“Sony Bono,” and "Sugarhill Gang” - This Day in History – Jan 5th

Congressman and ex Entertainer, Sony Bono dies on vacation

Back in 1998, Sony Bono, the ex husband and half of the popular group, Sony and Cher and the ex-Congressman of California died in a skiing accident while on vacation.  Mr. Bono had left his family to ski alone and was found in a wooded area after reported missing several hours later.  He had died from his injuries from hitting a tree. 

Sony Bono was born Salvatore Bono in Detroit, MI in 1935.  His first career was a songwriter and singer at Specialty Records.  He would later work with other musicians such as Phil Spector and the Righteous Brothers. 

According to history.com, “While married to his first wife, Donna Rankin, Bono met the 16-year-old Cherilyn Sarkasian; they made several recordings together, but struck gold with their 1965 mega-hit “I Got You Babe.” Bono divorced Rankin and in 1969 had a daughter, Chastity, with Cher; they later married.”  In 1974, they divorced.

In 1994, Mr. Bono entered the political realm and would admit later that he voted for the first time at the age of 54.  He became mayor of Palm Springs in 1988 and four years later would run and win the U.S. Senate twice.

Mr. Bono was 62 at the time of his death and was married to his 4^th Wife, Mary.

She would replace him as Congresswoman for the remainder of his term in the House of Representatives.

Links to videos regarding this article:

http://youtu.be/79hETs3QGmA

Hip Hop’s Anthem -“Rapper’s Delight” goes to #1 on the charts

Back in 1980, the hip-hop rap group, “The Sugarhill Gang,” found success and reached their first top 40 hit with their song, “Rapper’s Delight.”  The lyrics are still known today by individuals old and new.

“I said a hip hop the hippie the hippie 
to the hip hip hop, a you dont stop 
rock it out baby bubbah to the boogie da bang bang 
the boogie to the boogie da beat”

According to history.com, “Prior to the success of "Rapper's Delight," hip hop was little known outside of New York City, and little known even within New York City by those whose orbits were limited to Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. The basic elements of hip hop—MCs rapping, DJs mixing and scratching, B-Boys break-dancing—were all in place by 1979, but you could not walk into a record store in Times Square and buy a hip hop album. Hip hop was something you had to experience live, in clubs and at parties in neighborhoods like the South Bronx and Harlem.”

Today, this music lives on in new and up and coming artists but the legacy of this music was started by groups such as The Sugarhill Gang.

Links to videos regarding this article:

http://youtu.be/kkOaw6-tfOE

http://youtu.be/tesGNbWLbu8

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-sugarhill-gang39s-quotrapper39s-delightquot-becomes-hip-hop39s-first-top-40-hit?catId=13