The Sonny Comedy Revue , starring Sonny Bono , was a variety show that aired on ABC in 1974 for one season. It was his first solo effort after the end of his marriage to Cher and the resulting cancellation of their variety show The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour .
110-626: Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono ( / ˈ b oʊ n oʊ / BOH -noh ; February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American singer, songwriter, actor, and politician. In partnership with his second wife, Cher , he formed the singing duo Sonny & Cher . A member of the Republican Party , Bono served as the 16th mayor of Palm Springs, California , from 1988 to 1992, and served as the U.S. representative for California's 44th district from 1995 until his death in 1998. The United States Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, which extended
220-469: A "new, sophisticated, and mature" image. Cher adopted alluring, low-cut gowns that became her signature outfits. CBS head of programming Fred Silverman offered Sonny and Cher their own television program after he noticed them as guest-hosts on The Merv Griffin Show in 1971. The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premiered as a summer replacement series on August 1, 1971, and had six episodes. Because it
330-525: A "serious rock and roller ... a crown that she'd worked long and hard to capture". Michael Bolton , Jon Bon Jovi , Desmond Child , and Richie Sambora produced her first Geffen album, Cher . Despite facing strong retail and radio airplay resistance upon its release, the album proved to be a commercial success, certified platinum by the RIAA. Cher features the rock ballad " I Found Someone ", Cher's first US top-ten single in more than eight years. By
440-486: A $ 2.5 million deal for Cher with Warner Bros. Records , and she began work on her first album under that label in 1975. According to Bego, "it was their intention that [this album] was going to make millions of fans around the world take her seriously as a rock star, and not just a pop singer." Despite Cher's efforts to develop her musical range by listening to artists such as Stevie Wonder , Elton John , James Taylor , Carly Simon , Joni Mitchell , and Bob Dylan ,
550-567: A Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs (1973), and Live in Las Vegas Vol. 2 (1973). Cher later commented on this period: "I could do a whole album ... in three days ... We were on the road ... and we were doing the Sonny & Cher Show". Cher and Sonny had had marital problems since late 1972, but appearances were maintained until 1974. "The public still thinks we are married," Sonny wrote in his diary at
660-699: A break, make a new contact, or get an audition." Cher met performer Sonny Bono in November 1962 when he was working for record producer Phil Spector . Cher's friend moved out, and Cher accepted Sonny's offer to be his housekeeper . Sonny introduced Cher to Spector, who used her as a backup singer on many recordings, including the Ronettes ' " Be My Baby " and the Righteous Brothers ' " You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' ". Spector produced her first single, " Ringo, I Love You ", which Cher recorded under
770-425: A choice about the direction of her singing career. Deciding to temporarily abandon her desire to be a rock singer, she signed with Casablanca Records and launched a comeback with the single " Take Me Home " and the album of the same name , both of which capitalized on the disco craze. Both the album and the single became instant successes, remained bestsellers for more than half of 1979, and were certified gold by
880-591: A clothing line. Sonny and Cher's first album, Look at Us (1965), released for the Atco Records division of Atlantic Records , spent eight weeks at number two on the Billboard 200, behind the Beatles' Help! . Their material became popular, and the duo successfully competed with the dominant British Invasion and Motown sounds of the era. Author Joseph Murrells described Sonny and Cher as "part of
990-491: A duo had also been unsuccessful, Kapp Records recruited Snuff Garrett to work with them. He produced Cher's second US number-one single, " Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves ", which "proved that ... Garrett knew more about Cher's voice and her persona as a singer than Sonny did", writes Bego. "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was the first single by a solo artist to rank number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at
1100-445: A group of girls, directing and choreographing their dance routines. Unable to convince boys to participate, she acted the male roles and sang their songs. By age nine, she had developed an unusually low voice. Fascinated by film stars, Cher's role model was Audrey Hepburn , particularly due to her role in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's . Cher began to take after the unconventional outfits and behavior of Hepburn's character. She
1210-484: A highly rated special with guests Flip Wilson , Elton John , and Bette Midler . The show was produced by Geffen and centered on Cher's songs, monologs, comedy performance, and her variation of clothing, which was the largest for a weekly TV show. Early critical reception was favorable; the Los Angeles Times exclaimed that "Sonny without Cher was a disaster. Cher without Sonny, on the other hand, could be
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#17327835359391320-538: A jump start by airing at 7:30 PM ( Kojak aired at 8:30 on CBS), while Bono's show did not start until 8:00 PM. By mid-October, Les Brown of the New York Times reported that ABC was considering moving the show at mid-season to 7:30 PM, but a continued decline in ratings took the mid-season option off the table and the show was cancelled after 13 episodes. The last original episode aired December 22, 1974 (a Christmas-themed episode with guest star Lucie Arnaz), and
1430-464: A month. They had one son, Elijah Blue , on July 10, 1976. Sonny and Cher's TV reunion, The Sonny and Cher Show , debuted on CBS in February 1976—the first show ever to star a divorced couple. Although the show was a ratings success on its premiere, Cher and Sonny's insulting onscreen banter about their divorce, her reportedly extravagant lifestyle, and her troubled relationship with Allman caused
