Jon Bon Jovi
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John Francis Bongiovi Jr., born March 2nd, 1962, is a name synonymous with rock and roll royalty. Professionally known as Jon Bon Jovi, this American icon has carved a legendary path as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He's best recognized as the driving force behind the electrifying rock band Bon Jovi, a musical powerhouse formed in 1983. With his band, he's released an impressive 16 studio albums, alongside two compelling solo efforts.
But Jon's talents extend far beyond the stage. In the 1990s, he ventured into acting, gracing the silver screen in films like "Moonlight and Valentino," "The Leading Man," "Little City," "Homegrown," "Pay It Forward," "U-571," and "Cry Wolf." His television presence has also been notable, with appearances on shows such as "Sex and the City," "30 Rock," "Ally McBeal," and "The West Wing."
His contributions to music have been widely recognized. In 2009, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. And in 2012, Billboard magazine placed him at number 50 on their "Power 100" list, a testament to his immense influence in the music industry.
Beyond music and acting, Jon Bon Jovi is also a founder and former majority owner of the Arena Football League team, the Philadelphia Soul.
Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, John Francis Bongiovi Jr.'s early life was shaped by a family with diverse backgrounds. His father, John Francis Bongiovi Sr., a barber and former Marine, and his mother, Carol, a florist and former Playboy Bunny and Marine, instilled in him a unique blend of heritage. His father's Italian and Slovak roots, with the Bongiovi name tracing back to Sciacca, Sicily, and his mother's German and Russian ancestry, created a rich tapestry. While a rumor of a Sinatra connection always amused him, Jon himself acknowledges he's not a blood relative.
Raised Catholic, Jon's musical journey was ignited by his mother's admiration for The Beatles. She gifted him his first guitar at seven, though early lessons proved less than inspiring. He humorously recalled, "I liked the sound it made falling down the stairs more than any of those boring lessons." His high school years saw him attend St. Joseph High School and later Sayreville War Memorial High School.
A pivotal moment came at 15 when a Bruce Springsteen concert solidified his life's ambition. He reignited his guitar studies with Al Parinello, a demanding yet passionate teacher who profoundly influenced him. Even after Parinello's passing in 1995, Jon honored his mentor by carving his initials into his acoustic guitar, a tradition he maintained for years.
Jon's musical career began in earnest in 1974 with his first band, Raze. By 16, he formed Atlantic City Expressway, joined by future Bon Jovi bandmate David Bryan. His teenage years also saw him perform with John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones and later, in 1980, with his first original band, The Rest, opening for notable New Jersey acts. In late 1979, he began writing his first songs with guitarist Jack Ponti, including "Shot Through the Heart," though record offers remained elusive.
By mid-1980, Jon was working part-time and took a job at Power Station Studios, where his cousin Tony Bongiovi was co-owner. A chance encounter with disco producer Meco led to his first professional recording, singing "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" for "Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album," credited as John Bongiovi.
After sending demos to record companies with little success, Jon re-recorded "Runaway" in 1982 with studio musicians. He then collaborated with WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" radio station, allowing them to include "Runaway" on a compilation album of local talent. The song gained traction, and by March 1983, Jon assembled a band to support it: David Bryan, bassist Alec John Such, and drummer Tico Torres. Guitarist Richie Sambora was soon brought into the fold. Record executive Derek Shulman recognized their potential, signing them to Mercury Records. The band's name, Bon Jovi, was suggested by a friend of Richard Fischer, inspired by other two-word band names.
Their self-titled debut album, "Bon Jovi," was released in January 1984, featuring the hit single "Runaway." Their second album, "7800° Fahrenheit," followed in 1985, achieving Gold status. But it was 1986's "Slippery When Wet" that catapulted them to global superstardom, selling 30 million copies worldwide and spawning two number-one hits: "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer." Subsequent albums like "New Jersey" and "Keep the Faith" continued their international success, each selling over ten million copies. Incorporating elements of soft rock and country, Bon Jovi sustained their popularity into the 21st century. As of 2022, the band has released 16 studio albums, three compilations, and two live albums, selling over 149 million records worldwide and performing over 3,000 concerts. They were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
The relentless pace of recording and touring for "Slippery When Wet" and "New Jersey" took its toll. After the grueling New Jersey tour, the band members, exhausted, went their separate ways. Jon Bon Jovi embarked on a solo career, releasing the soundtrack to the movie "Young Guns II," commonly known as "Blaze of Glory," in 1990. The title track became a number-one hit, earning him awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and Grammy nomination. In 1991, he launched Jambco Records, producing other artists. His second solo album, "Destination Anywhere," arrived in 1997, inspiring a short film starring Jon himself. In 2012, he released the soundtrack "Not Running Anymore" for the movie "Stand Up Guys," with the title track earning a Golden Globe nomination.
