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Jon Bon Jovi was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and raised in Sayreville. His mother, Carol Sharkey (of Irish/Italian descent), was a U.S. Marine as well as a Playboy Bunny and his father, John Bongiovi (born Gian Buongiovanni), was a coiffeur/hair stylist of Italian ancestry. John Bongiovi attended Sayreville War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey, and later adopted the stage name Jon Bon Jovi at the behest of the record company that he signed with. He also plays acoustic guitar, harmonica, and rhythm guitar but makes the most of his part as lead singer. His early career was assisted by his cousin, Tony Bongiovi, a notable record producer who owned the Power Station recording studio. Jon worked as a janitor at the studio, and in periods of studio downtime recorded his own material, helped by his uncle. An album of these early recordings John Bongiovi: The Power Station Years was released in 1999. Bon Jovi married Dorothea Hurley, his high school sweetheart, on April 29, 1989 in the Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. He fathered one daughter, Stephanie Rose Bongiovi (born on May 31, 1993), and three sons, Jesse James Louis Bongiovi (born on February 19, 1995) Jacob Hurley Bongiovi (born on May 7, 2002) and Romeo Jon Bongiovi (born on March 29, 2004). Bon Jovi discovered the band Cinderella in 1985, at the Empire Rock Club in Pennsylvania. They opened for Bon Jovi during the Slippery When Wet tour and Bon Jovi has remained an avid supporter of the band ever since. Bon Jovi is a credited actor in the movies Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Anywhere But Here, Destination Anywhere, Homegrown, Little City, No Looking Back, ‘Row Your Boat, Vampires Los Muertos, U-571, Cry Wolf and National Lampoon’s Pucked. He also had a supporting role in the movie Pay It Forward, where he played Helen Hunt’s abusive ex-husband. His TV series appearances include Sex and the City and an extended stint on Ally McBeal, as well as a guest appearance on The West Wing. Jon Bon Jovi can also be seen in Young Guns II with a brief uncredited role as a cowboy in a pit. Bon Jovi’s first appearance in any musical production was in the 1980 Star Wars album, Christmas in the Stars. He was the lead in singing the song, “R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” (Credited as John Bongiovi). Jon Bon Jovi has recorded two solo albums: Blaze of Glory (1990) and Destination Anywhere (1997) and sold over 100 million albums with the band Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi has worked on behalf of the Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and other groups. Bon Jovi Members Jon Bon Jovi – Richie Sambora – David Bryan – Tico Torres Alec John Such – Hugh McDonald Discography Albums and extended plays: Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit – Slippery When Wet – New Jersey – Keep the Faith – These Days – Crush – Bounce – 100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong – Have a Nice Day