Moved to Los Angeles with family at age 7

Worked as deliveryman for a meat company while peddling his songs to record companies

Landed songwriting/producing job with Sam Cooke, Little Richard and Larry Williams

Worked in promotion for an independent record distributor by 1962

First radio hit, "Koko Joe" performed by The Righteous Brothers

Worked as an A&R man for Phillies Records, writing, singing, and playing with such artists as Darlene Love and the Ronettes; met the teenaged Cher for whom he got work as backup vocalist for the Ronettes and the Crystals

Formed duo with new wife, Cher, "Caesar and Cleo"

Changed to "Sonny and Cher" for recording purposes

Feature acting debut, "Wild on the Beach"

Starred as himself with Cher in feature, "Good Times"

Formed nightclub act with Cher; discovered by CBS TV executive Fred Silverman

Hosted (with Cher) TV series, "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour"

Acted in first TV-movie, "The First Nine Months Are the Hardest"

Hosted own TV series, "The Sonny Comedy Review"

Hosted (with Cher) new TV series, "The Sonny and Cher Show"

Opened Bono's Restaurant in West Hollywood

Opened Bono's Restaurant in Palm Springs

Reunited with Cher for one performance and sang "I Got You Babe" on "Late Night with David Letterman" (February)

Elected mayor of Palm Springs, CA (April 12)

Founded the Palm Springs Film Festival

Unsuccessfully ran for the US Senate from California

Elected to Congress as representative from California (November); assumed office in January 1995

Re-elected to Congress