Born and raised on Detroit’s east side in a Sicilian household, Sonny Bono got his start early, shaped by a blue-collar work ethic and a Catholic upbringing in a city marked by its industrial rhythm.

Although he and his family relocated across the country to California when he was just a child, Detroit had a lasting impact on Sonny, who would later go on to be part of the iconic TV duo Sonny & Cher.

His time in Detroit taught him not just how to manifest his wildest dreams, but how to make other people believe in those dreams, too.

A man who has always believed in the power of reinvention, Sonny Bono went on to wear many masks over the course of his career, from pop star to TV legend to politician – one that refused to ever play by Washington’s script.

Quickly ascending his way up the ladder, Bono got his start working as a gofer in the music industry before scoring the gig of a lifetime as a songwriter for Phil Spector.

However, it wouldn’t be until the early 1960s that he would meet Cher, his future wife and the woman who would go on to shape the entire course of his career.

From the moment they released “I Got You Babe” in 1965, they were off to the races and well on their way to becoming international stars.

Sonny and Cher’s variety TV hit, “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” became a TV smash hit in the 1970s.

Although Sonny wasn’t the strongest singer, he was a visionary same – one who understood that strong production, image management, and branding could carry an artist just as far as a powerhouse voice.

Sonny leaned completely into that during his time with Cher, and alongside her, his confidence as a performer grew.

What the world got in return was a warm, hilarious, self-aware man void of ego. One with a goofy charm and laidback persona that made him a relatable figure for the viewers tuning in from their living rooms all across the nation.

After retiring from music and TV, Sonny then did a complete 180 and turned his attention to politics, becoming the Mayor of the city of Palm Springs in 1988, followed by a stint as a U.S. Congressman in 1994.

His campaign was outsider-fueled but grounded in community service.

Sadly, he died tragically in a skiing accident shortly after that in 1998, but he left behind a legacy of reinvention and acclaim all the same.

In short:

Sonny Bono wasn’t a man who ever asked for permission.
He simply showed up, did the work, and got the results he knew he deserved.

For that, he will always have a special place in the annals of Detroit’s TV legends.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: September 27, 2025