Sonny Bono (born Salvatore Phillip Bono) was an American singer, producer, and politician. He is best remembered as the other half of the music duo Sonny & Cher. He was also mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1988 to 1992. As a solo artist, Bono recorded a number of solo albums and had a number of hits, including the Top 10 hit “Laugh At Me” and the Top 20 hit “The Beat Goes On”. In addition to his music career, Bono was an outspoken advocate for the environment, and a vocal opponent of the Iraq War. He was also a supporter of gay rights, and was an active member of the Republican Party. He died in 1998 in a skiing accident.
| Name | Sonny Bono |
| Date of Birth | February 16, 1935 |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Politician |
| Genres | Pop, Rock, Folk |
| Occupations | Musician, Record Producer, Congressman |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, Bass |
| Years Active | 1955-1998 |
10 Best Sonny Bono Quotes
“I want to show people that I’m not just a singer, but I’m an actor and a writer.”
– Sonny Bono, from Rolling Stone
“I don’t consider myself a politician. I consider myself a person with common sense.”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“I don’t think my career has been a struggle. It’s just been a natural progression.”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“I think the most important thing is to stay true to what you do and don’t let people tell you it’s wrong.”
– Sonny Bono, from Amazon
“I don’t believe in trying to make a hit. I believe in making music.”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“I’m not a real politician. I’m a singer, songwriter, and performer.”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“The most important thing is to be yourself and do what you believe in.”
– Sonny Bono, from Biography.com
“I’m not a professional politician, I’m just a person with feelings.”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“I’m not a politician, I’m an entertainer, but I know what I’m talking about.”
– Sonny Bono, from Rolling Stone
“You have to put your life at risk to do what you believe in.”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
6 Sonny Bono Quotes About Sonny and Cher
1.
“I started my career with Cher and we had a great relationship. We were a great team and it was really a wonderful time, and we both knew that.”
– Sonny Bono, from CNN
2.
“We were a couple who had an understanding. We both knew that we were in it for the long haul.”
– Sonny Bono, from Rolling Stone
3.
“Cher was so dedicated, so driven and so talented. She was a great partner.”
– Sonny Bono, from CNN
4.
“We were both very competitive but we were also very complimentary. We were great together.”
– Sonny Bono, from Rolling Stone
5.
“We both felt we were destined to be together — in music and in life.”
– Sonny Bono, from CNN
6.
“We both knew that we were meant to be together, and we both knew that it was more than just music.”
– Sonny Bono, from Rolling Stone
8 Inspirational Sonny Bono Quotes
1.
“You know, the important thing about a song is that it’s got to mean something to you.”
– Sonny Bono, from Rolling Stone
2.
“If you got it in your heart, you can make it.”
– Sonny Bono, from NPR
3.
“My whole life I have been looking for something that I could identify with. I have always been a little bit different.”
– Sonny Bono, from Biography.com
4.
“I don’t fear failure. It’s just part of the process.”
– Sonny Bono, from Goodreads
5.
“I’m not a politician, I’m a musician.”
– Sonny Bono, from The Independent
6.
“I’m not an intellectual. I’m more of an impulsive kind of guy.”
– Sonny Bono, from Biography.com
7.
“I’m determined to succeed in what I do and I’m willing to work hard to make it happen.”
– Sonny Bono, from Goodreads
8.
“It’s important to me that my work has an impact on people.”
– Sonny Bono, from NPR
5 Famous Sonny Bono Quotes
“You have to have a sense of humor about yourself. If you take yourself too serious, no one else will”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“I’m always looking for the next thing that maybe I can do a little better than I did the last thing”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“The audience is the most important thing. You gotta make the audience happy. If you don’t make the audience happy, you’re not gonna be around for very long”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“You can stay in your place, or you can go out and take a chance. I took a chance”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
“I’m always looking to make something better, but I’m never satisfied with what I do”
– Sonny Bono, from YouTube
7 Sonny Bono Quotes About Love
“Love can be expressed in many ways. It’s not all hearts and flowers and romance. It’s caring about someone else more than you care about yourself.”
– Sonny Bono, from Rolling Stone
“I think God put us on this earth to love one another and to care for one another.”
– Sonny Bono, from Interview Magazine
“Love is a basic emotion. It’s not just a sexual emotion. It’s an emotion of caring and understanding, of being there for someone.”
– Sonny Bono, from BuzzFeed
“Love is really the most profound emotion. It’s the one thing that can make us feel whole and connected to each other.”
– Sonny Bono, from The Guardian
“Love is the most important thing in the world and it’s what makes us special and unique.”
– Sonny Bono, from The Fader
“Love is the most powerful emotion and can bring out the best in us.”
– Sonny Bono, from Vogue
“Love is the thing that binds us all together, and it’s the only thing that truly matters.”
– Sonny Bono, from The New York Times
6 Sonny Bono Quotes About Life
“Life is a series of lessons that you have to learn, and if you don’t learn them, then you don’t go on to the next level.”
– Sonny Bono, from Interview Magazine
“Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realize it! Life is a game, play it! Life is love, enjoy it!”
