Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. on March 2, 1962 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He is the oldest of three children born to parents John Francis Bongiovi Sr., a hairdresser and former Marine Corps sergeant, and Carol Sharkey, a former florist. His Italian-American heritage has roots in Sicily and Genoa.

Bon Jovi began singing during his childhood years in various church choirs as well as performing at weddings and parties with his cousins Tony Bongiovi and Dave Sabo (the latter later became one of the founding members of the popular heavy metal band Skid Row). He received his first guitar for Christmas when he was 13 years old and started taking lessons shortly after.

In 1983, Bon Jovi formed the band that would become his namesake. The group released their self-titled debut album in 1984 with hits such as “Runaway” and “She Don’t Know Me.” With their second album “7800° Fahrenheit” (1985), they gained more attention throughout the United States and Canada with songs like “In & Out Of Love” and “Livin On A Prayer.” Their third album Slippery When Wet (1986) featuring two hit singles "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' On A Prayer" brought them international success, selling over 28 million copies worldwide. 

Bon Jovi has gone on to release 12 studio albums since then which have sold more than 130 million copies worldwide including hits like “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Bad Medicine,” “Always,” “It's My Life,” and many others. He has also pursued an acting career with roles in such films as U-571 (2000), Pay It Forward (2000), Cry Wolf (2005) and New Year's Eve (2011). In 2018 Bon Jovi was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside other iconic music acts such as Radiohead, Dire Straits and The Moody Blues.

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> Started out as a Barber</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Before becoming a rock star, Jon Bon Jovi worked as a barber in his father's barbershop in Sayreville, New Jersey.</p></div>

    <div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> First Band was Called Atlantic City Expressway</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Jon Bon Jovi's first band was called Atlantic City Expressway and they released their first album in 1981.</p></div>

    <div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Has His Own Record Label</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Jon Bon Jovi has his own record label, JBJ Records, which he founded in 2003.</p></div>

    <div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Won an Oscar Nomination</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Jon Bon Jovi won an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for the song "Blaze of Glory" from the movie Young Guns II.</p></div>

    <div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">5.</span> Has His Own Restaurant</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Jon Bon Jovi owns and operates his own restaurant, the Soul Kitchen located in Red Bank, New Jersey.</p></div>