Bon Jovi Biography, Photos and Posters

Bon Jovi

Biography

Started: mid 1980s
City and Country of Origin: New Jersey
Music Training:
Awards:
Top Recordings: "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Livin' on a Prayer," "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You," "Bed of Roses"
Bon Jovi Biography: A New Jersey based metal band. The name was taken from the groups photogenic founder and leader Jon Bongiovi. Jon started working in his cousin Tony's New York recording studio Power Station as a janitor. He soon started recording demos with bands like the Boss' E Street Band and Aldo Nova. One of these "Runaway," became a local New Jersey radio hit. To support the recording he formed the group Bon Jovi by recruiting his friend David Rashbaum, guitarist Dave Sabo, bassist Alec John Such and drummer Tico Torres.

In 1983 the group signed with Polygram/Mercury Records. Jon changed his own name to Bon Jovi and replaced Sabo with Richie Sambora. In 1984, the recut of "Runaway" was released with their first album and made the top 40. The following year 7800 Fahrenheit went gold. Not happy with their results they changed their approach. They hired professional songwriters and did their own market research previewing their songs for teenagers to get feedback as to which songs to record. The resulting album Slippery When Wet was released in 1986. It sold 9 million copies in the U.S. alone. Two singles from the album "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer," went number 1.

In 1988 the group replicated its previous success with New Jersey which included 2 more number 1 hits "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You," as well as top ten hits "Born to Be My Baby," "Lay Your Hands on Me" and "Living In Sin." In 1989, the group backed up Cher on her album Heart of Stone. After a brief respite Jon Bon Jovi wrote the sound track for the movie Young Guns II which was released as the Blaze of Glory album. The effort earned a Grammy and Oscar nomination. Their next album Keeping the Faith released in 1992 didn't match their earlier successes, but it was a hit nevertheless. These Days released in 1995 was a bigger hit in Europe than in America. In 1997 Jon released his first solo album after appearing in the movie Moonlight and Valentino the previous year. The group reunited 3 years later and recorded Crush which sold 8 million copies worldwide.

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