– Sonny Bono, from Brainy Quote
“Life is a journey. You never arrive at the final destination. You just keep going.”
– Sonny Bono, from GoodReads
“I think life is a series of peaks and valleys. And you don’t know what the next peak is gonna be.”
– Sonny Bono, from Brainy Quote
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”
– Sonny Bono, from AZQuotes
“I think life is complex. You have to figure it out as you go along.”
– Sonny Bono, from Brainy Quote
6 Quotes About Sonny Bono
“Sonny was one of the most passionate and talented people I have ever worked with.”
– Cher, from Rolling Stone
“He was a great guy, a real gentleman. He had a great sense of humor.”
– Donny Osmond, from CBS News
“He was a kind and generous man who had a great sense of humor.”
– Barbra Streisand, from People
“He was the most remarkable man I have ever known.”
– Mike Love, from The Daily Beast
“He was a real pioneer in the entertainment industry.”
– Dick Clark, from CBS News
“He was a real force for good in the world.”
– Peter Asher, from The Daily Beast
Interview with Sonny Bono
Frequently Asked Questions About Sonny Bono
1. What are some of Sonny Bono’s most famous quotes?
Sonny Bono was an American singer-songwriter, producer, actor and politician whose contributions to culture have been felt around the world. He was a major figure in the music industry in the 1960s and beyond, and his influence has been widely noted by many famous musicians. His famous quotes have continued to inspire generations of people. Here are some of Sonny Bono’s most famous quotes:
- “The only time you don’t fail is the last time you try anything—and it works.”
- “It takes courage and strength to admit mistakes, to learn from them, and then move on.”
- “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
- “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
- “Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”
- “It’s a good thing to keep busy, it’s much better than doing nothing.”
- “Love is the answer, and you know that for sure; Love is a flower, you’ve got to let it grow.”
- “Live life to the fullest, for the future is scarce.”
- “If you want to have a good life, you should focus on your family, on your business, and on your future.”
2. How did Sonny Bono become famous?
Sonny Bono rose to fame as one-half of the iconic pop music duo Sonny and Cher. He and Cher first hit the music scene in 1965 with their debut single “I Got You Babe.” The song quickly became a smash hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The duo followed up with several other hit singles, including “The Beat Goes On,” “A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done,” and “I Got You Babe.”
Their music gained widespread popularity and the duo quickly became one of the most popular musical acts of the 1960s. Additionally, Sonny and Cher starred in their own television variety show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, which aired from 1971 to 1974. The show featured musical performances, comedy sketches, and celebrity guests.
Their popularity continued to increase and they were even featured in a Hollywood movie, Good Times. The movie was a box office success and further increased their fame. Overall, Sonny Bono became famous due to the success of his musical career with Cher and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
- Hit single “I Got You Babe” in 1965
- Followed up with several other hit singles
- Starred in their own television variety show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour
- Featured in the movie Good Times
3. What was Sonny Bono’s career before his success in music?
Before Sonny Bono became a successful musician, he worked various jobs. These included:
- Working as a record producer for Specialty Records
- Writing for a music magazine
- Working as a songwriter for other artists
- Promoting records for Phil Spector
- Running a restaurant with his wife Cher
- Working as a partner in a Los Angeles-based record label
Sonny Bono also tried his hand at acting, appearing in a few films and television shows. He even ran for mayor of Palm Springs in 1988. His career in music began with his first hit, “The Beat Goes On” with Cher in 1967, followed by several other hits.
4. What is Sonny Bono’s Legacy?
Sonny Bono was an American singer-songwriter, producer, television personality and politician who left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry. His musical work, especially as part of the iconic duo Sonny and Cher, earned him a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a politician, he served as mayor of Palm Springs and a United States Congressman.
Bono’s legacy is known for its innovation, passion, and commitment to the causes he believed in. Here are some of the ways his legacy lives on:
- His musical career was recognized with a posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
- The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 increased the length of copyright protection for authors, performers, and producers.
- The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2000 in California’s Imperial Valley.
- The Sonny Bono Memorial Act of 1999 designated over 100,000 acres of land in California’s San Jacinto Mountains as wilderness.
- The Sonny Bono Memorial Park in Palm Springs, California is named in his honor.
- The Sonny Bono Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 to support students pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.
Bono’s legacy continues to inspire fans, politicians, and the entertainment industry alike. His passion and commitment to causes he believed in has left a lasting impact on the world.
5. What other accomplishments did Sonny Bono have besides music?
- Sonny Bono was an actor, appearing in films such as “The Godfather Part III” (1990) and “Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death” (1989).
- In 1994, he was elected to the United States Congress and served four years as a Republican Congressman from California.
- He was a two-time mayor of Palm Springs, California (1988–1992).
- In 1998, he was a co-founder of the Creative Coalition, an organization that promotes the arts in public policy.
- He was a vocal advocate of copyright law reform and internet privacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonny Bono was a talented and prolific artist who has left an indelible mark on the music industry. His music and lyrics were often filled with humor and wit, but also contained a deeper message. His most memorable quotes reflect his creative genius and his passion for life. He was a true artist who touched the lives of many with his music and words.