Jon Bon Jovi's acting career has seen him appear in films such as "Moonlight and Valentino," "The Leading Man," "Destination Anywhere," "Homegrown," "Little City," "No Looking Back," "Row Your Boat," "Vampires Los Muertos," "U-571," "Cry Wolf," "National Lampoon's Pucked," and "New Year's Eve." He also had a notable role in "Pay It Forward" and guest appearances on "Sex and the City," "30 Rock," "Las Vegas," "The West Wing," and "Ally McBeal."
In the sports world, Jon became a founder and primary owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League in 2004. He also lent his voice to commercials for the league.
More recently, on June 8, 2024, Jon Bon Jovi opened JBJ's Nashville, a multi-level restaurant and bar on Broadway, celebrating Bon Jovi and rock music. The grand opening featured a performance by the band and hosted an array of music stars. JBJ's also boasts the first permanent Proto hologram installation in a music venue.
Philanthropy is a cornerstone of Jon Bon Jovi's life. In 2005, the band donated $1 million to the Angel Network foundation. In 2007, he announced a project to rehabilitate homes in North Philadelphia. The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, established in 2006, supports efforts to combat poverty and homelessness. In 2011, it opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, New Jersey, a community restaurant where patrons pay what they can afford. Three additional locations have since opened. Jon also participated in the charity single "Everybody Hurts" to aid victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Jon Bon Jovi has been an active participant in political and social causes. During the 2004 presidential campaign, he toured for John Kerry. He has played at fundraisers for Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, and performed at Barack Obama's inauguration concert. In 2010, President Obama appointed him to the White House Council for Community Solutions. He also raised money for Republican representative Jim Renacci. In the 2020 Democratic primaries, he endorsed Cory Booker.
His personal life has been marked by a lasting commitment. In 1989, he secretly married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, in Las Vegas. They have four children: Stephanie, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo. His son Jake is married to actress Millie Bobby Brown, and Jon became a grandfather in 2025. He established Sanctuary Sound recording studio in his former Rumson, New Jersey home. Jon describes himself as a recovering Catholic and is a close friend of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick, even owning two Super Bowl rings from the team. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University for his contributions to music and social welfare. In 2021, Jon tested positive for COVID-19, an experience that profoundly impacted his songwriting, highlighting the fragility of life. In 2024, he played a heroic role in preventing a woman from jumping off a bridge in Nashville.
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John Francis Bongiovi Jr. (born March 2, 1962), known professionally as Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He is best known as the founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, which was formed in 1983. He has released 16 studio albums with his band as well as two solo albums.
In the 1990s, Bon Jovi started an acting career, starring in the films Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Little City, Homegrown, Pay It Forward, U-571 and Cry Wolf and appearing on television in shows such as Sex and the City, 30 Rock, Ally McBeal, and The West Wing.
Bon Jovi was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, he ranked number 50 on the list of Billboard magazine's "Power 100", a ranking of "The Most Powerful and Influential People in the Music Business".
Bon Jovi is a founder and former majority owner of an Arena Football League team, the Philadelphia Soul.
== Early life ==
John Francis Bongiovi Jr. was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. His father John Francis Bongiovi Sr. (born 1930) was a barber and a former Marine. His mother Carol (née Sharkey; 1940–2024), also a former Marine, was a florist and Playboy Bunny. His father was of Italian and Slovak ancestry; the name Bongiovi comes from Sciacca, Sicily. His mother was of German and Russian descent. In an interview about his family tree, Bon Jovi stated, "I’m not a blood relative of Frank Sinatra, but I’ve always loved that rumour. Who wouldn’t want to be related to the man?"
