Jon Bon Jovi

The frontman who guided Bon Jovi back with 'It's My Life' and earned the band their first Grammy nomination.

Jon Bon Jovi is the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for Bon Jovi, notably contributing to the band's seventh studio album, Crush. Released in 2000 after a five-year break since These Days (1995), he co-produced the record with Richie Sambora and Luke Ebbin, marking a deliberate new direction for the band's sound. He also released solo albums during the group's hiatus before returning to work on Crush in mid-1999.

Quick Facts

Birth name

John Francis Bongiovi Jr.

Born

2 March 1962

Birthplace

Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.

Occupation

Singer
songwriter
musician
actor

Years active

1974–present

Spouse

Dorothea Hurley (1989)

Children

4, including Jake

Relatives

Tony Bongiovi (cousin)
Millie Bobby Brown (daughter-in-law)
Nina Yang Bongiovi (sister-in-law)

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

After the band took a hiatus following These Days (1995), Jon Bon Jovi released a solo album. In 1999, he was planning to release a third solo album but the band started work on their new album in mid-1999. An initial plan to team up with producer Bruce Fairbairn fell through because of his death a year earlier. Bon Jovi asked A&R executive John Kalodner if he knew up-and-coming producers, and he recommended Luke Ebbin. Ebbin was brought to Bon Jovi's home studio in New Jersey, and took a demo with only vocals and acoustic guitar to add programming, string and background vocal arrangements. On his return, Ebbin was hired. The song 'Next 100 Years' is a self cover; Jon Bon Jovi (with B'z's Koshi Inaba, who wrote the Japanese lyrics) sent a demo version to now extinct Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates. A special unit called J-Friends recorded the song in 1999.

Reader's Guide

Jon Bon Jovi serves as lead vocalist and producer for Bon Jovi. On Crush, he co-produced the album with Richie Sambora and Luke Ebbin. The album marks the longest timespan between studio albums for the band, with five years between the release of These Days (1995) and this album. Despite the long break, the album was just as successful as their previous releases and helped introduce the band to a new generation of fans. The success of the album was largely due to the lead single 'It's My Life' which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, while the album itself was nominated for Best Rock Album. Crush was certified double platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Jon Bon Jovi?

He serves as the lead vocalist and songwriter for the rock group Bon Jovi, hailing from New Jersey. Active since the early 1980s, he continues to drive the band's musical direction today.

What is Jon Bon Jovi's current status?

He remains an active member of Bon Jovi and continues to perform as their primary vocalist. His long-standing affiliation with the group dates back to his debut in the early 1980s.