 1977, the duo, since divorced, returned to perform together on ''[[The Sonny and Cher Show]]''. Their last appearance together was on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' on November 13, 1987, on which they sang "[[I Got You Babe]]".<ref>"Sonny & Cher Boost Ratings". ''The New Mexican''. Santa Fe, New Mexico. November 29, 1987, p. 35, accessed through [[NewspaperARCHIVE.com]] on March 13, 2009.</ref><ref>"Sonny and Cher Reunited on David Letterman Show." ''Aiken Standard''. Aiken, South Carolina. November 15, 1987. p. 3. accessed through NewspaperARCHIVE.com on March 13, 2009.</ref>

{{quote box
| quote = "What we call a [[hook (music)|hook]] hits you, ... then you're almost not writing, lyrics come to you, a sort of magic takes over, and it's not like work at all."
| source = -Sonny Bono on songwriting, 1967 ''[[Pop Chronicles]]'' interview.<ref name=pc44>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19808/m1/#track/1 |show=44 |track=1 |title=Show 44 – Revolt of the Fat Angel: Some samples of the Los Angeles sound. [Part 4]}}</ref>
| width = 30%
}}In 2011, Sonny Bono was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/mrrl-hall-of-fame/191-sonny-bono|title=Michigan Rock and Roll Legends – Sonny Bono|first=Gary|last=Johnson|publisher=www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com}}</ref>

==== Film and television ====
Bono's acting career included bit parts as a guest performer in such television series as ''[[The Man From U.N.C.L.E.]]'' (appearing with Cher in "The Hot Number Affair"), ''[[Fantasy Island]]'', ''[[Charlie's Angels]]'', ''[[The Love Boat]]'', ''[[The Six Million Dollar Man]]'' and ''[[CHiPs]]''. In the 1975 TV movie ''[[Murder on Flight 502]]'', he played the role of rock star Jack Marshall. He appeared in the 1980 miniseries ''Top of the Hill''. He played the role of mad bomber Joe Selucci in ''[[Airplane II: The Sequel]]'' (1982) and played the role of Peter Dickinson in the 1986 horror film ''[[Troll (1986 film)|Troll]].'' He portrayed racist entrepreneur Franklin Von Tussle in the [[John Waters]] film ''[[Hairspray (1988 film)|Hairspray]]'' (1988). He appeared as the Mayor of Palm Springs (which he was at the time) in several episodes of ''[[P.S. I Luv U]]'' during the 1991–92 TV season, and on ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' (in season 1, episode 9 "The Man of Steel Bars", which aired November 21, 1993), he played Mayor Frank Berkowitz. He made a minor appearance as himself in the comedy film ''[[First Kid]]'' (1996). A portrait of Bono appeared in the ''[[VeggieTales]]'' episode "Dave and the Giant Pickle", in the Silly Songs with Larry segment ''I Love My Lips'' (original version).

Bono guest-starred as himself on ''[[The Golden Girls]]'' episode "Mrs. George Devereaux" (originally broadcast November 17, 1990), in which he vied with [[Lyle Waggoner]] for Dorothy's ([[Bea Arthur]]) affection in a dream sequence. In Blanche's ([[Rue McClanahan]]) dream, her husband is still alive, and Bono uses his power as Mayor of Palm Springs to have Waggoner falsely arrested so he can have Dorothy to himself. Sophia ([[Estelle Getty]]) had been hoping for Sonny and Dorothy to get together and actively supported Sonny.

=== Political career ===
{{See also|Copyright Term Extension Act}}
[[File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan shaking hands with Sonny Bono and Mary Bono.jpg|thumb|President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan are greeted by Sonny Bono and Mary Bono on their arrival via [[Air Force One]] in Palm Springs, California, December 29, 1988.|left|185x185px]]
Bono entered politics after experiencing frustration with local government bureaucracy while trying to open a restaurant in [[Palm Springs, California]]. He made a successful bid for mayor and served from 1988 to 1992.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000622| title=Bono, Sonny – Biographical Information| publisher=Bioguide.congress.gov| access-date=October 8, 2009}}</ref> As mayor, Bono spearheaded the creation of the [[Palm Springs International Film Festival]], which is held each year in his memory.

