The story
Salvatore Phillip “Sonny” Bono (1935–1998) was an entertainer, songwriter, restaurateur, mayor, and United States congressman whose second act became permanently connected to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. He first achieved national fame alongside Cher during the 1960s, writing and performing songs including “I Got You Babe” before becoming a familiar television personality.
After moving to Palm Springs and opening a restaurant, Bono’s frustration with the city’s permitting process pushed him toward local politics. He was elected mayor in 1988 and served through 1992. His administration worked to control the disruptive Spring Break culture of the era while strengthening Palm Springs as a year-round destination for families, arts, entertainment, and tourism.
Bono helped launch the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 1989 and supported the creation of VillageFest, the downtown street fair that continues every Thursday. These initiatives helped reconnect Palm Springs with the entertainment industry while creating civic traditions that remained valuable long after his term ended.
Elected to Congress in 1994, Bono represented California from 1995 until his death in a skiing accident in 1998. He used his national position to advocate for the Salton Sea and other regional interests. Today, his name remains attached to the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway, and a concourse at Palm Springs International Airport. His legacy is larger than that of a celebrity mayor: he helped redirect the identity and cultural future of Palm Springs.
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