Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Jon Bon Jovi's time as a rock star fits that quote perfectly, as he has been in the music industry for decades. People who grew up in the 80s are familiar with the band, Bon Jovi. Their lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi, was once one of the biggest stars in rock music.
His band's songs are timeless, and the album, Slippery When Wet, is just one of the band's iconic records. Bon Jovi might not have the most dramatic story when it comes to his rise to fame, but he is certainly a living legend, thanks to countless achievements.
Here are twenty facts that everyone forgets about Jon Bon Jovi, who is now 57 years old.
20 His Own Foundation
One of the most uplifting attributes Bon Jovi has is kindness - he does a lot for charity. In 2006, he founded the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that helps those who are hungry and homeless. When it comes to rock stars, he is certainly an incredible one to look up to, since he gives back.
19 Improving At His Cousin's Studio
At times, people can take their family members for granted, but Jon values family. Bon Jovi was fortunate to work on his musical talent at a studio owned by his cousin, Tony Bongiovi.
When he was seventeen, Bon Jovi worked at Tony's Power Station recording studio, sweeping floors, but it was all good when he got the opportunity to train there as a singer.
18 A Geek At Heart
During Bon Jovi's adolescence, Star Wars was a hot topic in the media. It may come as a shock that Bon Jovi's first official recording was a Star Wars Christmas song. When record producer, Meco, was at Tony's record studio, the latter encouraged Bon Jovi to record with him. Thus, "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas" became a reality.
17 Bringing Cher's Career To Life
If it wasn't for Jon Bon Jovi, Cher probably would not have become as successful as she did. She had albums back before she started working with Jon, but she got together with him (professionally speaking) in the late 80s...and her career changed for the better.
Bon Jovi was responsible for producing her self-titled album, Cher, which went certified platinum.
16 Taking On Acting
Along with being in his band, Bon Jovi has proven himself to be a charming and talented actor. He branched out in the 90s, starring in films such as Moonlight and Valentino and Destination Anywhere: The Film.
As for television shows, he's also appeared in Sex and the City and 30 Rock.
15 Founder Of The Soul
Bon Jovi's contributions to society are just endless. One fact that a casual fan of Bon Jovi might not know is that he founded the professional football team, Philadelphia Soul. He would not be the head of that team for long, though. Still, it was something interesting that Bon Jovi contributed to for some time.
14 Being Responsible With Prescriptions
Bon Jovi sincerely gives his all during his concert performances. During the tour that promoted the Slippery When Wet album, his voice was shot to the point where he had to take prescription-strength steroids.
It was an exhausting time, but thankfully, Bon Jovi made it through, along with his band.
13 Their Biggest Mistake
Looking back, the record labels that rejected Bon Jovi surely regretted doing so. Famous record companies, Atlantic and Mercury, were the ones that turned him down. Ironically, Mercury signed Jon and the band later on. He and the band left that label after thirty-two years. The split with Mercury was bitter.
12 Part Of A Council
To get recognized by a country's leader is a huge accomplishment. When Barack Obama was the POTUS in 2010, he named Bon Jovi to the White House Council for Community Solutions. Due to Bon Jovi's work with his nonprofit organization, it was the right call.
11 Inducted In 2009
Before being honored by Obama, Bon Jovi received another accomplishment. In 2009, Bon Jovi was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also achieved other goals, such as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
He's just come a long way.
10 Not So Bright At First
While going to school, Bon Jovi was not the brightest in terms of academics, but his poor grades were mostly due to how dedicated he was to music and singing. He skipped classes sometimes to focus on music activities instead, along with his friends. At the very least, school helped Bon Jovi along the way.
9 Earned A Degree Later On
One thing to know, regardless of your age, is that it is never too late to graduate from an educational program. Bon Jovi received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2019. This degree is truly something he cherishes.
If you see him in person, you should know that it's not inappropriate to call him Dr. Bon Jovi.
8 Loved By Locals Before Fame
Nowadays, aspiring singers can get instantly recognized on YouTube or other social media sites. For Bon Jovi, the road to fame started when he gained the attention of music fans in his local area. He performed at local clubs and even formed small bands, including Atlantic City Expressway and The Rest.
7 Owning The Band
Many bands feature members who started out as friends. Bon Jovi's approach to band members is vastly different. As well as ensuring that his band was named after him, Bon Jovi made sure to employ his band members. The reason for this was to make business management easier to deal with.
6 His Unique Family Roots
Bon Jovi grew up mostly in New Jersey and spends his summers in Pennsylvania, at his grandparents' place. His father, who was a Marine, has Sicilian and Slovak ancestry, while his mother, a Marine and florist, is of German and Russian descent. He has two brothers named Matthew and Anthony.
5 Blessed With A Wife And Children
Bon Jovi has been married to his beloved wife, Dorothea Hurley, for over thirty years. They secretly got married in 1989 when Bon Jovi was doing the New Jersey Syndicate Tour. Together, the two have a daughter named Stephanie, and three sons named Jesse, Jacob, and Romeo.
4 Charitable Man
Bon Jovi is just one of the most generous men in rock music, which might be surprising to some, due to the tough vibe of some of his music. Along with his foundation, he has contributed to repairing homes in Philadelphia.
He also took part in recording the song, "Everybody Hurts", for charity, to help those affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
3 Related To A Legend
For a lot of families, talent runs through the generations. If there is one thing that Bon Jovi gets bragging rights for, it is the fact that he is a blood relative to the one and only Frank Sinatra.
If that does not surprise you in any way, we don't know what will.
2 Good Taste In Films
Since he's an actor himself, Bon Jovi has taken the time to admire the beauty of filmmaking. As for his all-time favorite movie, it is The Godfather. In a funny coincidence, a video game adaptation of the movie features a character named Jean Bongiovi, referencing Jon Bon Jovi.
1 A Different Name
We honestly cannot imagine the band name being something other than Bon Jovi. Before the name was official, Bon Jovi wanted to call the band Johnny Electric. It was pretty generic, so a friend of his recommended going by his last name. Jon tweaked the spelling a bit and the rest is history.
Sources: Wklh.com, Needsomefun.net, Boomsbeat.com, USAtoday.com, Soulfoundation.org, Loudersound.com, Nytimes.com