Bono ran for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nomination for [[United States Senate]] in 1992, but lost to the more conservative [[Bruce Herschensohn]], who lost the general election to Democrat [[Barbara Boxer]]. Bono and Herschensohn became close friends after the campaign. In 1994, Bono planned to run for lieutenant governor, but decided to run for Congress when Republican [[Al McCandless]] announced his retirement. Bono won the Republican nomination and the general election to represent [[California's 44th congressional district]]. He was reelected in 1996 and served from January 1995 until his death.

[[File:Sonny Bono.jpg|thumb|Bono's official portrait, 1995]]

In the House, Bono was one of 12 co-sponsors of a House bill extending the [[copyright term|length of terms]] for [[copyright protection]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR02589: |title=Bill Summary & Status – 105th Congress (1997–1998) – H.R.2589 – THOMAS (Library of Congress) |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |date=March 26, 1998 |access-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-date=November 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127023519/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR02589: |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although that bill was never voted on in the Senate, a similar Senate bill was passed after his death and named the [[Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act]] in his memory. It is also known (derisively) as the [[Mickey Mouse]] Protection Act.<ref>Lawrence Lessig, ''Copyright's First Amendment'', 48 UCLA L. Rev. 1057, 1065 (2001)</ref>

He championed the restoration of the [[Salton Sea]],<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/EARTH/9801/16/salton.sea/index.html| title=Salton Sea rescue to be named for Sonny Bono| publisher=[[CNN]]| date=January 16, 1998}}</ref> bringing the giant lake's plight to national attention. In 1998, then [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] [[Newt Gingrich]] made a public appearance and speech at the shore of the lake on Bono's behalf.

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 he was not making allowances for that change:

{{blockquote|You're a celebrity now... 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.}}

Bono remains the only member of Congress to have scored a number-one pop single on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Rewinding the Charts: Fifty Years Ago, Sonny & Cher 'Got' to No. 1| url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/rewinding-the-charts-fifty-years-ago-sonny-cher-got-to-no-1/| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]| access-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref>

== Personal life ==



Bono was a godparent of [[Anthony Kiedis]] of the band [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]; he was a close friend of Kiedis's father, Blackie Dammett.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/punk5/englishrhcpgenius/anthony.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112173008/http://www.angelfire.com/punk5/englishrhcpgenius/anthony.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |title=Anthony Kiedis |work=[[Angelfire]] |access-date=April 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news-article/kiedis.-bedroom-joy-with-cher |title=Kiedis' Bedroom Joy With Cher |journal=[[Contactmusic.com]] |date=October 11, 2004 |access-date=April 25, 2012}}</ref>

=== Marriages ===
Bono was married four times. He married his first wife, Donna Rankin, on November 3, 1954. Their daughter Christine ("Christy") was born on June 24, 1958. They divorced in 1962.

In 1964, Bono and Cheryl Sarkisian, later known as singer and actress [[Cher]], had an unofficial wedding.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Avila |first=Daniela |date=November 19, 2024 |title=Cher Says She Once Considered Jumping Off a Balcony When She Felt 'Trapped' in 'Loveless Marriage' to Sonny Bono |url=https://people.com/cher-considered-jumping-off-balcony-when-she-felt-trapped-loveless-marriage-sonny-bono-8747700 |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref> The couple legally married in 1969 after the birth of their daughter, Chastity Sun Bono, who later, as a [[trans man]] legally changed his name to [[Chaz Bono|Chaz Salvatore Bono]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-05-07 |title=Cher's son now officially a man |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8667595.stm |access-date=2025-11-19 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Bono and Cher ended their romantic relationship in 1972 but remained married to maintain their public image. Their marriage had deteriorated due to Sonny's infidelity and controlling behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=2024-11-20 |title=Cher Says Lucille Ball Told Her to Leave Sonny -- and More Things We Learned From Her Memoir |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/cher-memoir-sonny-relationship-1235173707/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> By 1973, they were still sharing a home but were dating other people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=On the Record |url=https://people.com/archive/on-the-record-vol-49-no-18/ |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref> After competing legal filings in 1974 and a bitter custody battle, they finalized their divorce in 1975.<ref name=":0" /> Despite the turmoil, they eventually co-parented amicably, and Bono later apologized to Cher for how he treated her.<ref name=":0" />