Bon Jovi was raised Catholic. During the height of Beatlemania, his mother became a fervent admirer of The Beatles and dreamed that her son would achieve similar fame. To instill in him a love of music, she gave him his first guitar at the age of seven. Although Bongiovi received some lessons, he never enjoyed them and eventually abandoned the guitar in the basement. "I liked the sound it made falling down the stairs more than any of those boring lessons," he later stated. He attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey, during his freshman and sophomore years. He later transferred to Sayreville War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey.
At 15, he attended a Bruce Springsteen concert with his friends, and it was then that he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He resumed his guitar lessons with a new teacher, Al Parinello, who was very demanding but also instilled in him a passion for music. Jon Bon Jovi later recalled the importance of those lessons and acknowledged that they were one of the best things that had ever happened to him. When Parinello passed away in 1995, the vocalist carved the initials AP into his acoustic guitar in honor of his mentor, something he continued to do for many years.
== Musical career ==
=== Beginnings ===
Jon Bon Jovi began playing music in 1974, when he formed his first band Raze and took part in a talent contest at his school. At 16, he formed a band called Atlantic City Expressway and was joined by David Bryan, who would later become a member of the Bon Jovi band. Still in his teens, Bon Jovi played in the band John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones, performing in clubs such as the Fast Lane and opening for local acts. By 1980, he had formed his first original band, the Rest; the band opened for New Jersey acts such as Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. In late 1979, Jon Bon Jovi joined the band The Rest—founded by guitarist Jack Ponti—with whom he began writing his first songs, including "Shot Through the Heart," which years later would appear on Bon Jovi's debut album. However, after receiving no record offers, Ponti decided to disband the group.
By mid-1980, out of school and working part-time at a women's shoe store, Jon Bon Jovi took a job at the Power Station Studios, a Manhattan recording facility where his cousin Tony Bongiovi was co-owner. One day, he was sweeping the floor as Disco producer Meco was in the studio recording Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album. Meco suggested that Bon Jovi sing "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas", which became his first professional recording (credited as John Bongiovi).
=== Bon Jovi ===
Jon made several demos – including one produced by Billy Squier – and sent them to record companies, though failing to make an impact. In 1982, Jon recorded "Runaway" in his cousin's studio, backed up by studio musicians. Jon visited a local radio station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" in Lake Success, New York, to write and sing the jingles for the station. He spoke with DJ Chip Hobart and to the promotion director, John Lassman, who suggested Jon let WAPP include the song "Runaway" on the station's compilation album of local homegrown talent. Jon was reluctant, but eventually gave them the song, which he had re-recorded in 1982 (following a rough early recording in 1981) with local studio musicians whom he designated The All Star Review – guitarist Tim Pierce, keyboardist Roy Bittan (from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), drummer Frankie LaRocka, and bassist Hugh McDonald.
The song began to get airplay in the New York area, then other sister stations in major markets picked up the song. In March 1983, for a short tour supporting "Runaway" Jon Bon Jovi called David Bryan, who in turn called bassist Alec John Such and an experienced drummer named Tico Torres, both formerly of the band Phantom's Opera. Jon saw and was impressed with hometown guitarist Richie Sambora who was recommended by fellow bassist Alec John Such and drummer Tico Torres. Once the band began playing showcases and opening for local talent, they caught the attention of record executive Derek Shulman, who signed them to Mercury Records and who was part of the PolyGram company. Because Jon Bon Jovi wanted a group name, Pamela Maher, a friend of Richard Fischer and an employee of Doc McGhee, suggested they call themselves Bon Jovi, following the example of the other famous two-word bands such as Van Halen. This name was chosen instead of the original idea of Johnny Electric. Pamela's suggestion of the name was met with little enthusiasm, but two years later they hit the charts under that name.
