Jon Bon Jovi life and biography

Jon Bon Jovi, born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead singer and founder of Bon Jovi. Throughout his career, he has released two solo albums and eleven studio albums with his band which have sold over 130 million albums worldwide.

Jon was raised by his parents, Carol and John Bongiovi, a hairdresser. By his early teens, he was hanging out at local clubs, convinced that one day he would be a rock star.

Idolizing local rising stars such as Bruce Springsteen and the Asbury Jukes, Jon was playing in clubs by the time he was 16. He met keyboardist David Bryan in high school, and the two formed a ten-piece rhythm and blues band called Atlantic City Expressway. Jon also performed with bands called The Rest, The Lechers and John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones.

In 1980, Jon recorded his first single, Runaway, at his cousin's studio, with back-up by studio musicians. A local radio station included the song on a compilation tape, and it began to get frequent airplay. The success of Runaway got Jon noticed, and he realized that he'd need more than session players if he wanted to capitalize on his success.

Jon gave David a call, who in turn tapped Alec John Such, Tico Torres and guitarist Richie Samborra. During a show in New York in 1983, the band caught the attention of record exececutive Derek Shulman, who signed them to PolyGram. It was Shulman who anglicized John Bongiovi's name to Bon Jovi.

Their self-titled debut came out on January 21, 1984. Filled with the group's now-signature power ballads underscored by soaring guitar riffs and well-crafted melodies, the album went gold. Bon Jovi released its follow-up album, 7800 Farenheit, in April 1985, which was popular with the fans, but less so with the press. Many critics were turned off by the hard-rock band's manicured image and formulaic style.

Tours opening for the Scorpions, Kiss and Judas Priest helped Bon Jovi build up a considerable fan base that appreciated the group's rugged, soulful collection of songs about how tough it was to be a teenager. The band responded to tepid critical praise with its third album, Slippery When Wet, which went gold and platinum simultaneously within six weeks of its release. Powered by songs like Livin' on a Prayer and Wanted Dead or Alive, the album sold in excess of 14 million copies, putting it in the same league as Michael Jackson's Thriller.

The band went into temporary retirement in 1989. Jon concentrated on his solo career, married karate champion Dorothea Hurley and appeared in his first movie, Young Guns II, for which he won he won a Golden Globe for Best Song, Blaze of Glory.

In 1994, the commercial incentive to return to Bon Jovi proved too hard to resist, and the band released another album, Keep The Faith. Jon enjoyed further solo success with 1997's Destination Anywhere. The band regrouped two years later to record the Grammy-nominated album, Crush, and again in 2002 to put out its latest album, Bounce.

In the '90s, Jon stretched his talents by nurturing an acting career with starring roles in Moonlight and Valentino and The Leading Man. He also appeared in a handful of independent films, incluidng Pay It Forward and U-571. On television, he was a regular guest star on Ally McBeal until the series finale in 2002. Bon Jovi also made headlines in 2004 when he and Sambora became co-founders and owners of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul. The following year, he and the band donated $1,000,000 to Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network.

Jon married Dorothea Hurley, a karate instructor, in 1989. They have four children, Stephanie, Jesse, Jacob and Romeo Jon.

Jon Bon Jovi "It's My Life" Music video:


Awards:

* 1985: Kerrang: Sex Object Of The Year
* 1987: Metal Edge Reader's Choice Awards: Best Male Performer.
* 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).
* 1990: Academy Awards: Nominated, Original Song, "Blaze of Glory" (from Young Guns II soundtrack).
* 1991: ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures for YOUNG GUNS II - Blaze of Glory.
* 1991: MTV Michael Jackson: Video Vanguard Award; shared with his band.
* 1996: Sky Sport: Special Olympics Awards.
* 1997: Kerrang Awards: Classic Songwriter.
* 1997: MTV Europe Music Awards: Best Male.
* 1998: Brit awards: Best International Male.
* 1998: ECHO: Best International Male Artist.
* 2000: People: Sexiest Rock Star.
* 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.
* 2002: People: Sexiest Rock Star.
* 2002: My VH1 Music Awards: From The Tour to The Tube - Best TV for ,"Ally McBeal".
* 2003: People: Sexiest Rock Star.
* 2004: American Music Awards: Received the Award of Merit for their long career.
* 2005: World Music Awards:KUMAD Received the Diamond Award for sales of 100+ million albums.
* 2006: Help USA: Tribute Dinner Honnores.
* 2006: Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame
* 2006: VH1 Livin' on a Prayer-Greatest Song of the '80's
* 2007: Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration, "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" (with Jennifer Nettles).
* 2008: RIAA Diamond Album
* 2008: RIAA Gold Album
* 2008: RIAA Multiple Platinum Album
* 2008: VH1 The Greatest: 100 Sexiest Artists (20 - 1): 14th Sexiest Artist
* 2008: MTV1 The Best: Best Selling Song Of The Decade 1980. Most popular rock song since 1980-s to Present.
* 2009: Inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
* 2009: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
* 2009: 12th in the Planet Rock radio station's poll of the greatest singers ever

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