On New Year's Eve 1981, Bono married actress-model [[Susie Coelho]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9AIiAAAAIBAJ&pg=3618%2C470399 |work=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=UPI photo |title=Singer-actor Sonny Bono |date=January 2, 1982 |page=6}}</ref> They divorced in 1984.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bono Takes Third Trip To The Altar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33827090/bono_takes_third_trip_to_the_altar/ |work=The Tampa Tribune |date=January 2, 1982}}{{free access}}</ref>

In 1986, he married [[Mary Bono|Mary Whitaker]]. The couple had two children: son Chesare Elan in 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria in 1991. Mary was widowed by Sonny's death.<ref name=chronology/>

=== Salton Sea ===
Bono was a champion of the [[Salton Sea]] in southeastern California, where a [[Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge|park]] was named in his honor. The 2005 documentary film ''[[Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea]]''<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.saltonseadoc.com/| title=Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea| publisher=Saltonseadoc.com| access-date=October 8, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702231218/http://www.saltonseadoc.com/| archive-date=July 2, 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref> (narrated by [[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]]) features Bono and documented the lives of the inhabitants of [[Bombay Beach, California|Bombay Beach]], [[Niland, California|Niland]] and [[Salton City, California|Salton City]], as well as the ecological issues associated with the Sea.

=== Religion ===
He became interested in [[Scientology]] and took Scientology courses partly because of the influence of [[Mimi Rogers]], but stated that he was a [[Roman Catholic]] on all official documents, campaign materials and websites.<ref>{{cite book| last1=Wright| first1=Lawrence| title=Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the prison of belief| date=November 5, 2013| publisher=Vintage| location=New York City| isbn=978-0-307-74530-9| pages=249–50}}</ref> His wife [[Mary Bono|Mary]] also took Scientology courses.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.salon.com/2011/02/10/scientology_friends_dc/| title=The Cult of Scientology's friends in Washington| first=Alex| last=Pareene| author-link=Alex Pareene| date=February 10, 2011| access-date=May 17, 2015| work=[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Proud Mary Bono |journal=[[George (magazine)|George]] |first=Ann| last=Bardach |date=August 1999}}</ref> However, after his death, Mary Bono stated that "Sonny did try to break away [from the Church of Scientology] at one point, and they made it very difficult for him." The Church of Scientology said there was no estrangement from Bono.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/clinton071599.htm| title=Bono Not Receptive to Scientologists| date=July 15, 1999| access-date=September 24, 2017| newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| first=Charles| last=Babington| page=A5}}</ref>

== Death ==
{{external media| float = left|width = 180px | video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?99661-1/rep-bono-memorial-service Memorial Service, U.S. Capitol, January 28, 1998], [[C-SPAN]]}}
[[File:Bono, Sunny (grave).jpg|thumb|upright|Sonny Bono's headstone at [[Desert Memorial Park]] ]]

Bono died on January 5, 1998, of injuries incurred when he hit a tree while skiing at [[Heavenly Mountain Resort]] in [[South Lake Tahoe, California]].<ref name="washpost">{{cite news| last=Claiborne| first=William| date=January 7, 1998| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/junkie/links/bono.htm| title=Sonny Bono Is Killed in Ski Crash| newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9801/06/bono.obit/ |title=Sonny Bono Killed in Skiing Accident |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=January 6, 1998 |access-date=September 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926080619/http://www.cnn.com/US/9801/06/bono.obit/ |archive-date=September 26, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sonny's funeral was held a few days later.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Waxman|first=Sharon|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/01/10/tears-and-smiles-for-sonny-bono/0acd8213-cd18-47d6-9aa4-1b1363a231bb/|title=Tears and Smiles For Sonny Bono|newspaper=Washington Post|date=January 10, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gorman|first=Tom|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-10-mn-6793-story.html|title=Sonny Bono Recalled With Joy and Tears|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 10, 1998}}</ref> He was buried at [[Desert Memorial Park]] in [[Cathedral City, California]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pscemetery.com/images/documents/district/Interments-Interest.pdf |title=Palm Springs Cemetery District "Interments of Interest" |access-date=November 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Patricia |title=Laid to Rest in California: a guide to the cemeteries and grave sites of the rich and famous |chapter=Chapter 8: East L.A. and the Desert |pages=239–40 |year=2006 |publisher=Globe Pequot Press |location=Guilford, CT |isbn=978-0-7627-4101-4 |last2=Brooks |first2=Jonathan}}</ref> The epitaph on Bono's headstone reads "AND THE BEAT GOES ON".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vaI9DAAAQBAJ&q=%22and+the+beat+goes+on%22+headstone+bono&pg=PA53|title=Dashing, Daring, and Debonair: TV's Top Male Icons from the 50s, 60s, and 70s|first=Herbie J.|last=Pilato|date=July 20, 2016|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|via=Google Books|isbn=978-1-63076-053-3}}</ref>

