Sonny Bono Books

I really enjoyed this book. I felt compelled to read this book the moment I spotted it since Sonny and I share the same birthday even though I was born in the same year as Cher. And Chastity was born the very same day as our daughter...the beat goes on as there are numerous coincidences. This is certainly getting off the track as far as my book recommendation goes though. I would highly recommend this as a good biography... a great deal of insight from Sonny's personality and perspective.

What a great book! Sonny Bono had such great talent and it shows on every page. One of the best bios I have ever read. His life story and times with Sonny & Cher are so fascinating any way - but very well written in this book. You will not want to put this book down! (Unlike Cher's "The First Time." Big disappointment.)

You don't have to be the smartest,or the most talented person in the World to make it big,Sonny proved that.You have to believe in yourself.Sonny became a great songwriter,TV Star,Movie Star,Mayor of Palm Springs,and married some of the most beutifull Women I've ever seen.This book gives you the rise and fall,and rise and fall again of the most famous couple ever.You could never count on Sonny or Cher not to make another comeback.This book is very simple to read,and I enjoyed every page.Its tragic what happened to Sonny at the end,but he will be remembered always.

Although I believe Sonny was trying to be honest in this book, Cher and Chastity Bono have both stated inaccurate information. Sonny & Cher have completely different stories regarding their initial meeting, and exactly when they stopped sleeping in twin beds and actually became "involved" with each other. I suspect it's due to the age factor. Cher was 16 when they met.... In the book Sonny claims they met in April 62, but that would have made Cher 15 at the time. I've heard their actual meeting at Aldo's occured in November of 62. I think Sonny just has some of his dates mixed up and who knows the truth about when their relationship became more than "platonic". At any rate, I had to laugh at Sonny's description of the lack of "fireworks" in the bedroom.....that was an obvious pot shot at Cher. Cher claims that before she had Chastity, she had 4 miscarriages. Sonny only recounts two, but for someone who claimed his relationship lacked "fireworks" in the bedroom, his "wife" sure had enough pregnancies.

Another interesting point is that Sonny and Cher's supposed marriage in 1964 was a ruse. I guess nobody bothered to confirm the fact that they weren't legally married. Oh sure, they married themselves in the bathroom of their house and exchanged cheap sterling rings (his said "CHER", hers "SONNY"--they're seen wearing these rings in photos throughout the 60's and featured prominently in their movie "Good Times"). They didn't actually legally marry until Chastity was 8 or 9 months old....sometime in the fall of 1969.

The most interesting part of the book, is Sonny's early work in the record industry (nobody can ever claim that Sonny was a slacker--he had tenacity and determination in everything he undertook), and especially his time spent with Phil Spector at Gold Star studios. His stories of Spector just confirm the weirdness that is Phil Spector. Spector was prone to fits of anger, hissy-fits and just general oddness. I laughed out loud as Sonny recounted Phil spending hours in his car trying to find the perfect driving position in which he'd look "coolest" (arm out the window, one finger on the wheel, sunglasses on or off?, back towards the window).

The whole Sonny & Cher relationship gets a little sad towards the end, and I found myself feeling sorry for Sonny. I suspect through his words, he still held a great deal of fondness for Cher, but the two of them just couldn't stop taking shots at each other in the press. I also have no doubt that despite Cher's tough exterior and constant rants about her terrible marriage to Sonny, she felt the same fondness towards him. Nobody who talks the way that Cher did to the press prior to Sonny's passing and then behaves the way that she did upon hearing of his death, and the ensuing funeral is being entirely truthful (hence the accusations of Cher "acting", and using his death as a publicity springboard). I suspect there were some deep, deep feelings there, but the two of them were both so stubborn and prideful that they couldn't get past the hurtful bantering.

Despite some inaccurate info. This book is still an interesting read as Sonny is mostly quite honest with his emotions.

What a great book! Sonny Bono had such great talent and it shows on every page. One of the best bios I have ever read. His life story and times with Sonny & Cher are so fascinating any way - but very well written in this book. You will not want to put this book down! (Unlike Cher's "The First Time." Big disappointment.)