With the help of their new manager Doc McGhee they recorded the band's debut album, Bon Jovi, which was released on January 21, 1984. The album included the band's first hit single, "Runaway", reaching the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1985, Bon Jovi's second album, 7800° Fahrenheit, was released. The album certified Gold by RIAA. In 1986, the band achieved widespread success and global recognition with its third album, Slippery When Wet, which had sold 30 million copies worldwide. The first two singles from the album, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer", both hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Its 1988 sequel New Jersey, and 1992's Keep the Faith were all international hits, each selling over ten million copies worldwide. They incorporated elements of soft rock and country, moves that helped them sustain their popularity into the 21st century. As of 2022, Bon Jovi has released 16 studio albums, three compilations and two live albums. The band has sold more than 149 million records worldwide, making it one of the bestselling American rock bands. Bon Jovi has performed more than 3,000 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 35 million fans. Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
=== Solo career ===
The exhaustion of recording Slippery When Wet and New Jersey back to back and going on highly paced world tours took its toll. By the end of the New Jersey tour, the band had 16 months of concerts under its belt. The bandmates were exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. Following the final tour date in Mexico, and without any clear plans for their future, the members of the band simply went home. The band has since stated that there were few if any goodbyes between them. During the time they took off from the scene, members of the band retreated to their own projects and showed no desire to make another album.
In 1990, Jon Bon Jovi recorded a soundtrack to the movie Young Guns II. The soundtrack is commonly known as Blaze of Glory. Having been originally approached by his friend Emilio Estevez to lend "Wanted Dead or Alive" as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel, Bon Jovi ended up composing an all-new theme song for the film's soundtrack and delivering his first solo album. The album featured guests such as Elton John, Little Richard and Jeff Beck. The title track, "Blaze of Glory", peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1991, "Blaze of Glory" won an award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single at the American Music Awards and won a Golden Globe as well. The song also earned Jon Bon Jovi an Academy Award nomination and a Grammy Award nomination.
In 1991, Jon Bon Jovi started his own label, Jambco Records, and produced Aldo Nova's album Blood on the Bricks and Billy Falcon's album Pretty Blue World. Jon Bon Jovi's second solo album was 1997's Destination Anywhere. A short movie of the same name was based entirely on the songs from the record; it starred Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon and Whoopi Goldberg. The film debuted in 1997 on both MTV and VH1. In 2012, Jon Bon Jovi recorded a soundtrack to the movie Stand Up Guys. The soundtrack is commonly known as Not Running Anymore. The song "Not Running Anymore" was nominated for a Golden Globe Award that year.
== Other ventures ==
=== Acting career ===
Jon Bon Jovi is a credited actor in the films Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Destination Anywhere, Homegrown, Little City, No Looking Back, Row Your Boat, Vampires Los Muertos, U-571, Cry Wolf, National Lampoon's Pucked, and New Year's Eve. 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, 30 Rock, Las Vegas, The West Wing, and an extended stint on Ally McBeal as a plumber who was Ally's boyfriend for a short period of time. He also had a brief, uncredited role in the 1990 film Young Guns II. On January 24, 2011, it was confirmed that Bon Jovi would be cast in the film New Year's Eve, released later that year, as a successful rock star who is connected with Katherine Heigl's character.
=== Sports franchises ===
In 2004, Bon Jovi became founder and primary owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. He appeared in several television commercials for the league, typically with John Elway, Hall of Fame quarterback for the Denver Broncos and co-owner of the AFL's Colorado Crush. Bon Jovi is no longer part owner of the Soul.
=== JBJ's Nashville ===
On June 8, 2024, Jon Bon Jovi opened a rooftop restaurant and bar in Nashville, Tennessee, located at 405 Broadway. JBJ's is a Bon Jovi and rock music themed restaurant and bar. It hosts live music daily. The restaurant is multi-leveled, with each level having a balcony looking down upon the stage in the center of the venue. The grand opening included a performance by Bon Jovi and the rest of the band, which was their first full band live performance since the end of the 2022 tour. The grand opening was attended by Vince Neil of Mötley Crue, Jeremy and Ajay Popoff from Lit, Big Kenny, Jelly Roll, and Jamie O'Neal, amongst others.
JBJ's also features the first ever permanent installation of a Proto hologram machine in a music venue, which can show Jon Bon Jovi and his band's holograms and "beam in" special guests.
== Philanthropy ==
During an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2005, Bon Jovi (the band, not the individual) donated $1 million to the Angel Network foundation.
In July 2007, Jon Bon Jovi announced a project that would rehabilitate a block of 15 homes in North Philadelphia.