1540-588: A new commercial peak in 1998 with the dance-pop album Believe , which featured pioneering use of Auto-Tune to distort her vocals, known as the "Cher effect". The title track became the number-one song of 1999 in the US and the best-selling single of all time by a female artist in the UK . She continued to make music, with the albums Closer to the Truth (2013) and Dancing Queen (2018) both debuting at number three on
1650-556: A public backlash that eventually contributed to the show's cancellation in August 1977. In 1976, Mego Toys released a line of toys and dolls in the likeness of Sonny and Cher, which coincided with the popularity of The Sonny and Cher Show . The miniature version of Cher ended up being the highest selling doll of 1976, surpassing Barbie . Cher's next albums, I'd Rather Believe in You (1976) and Cherished (1977)—the latter marking
1760-400: A recording artist. In 1972, Cher released the all-ballad set Foxy Lady , demonstrating the evolution of her vocal abilities, according to Bego. Following the release of the album, Garrett quit as producer after disagreeing with Sonny about the kind of material Cher should record. At Sonny's insistence, in 1973 Cher released an album of standards called Bittersweet White Light , which
1870-698: A restaurant in Palm Springs, California . He made a successful bid for mayor, and served from 1988 to 1992. As mayor, Bono spearheaded the creation of the Palm Springs International Film Festival , which is held each year in his memory. Bono ran for the Republican nomination for United States Senate in 1992, but lost to the more conservative Bruce Herschensohn , who lost the general election to Democrat Barbara Boxer . Bono and Herschensohn became close friends after
1980-401: A return to her earlier pop storyteller style at Warner's producers' insistence—were commercially unsuccessful; Orange Coast magazine's Keith Tuber commented, "A weekly television series ... can spell disaster for a recording artist ... Regular exposure on TV allowed people to see and hear these performers without having to buy their records ... That's what happened to Cher[.]" In 1977, under
2090-428: A small New England town in the comedy horror The Witches of Eastwick . In Norman Jewison 's romantic comedy Moonstruck , she played an Italian widow in love with her fiancé's younger brother. The two last films ranked among the top ten highest-grossing films of 1987, at number ten and five, respectively. The New York Times ' Janet Maslin wrote Moonstruck "offers further proof that Cher has evolved into
2200-434: A solo album. 3614 Jackson Highway (1969) was recorded without the guidance of Sonny and incorporates experiments in rhythm and blues and soul music . AllMusic 's Mark Deming proclaimed it "arguably the finest album of her career", and still "a revelation" decades later. Displeased with the 3614 Jackson Highway album, Sonny prevented Cher from releasing more recordings for Atco. Meanwhile, Sonny dated others, and by
2310-475: A solo artist, " Laugh at Me ", was released in 1965 and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In live concerts, Bono introduced the song by saying "I'd like to sing a medley of my hit". His only other single as a solo artist, "The Revolution Kind", reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 later that year. His solo album, Inner Views , was released in 1967. Bono continued to work with Cher through
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#17327835359392420-422: A solo artist, she encouraged him to perform with her because she suffered from stage fright , and he began joining her onstage, singing the harmonies. Cher disguised her nervousness by looking at Sonny; she later commented that she sang to the people through him. In late 1964, they emerged as a duo called Caesar & Cleo, releasing the poorly received singles " Do You Wanna Dance? ", " Love Is Strange ", and " Let
2530-481: A song he wrote at age 16, was recorded by Don and Dewey in 1958, and later covered by several other artists including The Righteous Brothers . Bono attended Inglewood High School , but did not graduate, opting to drop out so he could begin to pursue a career as a songwriter and performer. He worked at a variety of jobs while trying to break into the music business, including waiter, truck driver, construction laborer, and butcher's helper. Bono began his music career as
2640-433: A songwriter at Specialty Records , where his song "Things You Do to Me" was recorded by Sam Cooke , and went on to work for record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s as a promotion man, percussionist and " gofer ". One of his earliest songwriting efforts, " Needles and Pins " was co-written with Jack Nitzsche , another member of Spector's production team. In 1965, he achieved commercial success with his wife Cher in
2750-504: A waitress. She changed her name to Georgia Holt and played minor roles in films and on television. Holt also secured acting parts for her daughters as extras on television shows like The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet . Her mother's relationship with Southall ended when Cher was nine years old, but she considers him her father and remembers him as a "good-natured man who turned belligerent when he drank too much". Holt remarried and divorced several more times, and she moved her family around
2860-449: A young [Chaz] also appeared on the show. They seemed like a perfect family." Cher honed her acting skills in sketch comedy roles such as the brash housewife Laverne, the sardonic waitress Rosa, and historical vamps, including Cleopatra and Miss Sadie Thompson . The Bob Mackie -designed clothing Cher wore was part of the show's attraction, and her style influenced the fashion trends of the 1970s . In 1971, Sonny and Cher signed with
2970-474: Is noted for her trendsetting, elaborate outfits, political views, social media presence, philanthropic endeavors, and social activism, including LGBTQ rights and HIV/AIDS prevention. Cheryl Sarkisian was born in El Centro, California , on May 20, 1946. Her father, John Sarkisian, was an Armenian-American truck driver with drug and gambling problems; her mother, Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch),
3080-637: The Billboard 200 and becoming her highest-charting solo albums in the US. Cher became a television personality in the 1970s with her CBS shows The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour , watched by over 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run, and the namesake Cher . In 1982, she made her Broadway debut in the play Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and starred in its film adaptation . Cher subsequently garnered critical acclaim for her performances in films such as Silkwood (1983), Mask (1985), and Moonstruck (1987),
