Jon Bon Jovi, born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. on March 2, 1962, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, is a singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and philanthropist. His mother, Carol Sharkey, was a former model and one of the first Playboy Bunnies, while his father, John Francis Bongiovi, Sr., was already in the United States Marines when they met.
Bon Jovi has two brothers, Anthony and Matthew, and is married to Dorothea Hurley, with whom he has four children. He is known best as the founder and frontman of the band that bears his name, which he formed in 1983 after being turned down by several record labels.
The band's breakout album, "Slippery When Wet," was released in 1986 and became the band's best-selling album, selling over 28 million copies worldwide. The album had five top-10 hits on Billboard's Hot-100, a record that still stands today.
After the band's hiatus, Bon Jovi wrote the soundtrack for the movie "Young Guns II" and released his first solo album, "Blaze of Glory," which earned several Grammy and Oscar nominations. The album's title track, "Blaze of Glory," became a hit and is still widely recognized today.
The band reunited and released several more albums, including "New Jersey" and "This House Is Not For Sale." Bon Jovi has also had a successful acting career, starring in minor roles in movies such as "U-571" and "Moonlight and Valentino," and appearing on several TV shows.
Throughout his career, Bon Jovi has received numerous accolades, including being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. He has also been named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People In The World" by People Magazine, the "Sexiest Rock Star" by the same magazine, and has appeared on VH1's "100 Sexiest Artists."
Bon Jovi is also a philanthropist, founding the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in 2006 to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair. He has also campaigned for several presidential candidates and has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University.