Mary Bono was elected to fill the remainder of her husband's congressional term. She was elected in her own right seven subsequent times before being defeated in the 2012 election.<ref>{{cite news| last=Lochhead| first=Carolyn| title=Mary Bono Mack defeated in Palm Springs upset| newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]| date=November 7, 2012| url=http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/11/07/mary-bono-mack-defeated-in-palm-springs-upset| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112022416/http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/11/07/mary-bono-mack-defeated-in-palm-springs-upset/| archive-date=November 12, 2012| access-date=November 26, 2023}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Honors and tributes ==
Sonny Bono has been honored and memorialized with:

* A '''Golden Palm Star''' on the [[Palm Springs Walk of Stars]]: dedicated to him in 1996.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.palmspringswalkofstars.com/web-storage/Stars/Stars%20dedicated%20by%20date.pdf| title=Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated| url-status=usurped| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013165655/http://www.palmspringswalkofstars.com/web-storage/Stars/Stars%20dedicated%20by%20date.pdf| archive-date=October 13, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Copyright Term Extension Act|Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act]]: Extended copyright protections effective October 27, 1998.
* [[Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge]]: a [[nature reserve]] on the [[Salton Sea]] was renamed in Bono's honor in 1998.
* [[Sonny Bono Memorial Park]], a small park in [[Washington, D.C.]], was named in his honor in 1998.
* '''Sonny Bono Memorial Interchange''': an interchange on [[California State Route 60]] at Nason Street in [[Moreno Valley, California]], was named for Bono in September 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leech |first1=Marie |title=Proposed Fountain Would Honor Sonny Bono |publisher=The Desert Sun |date=September 14, 2000}}</ref>
* '''Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway''': a 40-mile stretch of [[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]] near Palm Springs was dedicated January 10, 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trone |first1=Kimberly |title=Freeway Signs Pay Tribute to Bono |publisher=The Desert Sun |date=January 11, 2002 |page=B1}}</ref>
* '''Sonny Bono Concourse''': a concourse at [[Palm Springs International Airport]] dedicated October 22, 2002.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/73661/airport-adds-sonny-bono-concourse|title=Airport Adds Sonny Bono Concourse|magazine=Billboard |agency=AP |date=October 29, 2002 |access-date=June 18, 2019 }}</ref>
* '''[[Statue of Sonny Bono]]''': Located in downtown [[Palm Springs, California]], the statue was dedicated in November 2001.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guzman |first1=Richard |title=Palm Springs inaugurates Bono tribute |publisher=The Desert Sun |date=November 17, 2001}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] mayoral election, 1988<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=481680|title=Our Campaigns - Palm Springs, CA Mayor}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sonny Bono
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 4,842
| percentage = 44.29
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lloyd Maryanov
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 2,498
| percentage = 22.85
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Deyna Hodges
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,934
| percentage = 17.69
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Eli Birer
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 1,140
| percentage = 10.43
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ray Patencio
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 462
| percentage = 4.23
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lewis Friedman
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 27
| percentage = 0.25
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Neil Beatty
| party = Nonpartisan politician
| votes = 21
| percentage = 0.19
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 10,924
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[1992 United States Senate election in California|1992 U.S. Senate election in California]], Republican primary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=38073|title=Our Campaigns - CA US Senate - R Primary Race - Jun 02, 1992}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | candidate = [[Bruce Herschensohn]]
 | party = Republican Party (US)
 | votes = 956,146
 | percentage = 38.80
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate = [[Tom Campbell (California politician)|Tom Campbell]]
 | party = Republican Party (US)
 | votes = 859,970
 | percentage = 34.90
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate = Sonny Bono
 | party = Republican Party (US)
 | votes = 417,848
 | percentage = 16.96
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate = Isaac Park Yonker
 | party = Republican Party (US)
 | votes = 94,623
 | percentage = 3.84
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate = Alexander Swift Justice
 | party = Republican Party (US)
 | votes = 60,104
 | percentage = 2.44
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate = John W. Spring
 | party = Republican Party (US)
 | votes = 54,941
 | percentage = 2.23
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate = John M. Brown
 | party = Republican Party (US)
 | votes = 20,810
 | percentage = 0.84
 }}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes = 2,464,442
 | percentage = 100.00
 }}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change |title=[[California's 44th congressional district]] election, [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|1994]]<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=747498 "California District 44 - R Primary 1994], Our Campaigns, retrieved August 18, 2025.</ref><ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28747 "California District 44 Election - November 8, 1994"], Our Campaigns, retrieved August 18, 2025.</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sonny Bono
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 25,709
| percentage = 48.63
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Patricia "Corky" Larson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 14,897
| percentage = 28.18
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kent DeLong
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 5,746
| percentage = 10.87
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Phil Bretz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,883
| percentage = 5.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = A.J. "Bud" Mathewson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,256
| percentage = 4.27
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lewis A. Silva
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,378
| percentage = 2.61
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 52,869
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party = Republican Party (United States)
  | candidate = Sonny Bono
  | votes = 95,521
  | percentage = 55.61
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate = Steve Clute
  | votes = 65,370
  | percentage = 38.06
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party = American Independent Party
  | candidate = Donald Cochran
  | votes = 10,885
  | percentage = 6.34
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 171,776
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  | winner =  Republican Party (United States)
  | loser = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=[[California's 44th congressional district]] election, [[1996 United States House of Representatives elections|1996]]<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29396 "California District 44 Election - November 5, 1996"], Our Campaigns, retrieved August 18, 2025.</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sonny Bono (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 110,643
| percentage = 57.74
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Anita Rufus
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 73,844
| percentage = 38.54
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Donald Cochran
| party = American Independent Party
| votes = 3,888
| percentage = 2.03
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Karen Blasdell-Wilkinson
| party = Natural Law Party (United States)
| votes = 3,143
| percentage = 1.64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = A.J. "Bud" Mathewson
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 110
| percentage = 0.06
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 191,628
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|California|Biography}}
* [[List of actor-politicians]]
* [[List of skiing deaths]]
* [[List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1950–1999)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* ''Sonny Bono: And the Beat Goes On''. New York: Pocket Books 1991. {{ISBN|0-671-69366-2}}
* ''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles'', 12th edition. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-89820-180-2}}.
* ''Bono vs. Bono: A Battle Royal '', Bobby Soxers, 2013. {{ISBN|978-1492349976}}.