3190-714: The Billboard 200 ; it was later described by AllMusic 's Tim Sendra as "one of the stronger folk-pop records of the era". In early 1965, Caesar and Cleo began calling themselves Sonny & Cher . Following the recording of " I Got You Babe ", they traveled to England in July 1965 at the Rolling Stones ' advice; Cher recalled, "[they] had told us ... that Americans just didn't get us and that if we were going to make it big, we were going to have to go to England." According to writer Cintra Wilson , "English newspaper photographers showed up when S&C were thrown out of
3300-627: The Actors Studio , but never enrolled after her plans changed. She auditioned for and was signed by director Robert Altman for the Broadway stage production Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean , playing a member of a James Dean fan club holding a 20-year reunion. That year, Altman cast her again in the film adaptation of the same title. Director Mike Nichols , who had seen Cher onstage in Jimmy Dean , offered her
3410-480: The Council of Fashion Designers of America . She is the only solo artist to date to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in seven consecutive decades, from the 1960s to the 2020s. Her 2002–2005 Living Proof: The Farewell Tour became the highest-grossing concert tour by a female artist ever at the time, earning US$ 250 million (equivalent to $ 390 million in 2023). Aside from music and acting, she
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3520-581: The Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture . In 1985, Cher formed the film production company Isis. Her next film, Mask (1985), reached number two at the box office and was Cher's first critical and commercial success as a leading actress. For her role as a drug addict biker with a teenage son who has a severe physical deformity, she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress . During
3630-530: The Kapp Records division of MCA Records , and Cher released the single "Classified 1A", in which she sings from the point of view of a soldier who bleeds to death in Vietnam. Written by Sonny, who felt that her first solo single on the label had to be poignant and topical, the song was rejected by radio station programmers as uncommercial. Since Sonny's first attempts at reviving their recording career as
3740-550: The London Hilton [because of their outfits] the night they arrived—literally overnight, they were stars. London went gaga for the heretofore-unseen S&C look, which was neither mod nor rocker ." "I Got You Babe" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became, according to AllMusic's Bruce Eder, "one of the biggest-selling and most beloved pop/rock hits of the mid-'60s"; Rolling Stone listed it among " The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time " in 2003. As
3850-488: The album of the same name and became Cher's third US number-one single. Both the album and the single were certified gold by the RIAA. In 1974, Cher released the song " Dark Lady " as the lead single from the namesake album . It reached the top position on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cher's fourth number-one single and making her the female artist with the most number-one singles in United States history at
3960-708: The 1970s, she scored the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles " Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves ", " Half-Breed ", and " Dark Lady ", becoming the female solo artist with the most number-one singles in US history at the time. After her divorce from Sonny Bono in 1975, Cher released the successful disco album Take Me Home (1979). Her music career revival in the late 1980s saw the releases of rock -inflected albums Cher (1987), Heart of Stone (1989), and Love Hurts (1991), all of which yielded hit singles such as " I Found Someone ", " If I Could Turn Back Time ", and " Save Up All Your Tears ". Cher reached
4070-746: The Church of Scientology] at one point, and they made it very difficult for him." The Church of Scientology said there was no estrangement from Bono. Bono died on January 5, 1998, of injuries incurred when he hit a tree while skiing at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, California . At Mary's request, Cher gave a eulogy at Sonny's funeral. He was buried at Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California . The epitaph on Bono's headstone reads "AND THE BEAT GOES ON". Mary Bono
4180-846: The Giant Pickle"; in the Silly Songs with Larry segment I Love My Lips (original version). Bono guest-starred as himself on The Golden Girls episode "Mrs. George Devereaux" (originally broadcast November 17, 1990), in which he vied with Lyle Waggoner for Dorothy's ( Bea Arthur ) affection in a dream sequence. In Blanche's ( Rue McClanahan ) dream, her husband is still alive, and Bono uses his power as Mayor of Palm Springs to have Waggoner falsely arrested so he can have Dorothy to himself. Sophia ( Estelle Getty ) had been hoping for Sonny and Dorothy to get together and actively supported Sonny. Bono entered politics after experiencing frustration with local government bureaucracy while trying to open
4290-525: The Good Times Roll ". Cher signed with Liberty Records ' Imperial imprint in the end of 1964, and Sonny became her producer. The single "Dream Baby", released under the name "Cherilyn", received airplay in Los Angeles. Imperial encouraged Cher to work with Sonny on her second solo single for the label, a cover version of Bob Dylan 's " All I Really Want to Do ". It peaked at number 15 on
4400-407: The RIAA. Sales of the album may have been boosted by the image of a scantily clad Cher in a Viking outfit on its cover. Despite her initial lack of enthusiasm for disco music, she changed her mind after the success, commenting, "I never thought I would want to do disco ... [but] it's terrific! It's great music to dance to. I think that danceable music is what everybody wants." Encouraged by
