John Francis Bongiovi, better known as his stage name Jon Bon Jovi, was born in 1962. The young rockstar was raised in a middle-class household in New Jersey, but his spectacular singer abilities quickly skyrocketed him to fame.
According to Biography.com, in 1980, Jon Bon Jovi recorded his first single, Runaway, in his cousin’s basement. His vocal abilities created a local buzz, and the hit single was played on the local radio station. But the future rockstar quickly realized if he wanted a successful career, he would need more than just recorded sessions. He would need a band. So in 1983, Jon Bon Jovi formed the band, Bon Jovi.
Bon Jovi released their debut self-titled album in 1984. The following year, the band released their second album, 7800° Fahrenheit. But it was the band’s third and best-selling album to date, catapulting them into an international sensation. In 1986, the band released their third album, Slippery When Wet. According to ThisDayInMusic, the band’s third album has sold over 28 million copies worldwide. The iconic album is the 1st rock album with three hits in the top 10, according to iheart. The talented musician went on to release 15 studio albums and two solo albums.
But the ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ singer did not only limit himself to music. In the 1990s, he began acting. Jon Bon Jovi played in Moonlight and Valentino and U-571. The talented musician has made it a point to give back throughout his career. In 2006, he founded The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a non-profit organization that was created to help break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Although known internationally for his musical talents, acting abilities, and philanthropy, the rock legend takes the most pride in being a family man.
Jon Bon Jovi (1990), (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images)
Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea have been married for over 30 years. The couple met in high school. In an interview with Best Life, the iconic rockstar recalled their meeting.
“I met my future wife in 1980, in high school,” he told the outlet. “We were in the same class. Dorothea was going out with one of those guys who joined the service. He left town, and hey, you know the five-second rule when you drop a piece of toast on the ground? I gave him three weeks. We started dating, and that was the end of that.”
The couple dated for nine years before they decided to get married. While staying at the St. James Club in LA, the couple decided to elope in Las Vegas.
They went through quite an ordeal to get to Las Vegas. They took a shuttle plane and a cab to reach their destination. With the cab driver as their witness, Jon Bon Jovi wed his high school sweetheart. Although the newlyweds hadn’t told a soul by Monday morning, the story leaked in the magazines.
“Then on Monday, it was on ‘Entertainment Tonight:’ Guess what, Bon Jovi got married!” the ‘Always” singer recalled. “But in that moment, we decided it was just about us.”
Although not everyone was happy about their marriage, the father of four considered it the best decision he had ever made. In an interview with the New York Post, Jon Bon Jovi explained how his wife influences his music.
“She’s the muse for all the syrupy ballads I write,” he said. “It’s obvious. I try to relate it with out being too saccharine. Yeah, it definitely comes out in the songs.”
