Sonny Bono

Born in Detroit and raised in Inglewood, California, Sonny Bono was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He started writing songs as a teenager and worked at Specialty Records, where Sam Cooke recorded his song Things You Do to Me. He later joined Phil Spector's team as a promotion man, percussionist, and gofer, and co-wrote Needles and Pins with Jack Nitzsche. In 1965 he found success with Cher as Sonny and Cher, writing and producing hits such as I Got You Babe and The Beat Goes On. His solo single Laugh at Me reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. He starred in The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour from 1971 to 1974. His acting credits included Murder on Flight 502 (1975), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Troll (1986), Hairspray (1988), and First Kid (1996).