4510-697: The Take Me Home Tour), with additional dates in North America, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. It yielded two television specials: Standing Room Only: Cher in Concert (1981) and Cher... A Celebration at Caesars (1983), the latter of which won Cher the CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Variety Program. In 1981, Cher released a duet with rock musician Meat Loaf called " Dead Ringer for Love ", which reached number five on
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4620-567: The UK Singles Chart and was later described by AllMusic's Donald A. Guarisco as "one of the more inspired rock duets of the 1980s". In 1982, Columbia Records released the album I Paralyze , later deemed by Bego as Cher's "strongest and most consistent solo album in years" despite its low sales. With decreasing album sales and a lack of commercially successful singles, Cher decided to further develop her acting career. While she had previously aspired to venture into film, she had only
4730-562: The UK and became her first million-seller solo single. Chér , also released in 1966, contains the Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition " Alfie ", which was added to the credits of the American version of the 1966 film of the same name and became the first stateside version of the popular song. With Love, Chér (1967) includes songs described by biographer Mark Bego as "little soap-opera stories set to rock music" such as
4840-633: The US Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. Meanwhile, the Byrds had released their own version of the same song. When competition on the singles charts started between Cher and the Byrds, the group's record label began to promote the B-side of the Byrds' single. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds commented, "We loved the Cher version ... We didn't want to hassle. So we just turned our record over." Cher's debut album, All I Really Want to Do (1965), reached number 16 on
4950-429: The US top-ten single " You Better Sit Down Kids ". By the end of the 1960s, Sonny and Cher's music had ceased to chart. According to Berman, "the heavy, loud sound of groups like Jefferson Airplane and Cream made the folk-rock music of Sonny and Cher seem too bland." Cher later said, "I loved the new sound of Led Zeppelin , Eric Clapton , the electric-guitar oriented bands. Left to myself, I would have changed with
5060-412: The best thing that's happened to weekly television this season." Cher lasted for less than a year, replaced by a new show in which she professionally reunited with ex-husband Sonny; she said, "doing a show alone was more than I could handle." According to The Ringer 's Lindsay Zoladz, "[Cher] found the network censors to be more watchful than they were when she was married to Sonny ... When she
5170-562: The campaign. In 1994, Bono planned to run for lieutenant governor, but decided to run for Congress when Republican Al McCandless announced his retirement. Bono won the Republican nomination and the general election to represent California's 44th congressional district . He was reelected in 1996, and served from January 1995 until his death. In the House, Bono was one of 12 co-sponsors of a House bill extending copyright . Although that bill
5280-432: The country (including New York, Texas, and California). They often had little money, and Cher recounted having had to use rubber bands to hold her shoes together. At one point, her mother left Cher at an orphanage for several weeks. Although they met every day, both found the experience traumatic. When Cher was in fifth grade, she produced a performance of the musical Oklahoma! for her teacher and class. She organized
5390-634: The critically and commercially unsuccessful movies Good Times and Chastity to her credit, and the Hollywood establishment did not take her seriously as an actress. Cher later recalled, "I was making a fortune on the road, but I was dying inside. Everyone kept saying, 'Cher, there are people who would give anything to have standing room only at Caesars Palace. It would be the pinnacle of their careers.' And I kept thinking, 'Yes, I should be satisfied' ... But I wasn't satisfied." She moved to New York in 1982 to take acting lessons with Lee Strasberg , founder of
5500-434: The divorce proceedings, Cher had a two-year romantic relationship with record executive David Geffen , who helped free her from a restrictive business arrangement with Sonny. Under the terms of this arrangement, Cher was required to work exclusively for Cher Enterprises, a company 95% owned by Sonny and 5% by his lawyer. She was considered an employee of the company, with no control over her career and finances. Geffen secured
5610-417: The duo produced and starred in the film Good Times (1967), which was commercially unsuccessful. Cher's next album, Backstage (1968), in which she explores diverse musical genres including Brazilian jazz and anti-war protest settings, was not a commercial success. In 1969, she was dropped from Imperial Records while Sonny and Cher had been dropped from Atco; however, the label wanted to sign Cher for
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#17327835359395720-483: The duo put together a nightclub routine that relied on a more adult approach to sound and style. According to writer Cintra Wilson, "Their lounge act was so depressing, people started heckling them. Then Cher started heckling back. Sonny ... reprimanded her; then she'd heckle Sonny". The heckling became a highlight of the act and attracted viewers. Television executives took note, and the couple began making guest appearances on prime-time shows, in which they presented
5830-462: The duo, since divorced, returned to perform together on The Sonny and Cher Show . Their last appearance together was on Late Night with David Letterman on November 13, 1987, on which they sang " I Got You Babe ". "What we call a hook hits you, ... then you're almost not writing, lyrics come to you, a sort of magic takes over, and it's not like work at all." -Sonny Bono on songwriting, 1967 Pop Chronicles interview. In 2011, Sonny Bono
5940-419: The early and mid-1970s, starring in a popular television variety show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour , which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1974. Around the time that The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour was in development, Bono grew his now famous mustache, he would continue to wear it for the rest of his life. In 1974, his solo variety show, The Sonny Comedy Revue , ran on ABC for one season. From 1976 to 1977,
