Sonny & Cher Biography
Who were Sonny & Cher, and why did they matter? Sonny & Cher were something greater than a pop act; they were a cultural phenomenon who contributed much to capturing the sound, style, and attitude of the 1960s and the early 1970s.
Featuring their trademark pop-infused harmonies and close harmonies and a snappy on-stage chemistry, the couple became one of the most iconic duos in the history of recordings—filling the gap between folk-rock and mainstream pop and at the same time household names on TV.
Born Salvatore “Sonny” Bono on February 16, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan and Cherilyn Sarkisian (better known globally as Cher) on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, the two singers belonged to entirely different worlds.
Sonny’s parents being Italian immigrants started his career in the music world as a songwriter and producer for the most influential producer of the era, Phil Spector. Cher’s father was Armenian-American and her mother Cherokee and English and German parented.
Cher spent her childhood in a simple home. When she became 16 years old she dropped out of school and traveled to Los Angeles. In 1962 she met and became involved with Sonny. At the time of the encounter he was the worker of famous producer Spector. Quickly thereafter Cher became the backup singer on classics such as the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” and The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.”
The on-off affair of the couple soon ceased to be just an affair and became a career partnership. Perfoming initially as “Caesar and Cleo,” eventually they became well-known as Sonny & Cher and produced the first big success in 1964 with the song Baby Don’t Go.
But it was the 1965 I Got You Babe that catapulted the couple to global stardom, the top of the charts anthem that would come to define the couple’s identity as performers. Their first appearance—in Sonny’s mustache and the mod clothing and Cher’s long black hair and exotic wardrobe style—emboldened and made them the cult of the young’s idol.
In 1969 the two legally got married after the birth of the only child they would share together, Chastity Bono. The 1960s gave way to the 1970s and the time came for Sonny & Cher to renew themselves for the small screen.
In 1971 they debuted The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour on TV and the show became a huge success. Their repartée—Sonny as the lovable imbecile and Cher as the sardonic loveliness—gained them loyal fans and several Emmy nominations.
But just as the on-screen chemistry between the two flourished, the union didn’t. The two divorced in 1975 and took individual courses. Cher became a massive success as a solo singer and performer, and Sonny entered politics and became a U.S. Congressman.
Although separate, the two met from time to time, including an emotional appearance on Late Night with David Letterman in 1987 during which the two sang “I Got You Babe” for the final time. Sonny tragically died during a skiing accident in 1998.
Cher gave an emotional eulogy that honored as much as it criticized the rocky relationship and long-term friendship between the two. Through the decades, the two’s music and influence remained well—“I Got You Babe,” e.g., found a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the team earned a star on the Walk of Fame.
For all this time, the two remained a unique component of pop culture—two people who, for a decade, together were more than apart and who came to define the time with wit, harmonies, and passion.
Contents
Sonny & Cher Top Songs
I Got You Babe
Their 1965 signature single became Billboard Hot 100’s No. 1 and became an all-time anthem of youthful fervor and countercultural unity.
Baby Don’t Go
A runaway hit in 1964 that first catapulted them to prominence. The sorrowful tune and dynamic harmonies presaged the emotional depth they would go on to pursue.
The Beat Goes On
created in 1967, the rhythmic piece with its simple but lyrical text capture the social and cultural change of the time and remains to this day one of their most enduring works.
All I Ever Need Is You
A 1971 comeback single that unveiled matured vocal chemistry and emotional richness, and reached the Billboard Hot 100 Number 7.
A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done
A late-period 1972 pop-Western amalgam that offers Cher a strong vocalist’s spotlight and a story told by Sonny.
Little Man
A transatlantic smash hit, the 1966 single also reached number one in certain countries and reached number 1 in the Netherlands and number 4 in the United Kingdom.
Sonny & Cher Discography
Studio Albums:
- Look at Us (1965) – With the advent of I Got You Babe, this debut album remained for two months at No. 2 on the Billboard charts and distilled the young pop-folk appeal of the couple.
- The Wondrous World of Sonny & Chér (1966) – Reached Number 34, the second compilation included cover and original work and expanded their stylistic reach.
- In Case You’re in Love (1967) – Home to “The Beat Goes On” and “Little Man,” it was the apogee of their career as recording artists.
- All I Ever Need Is You (1972) – Announced their glorious comeback to music with a mix of ballads and love songs and a slick pop production.
- Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs (1973) – Their final studio collection together, and a bittersweet retrospective over the course of their career and life together.
Soundtrack Contributions:
- Good Times (1967)
- Chastity (1969)
Sonny & Cher Top Albums
Look at Us (1965)
Their biggest LP hit, spending eight weeks on the charts at No. 2 and going gold. Its combination of folk-pop and catchy melodies became the basis for mid-60 pop.
All I Ever Need Is You (1972)
A comeback album that reinstated the duo as television stars and adult contemporary artists. It produced two top-ten hits and proved to sustain long-term appeal.
In Case You’re in Love (1967)
Not an American commercial success but including “The Beat Goes On,” which would turn out to be one of the group’s signature tunes and become internationally known.
Sonny & Cher Awards
- Grammy Nominations:
- 1966: Best New Artist
- 1972: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
- Emmy Awards:
- 1972: Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
- Multiple nominations (15 in total) for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
- Cher won Best Actress – TV Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes in 1974
- Hollywood Walk of Fame:
- Received a star in 1998 for contributions to television
- Rolling Stone Ranking:
- Ranked No. 18 on Rolling Stone’s 2015 list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time
- Grammy Hall of Fame Induction:
- I Got You Babe was inducted in recognition of its cultural and historical significance
Sonny & Cher Singles
| Year | Title | US Billboard Hot 100 | UK Singles Chart | Canada RPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Baby Don’t Go | 8 | 11 | 12 |
| 1965 | I Got You Babe | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | Just You | 20 | 43 | 15 |
| 1965 | But You’re Mine | 15 | 17 | 19 |
| 1965 | Sing C’est La Vie | 32 | 66 | — |
| 1966 | What Now My Love | 14 | 13 | 11 |
| 1966 | Have I Stayed Too Long | 49 | — | — |
| 1966 | Little Man | 21 | 4 | 2 |
| 1966 | Living for You | 87 | — | — |
| 1967 | The Beat Goes On | 6 | 29 | 6 |
| 1967 | Groovy Kind of Love | — | — | — |
| 1967 | It’s the Little Things | 50 | — | — |
| 1967 | Good Combination | — | — | — |
| 1967 | Good Times | 61 | — | — |
| 1967 | Plastic Man | — | — | — |
| 1969 | You Better Sit Down Kids | — | — | — |
| 1971 | All I Ever Need Is You | 7 | 8 | 2 |
| 1972 | A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done | 8 | — | 5 |
| 1972 | When You Say Love | 32 | — | — |
| 1972 | United We Stand | — | — | — |
| 1973 | Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer… | 77 | — | — |
The lighthearted warmth and musicianship of Sonny & Cher imprinted an indelible mark on popular culture. With their number-one hits to the Emmy-nominated TV show, the twosome continues today as a sentimental symbol of a particular era in entertainment history. Their story—as compatible partners and as entities on their own—persists and reminds us today that even as the beat evolves, it most definitely goes on.