The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation) was founded in 2006. It supports community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. On October 19, 2011, it opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant in Red Bank, New Jersey, where patrons pay what they can afford for their meals, either with money or by volunteering work. As of 2023, three additional locations have been opened—one in Toms River, another at the Newark campus of Rutgers University, and a third one inside the Gilligan Student Union at New Jersey City University.
In 2025, Mayor Dan Rodrick of Toms River, New Jersey, accused the organization of attracting homeless people from other parts of the country to congregate in the town.
Jon Bon Jovi is one of 21 artists singing on "Everybody Hurts", a charity single organized by Simon Cowell aiding victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
== Activism ==
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Jon Bon Jovi toured extensively on behalf of presidential candidate John Kerry, appearing at and playing acoustic sets with Richie Sambora at rallies for the Kerry-Edwards ticket throughout the U.S. In 2009, he played at a Manhattan fundraiser for former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to lessen some of her $6.3 million 2008 presidential campaign debt. On January 18, 2009, Bon Jovi performed a duet at Barack Obama's inauguration concert, performing the Sam Cooke song "A Change is Gonna Come" with Bettye LaVette. On June 4, 2009, Bon Jovi performed an acoustic benefit show for Democratic New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine at the NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey.
On June 24, 2009, Bon Jovi, Sambora and Andy Madadian recorded a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. The handwritten Persian sign in the video translates to "we are one".
On December 15, 2010, Bon Jovi was appointed by then U.S. president Barack Obama to the White House Council for Community Solutions.
In 2017, Bon Jovi raised money for Jim Renacci, a Republican representative from Ohio's 16th congressional district and then a potential candidate for Ohio governor with whom he had had common business interests several years prior.
In the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Bon Jovi endorsed fellow New Jersey resident Cory Booker for President of the United States.
On October 24, 2020, Bon Jovi performed at a drive-in event for Joe Biden at Dallas High School in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
On January 20, 2021, Bon Jovi and the Kings of Suburbia performed a cover of the Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun" as part of the "Celebrating America" Inauguration of Joe Biden event.
== Personal life ==
During a stop in Los Angeles on the New Jersey Syndicate Tour in 1989, Bon Jovi secretly took a trip to Las Vegas, where he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, on April 29 at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. The couple have four children: a daughter, Stephanie, born in 1993; and three sons, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo, born in 1995, 2002, and 2004, respectively. The British actress Millie Bobby Brown is his daughter-in-law; she married his son Jake in May 2024. Bon Jovi became a grandfather when Jake and Brown adopted a daughter in 2025.
A former resident of Rumson, New Jersey, Bon Jovi established his Sanctuary Sound recording studio in the basement of his home there.
Bon Jovi has described himself as a recovering Catholic.
Bon Jovi is a close friend of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick. He owns two Super Bowl rings from the Patriots and has performed several times at the Patriots' home field, Gillette Stadium.
In 2019, Bon Jovi received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from University of Pennsylvania and a second honorary doctorate from Princeton University in 2021, recognizing his contributions in music and social welfare.
In October 2021, Bon Jovi tested positive for COVID-19 at a fan event in Florida. He was reported as fully vaccinated and "feeling great". He had recovered from the disease by November 12, 2021. In April 2022, Bon Jovi spoke of how much his COVID-19 experience had affected him, including in his songwriting, saying about COVID-19 that it made him realize "how volatile we are and how fragile life is. It didn't matter if you were young or old, American or Egyptian, no matter who you were or where you were from, the COVID-19 pandemic affected you. I was aware of that when I was writing the record."
On September 11, 2024, Bon Jovi helped prevent a woman from jumping off the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville.
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
Blaze of Glory (1990)
Destination Anywhere (1997)
=== Live albums ===
At the Starland Ballroom Live (2009)
=== Compilation albums ===
The Power Station Years: The Unreleased Recordings (1998)
== Filmography ==
=== Films ===
=== Television ===
== References ==
== External links ==
Official website
Interview on CNN's Larry King Live, August 16, 2006
Jon Bon Jovi at IMDb
Jon Bon Jovi at the Internet Broadway Database
Jon Bon Jovi at Facebook
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