6050-413: The end of the 1960s their relationship had begun to unravel. According to People magazine, "[Sonny] tried desperately to win her back, telling her he wanted to marry and start a family." They officially married after she gave birth to Chaz Bono on March 4, 1969. The duo spent $ 500,000 and mortgaged their home to make the film Chastity (1969). Written and produced by Sonny, who did not appear in
6160-625: The end of the 1980s, Cher was also receiving attention for her controversial lifestyle, including her tattoos, plastic surgeries, exhibitionist fashion sense, and affairs with younger men. She had romantic relationships with actors Val Kilmer , Eric Stoltz , and Tom Cruise , hockey player Ron Duguay , film producer Josh Donen , Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora , and Rob Camilletti, a bagel baker 18 years her junior whom she dated from 1986 to 1989. The Sonny Comedy Revue On April 24, 1974, ABC signed Sonny Bono to host his own variety hour at 8 PM on Sunday evenings that fall after CBS passed on
6270-493: The final episode aired December 29, 1974 (a repeat episode with guest Clifton Davis). After its demise, the show was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for the 1974–1975 season. During the run of Cher's show, she and Sonny got a chance to go "head to head" in the ratings when he guest-starred on The Six Million Dollar Man , starring Lee Majors , the program that had replaced his in
6380-514: The first time. She was so special ... She was like a movie star, right then and there ... She said she was going to be a movie star and we knew she would." Despite not being an excellent student, Cher was intelligent and creative, according to Berman. She earned high grades, excelling in French and English classes. As an adult, she discovered that she had dyslexia. Cher's unconventional behavior stood out: she performed songs for students during
6490-488: The help it can get.' With Sonny Bono, they've possibly gotten more than they bargained for." Harry Harris of The Philadelphia Inquirer also saw potential in Bono's solo outing,"Can Sonny make it as a TV star without Cher? ABC's first 'Sonny Comedy Revue' suggests that his chances aren't bad. The variety hour is fast-moving, crammed with camera tricks and often quite amusing...Plus marks go to some zany skits." Nevertheless,
6600-723: The kind of larger-than-life movie star who's worth watching whatever she does." For that film, Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical . By 1988, Cher had become one of the most bankable actresses of the decade, commanding $ 1 million per film. That year, she released the fragrance Uninhibited, which earned about $ 15 million in its first year sales. In 1987, Cher signed with Geffen Records and revived her musical career with what music critics Johnny Danza and Dean Ferguson describe as "her most impressive string of hits to date", establishing her as
6710-532: The last of which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress . She contributed to the soundtrack for her next film, Mermaids (1990), which spawned the UK number-one single " The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) ", and made her directorial debut with a segment in the abortion-themed anthology If These Walls Could Talk (1996). During the 2010s, Cher landed starring roles in the films Burlesque (2010) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). In 2018, she
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#17327835359396820-446: The leading exponents of the rock-folk-message type of song, a hybrid combining the best and instrumentation of rock music with folk lyric and often lyrics of protest ." Sonny and Cher charted ten Billboard top 40 singles between 1965 and 1972, including five top-ten singles: "I Got You Babe", " Baby Don't Go ", " The Beat Goes On ", " All I Ever Need Is You ", and " A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done ". At one point, they had five songs in
6930-592: The lives of the inhabitants of Bombay Beach , Niland and Salton City , as well as the ecological issues associated with the Sea. He became interested in Scientology and took Scientology courses partly because of the influence of Mimi Rogers , but stated that he was a Roman Catholic on all official documents, campaign materials and websites. His wife Mary also took Scientology courses. However, after his death, Mary Bono stated that "Sonny did try to break away [from
7040-564: The lunch hours and surprised peers when she wore a midriff -baring top. She later recalled, "I was never really in school. I was always thinking about when I was grown up and famous." At age 16, Cher dropped out of school, left her mother's house, and moved to Los Angeles with a friend. She took acting classes and worked to support herself, dancing in small clubs along Hollywood's Sunset Strip and introducing herself to performers, managers, and agents. According to Berman, "[Cher] did not hesitate to approach anyone she thought could help her get
7150-472: The making of the film, however, she clashed with director Peter Bogdanovich , and was ultimately omitted from the Oscar nomination list. She attended the 58th Academy Awards in a tarantula-like costume, later deemed by Vanity Fair 's Esther Zuckerman as Cher's "Oscar revenge dress". "As you can see, I did receive my Academy booklet on how to dress like a serious actress," Cher declared before presenting
7260-508: The media as the " Goddess of Pop ", she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry. She is known for her distinctive contralto singing voice, for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment and for adopting a variety of styles and appearances. Cher rose to fame in 1965 as one half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher before releasing her first solo top-ten singles " Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) " and " You Better Sit Down Kids ". Throughout
7370-746: The media toward celebrities. Bono remains the only member of Congress to have scored a number-one pop single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Bono was married four times. He married his first wife, Donna Rankin, on November 3, 1954. Their daughter Christine ("Christy") was born on June 24, 1958. They divorced in 1962. In 1964 Bono married Cherilyn Sarkisian, later known as singer and actress Cher . The couple had one child named Chastity, later known as Chaz , born in 1969. The couple divorced in 1975. On New Year's Eve 1981 Bono married actress-model Susie Coelho , they divorced in 1984. In 1986 he married Mary Whitaker . The couple had two children: son Chesare Elan in 1988 and daughter Chianna Maria in 1991. Mary