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Congbio|B000622}}
* {{IMDb name|0095122}}
* {{Tcmdb name|19070}}
* {{Pop Chronicles|44|1}}
* {{TCMDb title|id=477230|title=Sonny Bono: Pop Songs & Politics}}
* [https://vault.fbi.gov/salvatore-phillip-sonny-bono FBI Records: The Vault – Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono] at vault.fbi.gov
* [https://www.loc.gov/copyright/legislation/s505.pdf S.505: Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act]
* {{C-SPAN|22530}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Bogert]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mayor of Palm Springs, California]]|years=April 1988 – April 1992}}
{{s-aft|after=Lloyd Maryanov}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box|state=California|district=44| before=[[Al McCandless]]|after=[[Mary Bono]]|years=January 3, 1995 – January 5, 1998}}
{{S-end}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 104th–105th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[California]]}}
{{USCongRep/CA/104}}
{{USCongRep/CA/105}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Sonny & Cher}}
{{United States representatives from California 31–53}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bono, Sonny}}
[[Category:Sonny Bono| ]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:American actor-politicians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Sicilian descent]]
[[Category:Record producers from California]]
[[Category:American Scientologists]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Burials at Desert Memorial Park]]
[[Category:Mayors of Palm Springs, California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Detroit]]
[[Category:Skiing deaths]]
[[Category:Specialty Records artists]]
[[Category:Sports deaths in Nevada]]
[[Category:Sonny & Cher]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Musicians from Inglewood, California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Palm Springs, California]]
[[Category:Atco Records artists]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:The Wrecking Crew (music) members]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from California]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Nevada]]
[[Category:Comedians from Detroit]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in California]]
[[Category:Comedians from Los Angeles County, California]]