7480-409: The movie, it tells the story of a young woman, played by Cher, searching for the meaning of life. The art film failed commercially, putting the couple $ 190,000 in debt with back taxes. However, some critics noted that Cher showed signs of acting potential; Cue magazine wrote, "Cher has a marvelous quality that often makes you forget the lines you are hearing." At the lowest point of their career,
7590-541: The name Bonnie Jo Mason. The song was rejected by many radio stations programmers as they thought Cher's deep contralto vocals were a man's vocals; therefore, they believed it was a male homosexual singing a love song dedicated to the Beatles drummer Ringo Starr . Cher and Sonny became close friends, eventual lovers, and performed their own unofficial wedding ceremony in a hotel room in Tijuana , Mexico , on October 27, 1964. Although Sonny had wanted to launch Cher as
7700-475: The nominees for Best Supporting Actor . The incident garnered her much publicity. Cher's May 1986 guest appearance on talk show Late Night with David Letterman , during which she called Letterman "an asshole", attracted much media coverage; Letterman later recalled, "It did hurt my feelings. Cher was one of the few people I've really wanted to have on the show ... I felt like a total fool, especially since I say all kinds of things to people." She returned to
7810-446: The option. It was the only new variety show joining network television that fall and only one of two on the air for the start of the fall 1974 season, the other being The Carol Burnett Show. The Sonny Comedy Revue taped at ABC Studio 55. On September 23, 1974, one day after Bono's show premiered, CBS signed Cher to host her own solo variety show, set to begin airing at 7:30 p.m. Sunday nights in February 1975. This would have put
7920-409: The part of Dolly Pelliker , a plant co-worker and Meryl Streep 's lesbian roommate in the film Silkwood . When it premiered in 1983, audiences questioned Cher's ability as an actress. She recalls attending a film preview during which the audience laughed when they saw her name in the credits. For her performance, Cher received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and won
8030-410: The performance among "David Letterman's Top 10 Musical Moments" in 2015. Cher starred in three films in 1987. In Suspect , she played a public defender who is both helped and romanced by one of the jurors in the homicide case she is handling. Alongside Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer , she starred as one of three divorcees involved with a mysterious and wealthy visitor from hell who comes to
8140-408: The popularity of Take Me Home , Cher planned to return to rock music in her next album, Prisoner (1979). The album's cover features Cher draped in chains as a "prisoner of the press", which caused controversy among feminist groups for her perceived portrayal of a sex slave. She included rock songs, which made the disco release seem unfocused and led to its commercial failure. Prisoner produced
8250-540: The record. They attacked me. It was like, 'How dare Cher sing rock & roll?'" Black Rose disbanded in 1981. During Black Rose's active period, Cher was simultaneously doing a residency show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, earning $ 300,000 a week. Titled Cher in Concert , the three-year performance residency opened in June 1979 and eventually became Cher's first world concert tour as a solo artist (also referred to as
8360-443: The resulting album, Stars , was commercially and critically unsuccessful. Janet Maslin of The Village Voice wrote, "Cher is just no rock and roller ... Image, not music, is Cher Bono's main ingredient for both records and TV." The album has since become a cult classic and is generally considered among her best work. On February 16, 1975, Cher returned to television with a solo show on CBS. Called Cher , it began as
8470-696: The role of rock star Jack Marshall. He appeared in the 1980 miniseries Top of the Hill . He played the role of mad bomber Joe Selucci in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) and appeared in the horror film Troll (1986). He also portrayed racist entrepreneur Franklin Von Tussle in the John Waters film Hairspray (1988). He also appeared as the Mayor of Palm Springs (which he actually was at
8580-461: The rubric "Allman and Woman", she and Allman recorded the duet album Two the Hard Way . The couple toured Europe to support the album, though audience reception was mixed. With a combination of Cher fans and Allman Brothers fans in attendance, fights frequently broke out at venues, prompting Cher to cancel the tour. Their relationship ended soon after the tour's cancellation, and their divorce
8690-617: The same time as on the Canadian Singles Chart . Billboard called it "one of the 20th century's greatest songs". It was featured on the 1971 album Chér (eventually reissued under the title Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves ), which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its second single, " The Way of Love ", reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and established Cher's more confident image as
8800-423: The shore of the lake on Bono's behalf. In their book Tell Newt to Shut Up , David Maraniss and Michael Weisskopf credit Bono with being the first person to recognize Gingrich's public relations problems in 1995. Drawing on his long experience as a celebrity and entertainment producer, Bono (according to Maraniss and Weisskopf) recognized that Gingrich's status had changed from politician to celebrity and that he
8910-484: The show "needs a lot of smoothing out to overcome the absence of Cher. Unless an 'instant' patching job is done, I'll give solo Sonny 13 weeks." Other critics were more kind, notably James Brown of The Los Angeles Times, who wrote, "Sonny without Cher works quite well--most of the time." Brown concluded, "The Sonny Comedy Revue is mostly good fun, and a notch above the variety factory printouts we've become accustomed to. And as one colleague so aptly put it, 'ABC needs all
9020-407: The show in 1987, reuniting with Sonny for the last time before his death to sing an impromptu version of "I Got You Babe". According to Rolling Stone 's Andy Greene, "they weren't exactly the best of friends at this point, but both of them knew it would make for unforgettable television. Had YouTube existed back then, this would have gone insanely viral the next morning." Rolling Stone listed
9130-549: The show struggled to find an audience. Critics said the show was "uneven," and that Cher's presence was sorely missed The Des Moines Register's TV critic, Dianne Milobar, in a blistering review, declared, "The ghost of Cher haunts the Sonny Comedy Revue." She declared that the Newsstand segment was "unbearable," and, of the show overall, "Few laughs are genuine. Most are pitiful." TV columnist Forrest Powers said
9240-508: The show was in immediate trouble, as the premiere episode ranked 41st out of 61 programs for the week. Subsequent episodes fared even more poorly: the October 24, 1974 episode, for example, ranked 50th out of 53 shows. ABC programmers themselves realized just weeks into the new season that the program was hampered by its poor time slot, competing against established TV shows like Kojak and The Wonderful World of Disney . Disney on NBC had
9350-651: The shows in direct competition. However, Sonny's show was cancelled before that could happen. ABC had high hopes for the new variety hour headed by Bono, as his show had many of the writers, producers and cast from the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour . Some of the popular skits were even carried over, including "Sonny’s Pizza.". New skits such as "The Newsstand" (which centered on jokes about current events) were added. In addition, there were many segments where female guest stars would make fun of Sonny, just as Cher did on their previous show. After premiering on September 22, 1974,
9460-510: The singing duo Sonny & Cher . Bono wrote, arranged and produced a number of hit records including the singles " I Got You Babe " and " The Beat Goes On ", although Cher received more attention as a performer. He played a major part in Cher's early solo recording career, writing and producing singles including " Bang Bang " and " You Better Sit Down Kids ". Under a pseudonym, Bono co-wrote "She Said Yeah", covered by The Rolling Stones on their 1965 LP Out of Our Heads . His lone hit single as
9570-431: The single " Hell on Wheels ", featured on the soundtrack of the film Roller Boogie . The song exploits the late 1970s roller-skating fad and contributed to its popularity. In 1980, alongside Italian record producer Giorgio Moroder , Cher wrote her last Casablanca disco recording, "Bad Love", for the film Foxes . She formed the rock band Black Rose that year with her then-lover, guitarist Les Dudek . Although Cher
9680-652: The song knocked the Beatles off the top of the British charts, English teenagers began to emulate Sonny and Cher's fashion style, such as bell-bottoms , striped pants, ruffled shirts, industrial zippers and fur vests. Upon their return to the US, the duo made several appearances on the teen-pop showcases Hullabaloo and Shindig! and completed a tour of some of the largest arenas in the US. Their shows attracted Cher look-alikes—"girls who were ironing their hair straight and dyeing it black, to go with their vests and bell-bottoms". Cher expanded her creative range by designing
9790-709: The term of copyright by 20 years, was named in honor of Bono when it was passed by Congress nine months after his death. Mary Bono (his widow and successor in Congress) had been one of the original sponsors of the legislation, commonly known as the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. Bono was born in Detroit , the son of Zena "Jean" (née DiMercurio) and Santo Bono. His father was born in Montelepre , Palermo , Italy; his mother
9900-478: The time) in several episodes of P.S. I Luv U during the 1991–92 TV season, and on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (in season 1, episode 9 "The Man of Steel Bars", which aired November 21, 1993), in which he played Mayor Frank Berkowitz. He also made a minor appearance as himself in the comedy film First Kid (1996). A portrait of Bono also appeared in the VeggieTales episode "Dave and
10010-403: The time, "[and] that's the way it has to be." In February 1974, Sonny filed for a separation, citing "irreconcilable differences". A week later, Cher countered with a divorce suit and charged Sonny with "involuntary servitude", claiming that he withheld money from her and deprived her of her rightful share of their earnings. The couple battled in court over finances and the custody of Chaz, which
10120-459: The time. Later that year, she released a Greatest Hits album that, according to Billboard magazine, proved her to be "one of the most consistent hitmakers of the past five years", as well as a "proven superstar who always sells records". Between 1971 and 1973, Sonny and Cher's recording career was revived with four albums released under Kapp Records and MCA Records: Sonny & Cher Live (1971), All I Ever Need Is You (1972), Mama Was
10230-473: The times because the music really turned me on. But [Sonny] didn't like it—and that was that." Their monogamous lifestyle during the period of the sexual revolution and the anti-drug position they adopted at the height of the drug culture lost them popularity among American youths. According to Bego, "in spite of their revolutionary unisex clothes, Sonny and Cher were quite 'square' when it came to sex and drugs." In an attempt to recapture their young audience,
10340-415: The top 50 at the same time, a feat equaled only by the Beatles and Elvis Presley . Together they had become, according to Time magazine's Ginia Bellafante , rock's "it" couple. Cher's following releases kept her solo career fully competitive with her work with Sonny. The Sonny Side of Chér (1966) features " Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) ", which reached number two in the US and number three in
10450-520: Was a former model and retired actress of Irish, English, German, and Cherokee ancestry. Her paternal grandparents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide . Cher's father was rarely home when she was an infant, and her parents divorced when Cher was ten months old. Her mother later married actor John Southall, with whom she had another daughter, Georganne, Cher's half-sister. Moving to Los Angeles, Cher's mother began acting while working as
10560-448: Was a ratings success, the couple returned that December with a full-time show. Watched by more than 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was praised for the comedic timing, and deadpan Cher mocking of Sonny about his looks and short stature. According to Berman, they "exuded an aura of warmth, playfulness, and caring that only enhanced their appeal. Viewers were further enchanted when
10670-417: Was also inspired by Marlene Dietrich , Bette Davis , and Katharine Hepburn . She was disappointed by the absence of dark-haired Hollywood actresses whom she could emulate. She had wanted to be famous since childhood but felt unattractive and untalented, later commenting, "I couldn't think of anything that I could do ... I didn't think I'd be a singer or dancer. I just thought, well, I'll be famous. That
10780-420: Was also of Italian descent. His mother called him "Sono" as a term of endearment, which evolved over time into "Sonny". Sonny was the youngest of three siblings; he had two sisters, Fran and Betty. The family moved to Inglewood, California , when he was seven, and his parents divorced soon afterwards. Bono decided early in life to become part of the music business, and began writing songs as a teenager. "Koko Joe",
10890-414: Was commercially unsuccessful. That year, lyricist Mary Dean brought Garrett " Half-Breed ", a song about the daughter of a Cherokee mother and a white father, that she had written especially for Cher. Although Garrett did not have Cher as a client at the time, he was convinced that "it's a smash for Cher and for nobody else", so he held the song for months until he got Cher back. "Half-Breed" was featured on
11000-400: Was elected to fill the remainder of her husband's congressional term. She was elected in her own right seven subsequent times before being defeated in the 2012 election. Sonny Bono has been honored and memorialized with: Cher Cher ( / ʃ ɛər / SHAIR ; born Cheryl Sarkisian ; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. Often referred to by
11110-405: Was eventually granted to Cher. Their divorce was finalized on June 26, 1975. In 1974, Cher won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour . The same year, Sonny premiered a solo show on ABC , The Sonny Comedy Revue , which carried the creative team behind the Sonny and Cher show. It was canceled after 13 weeks. During
11220-562: Was finalized in 1979. In 1978, the singer legally changed her name to Cher, with no surname. The same year, she began a two-year live-in relationship with Kiss member Gene Simmons . She briefly returned to prime time television with the ABC specials Cher... Special (1978)—featuring a 15-minute segment in which she performs all of the roles in her version of West Side Story — and Cher... And Other Fantasies (1979). A single mother with two children, Cher realized that she had to make
11330-463: Was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. Bono's acting career included bit parts as a guest performer in such television series as The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (appearing with Cher in "The Hot Number Affair"), Fantasy Island , Charlie's Angels , The Love Boat , The Six Million Dollar Man and CHiPs . In the 1975 TV movie Murder on Flight 502 , he played
11440-585: Was my goal." In 1961, Holt married bank manager Gilbert LaPiere, who adopted Cher (under the name Cheryl LaPiere) and Georganne, and enrolled them at Montclair College Preparatory School , a private school in Encino , whose students were mostly from affluent families. The school's upper-class environment presented a challenge for Cher; biographer Connie Berman wrote, "[she] stood out from the others in both her striking appearance and outgoing personality." A former classmate commented, "I'll never forget seeing Cher for
11550-780: Was never voted on in the Senate, a similar Senate bill was passed after his death and named the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act in his memory. It is also known (derisively) as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act. He championed the restoration of the Salton Sea , bringing the giant lake's plight to national attention. In 1998, then Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich made a public appearance and speech at
11660-411: Was not making allowances for that change: You're a celebrity now... The rules are different for celebrities. I know it. I've been there. I've been a celebrity. I used to be a bigger celebrity. But let me tell you, you're not being handled right. This is not political news coverage. This is celebrity status. You need handlers. You need to understand what you're doing. You need to understand the attitude of
11770-401: Was single or casually dating, Cher always seemed to pose more of a threat to the status quo than she did when she was Sonny's wife." On June 30, 1975, four days after finalizing her divorce from Sonny, Cher married rock musician Gregg Allman , co-founder of The Allman Brothers Band . She filed for divorce nine days later because of his heroin and liquor problems, but they reconciled within
11880-466: Was the lead singer, she did not receive top billing because she wanted to create the impression that all band members were equal. Since she was easily recognized when she performed with the band, she developed a punk look by cutting her trademark long hair. Despite appearances on television, the band failed to earn concert dates. Their album Black Rose received unfavorable reviews; Cher told Rolling Stone , "The critics panned us, and they didn't attack
11990-557: Was the subject of The Cher Show , a jukebox musical . Having sold 100 million records, Cher is one of the world's best-selling music artists . Her accolades include a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, a Grammy Award , an Emmy Award , an Academy Award , three Golden Globe Awards , a Cannes Film Festival award, the Billboard Icon Award , and awards from the Kennedy Center Honors and
12100-465: Was widowed by Sonny's death. Bono was a godparent of Anthony Kiedis of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers ; he was a close friend of Kiedis's father, Blackie Dammett. Bono was a champion of the Salton Sea in southeastern California, where a park was named in his honor. The 2005 documentary film Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea (narrated by John Waters ) features Bono and documented
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