In November of 1962, at an outdoor coffee shop in the Los Angeles area, disc jockey Gary Owens introduced Salvatore Phillip Bono to Cherilyn Sarkisian.

It was the start of a marriage that would come to a head on the pop chart three years later…

Salvadore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was born 87 years ago Wednesday. He wrote or co-wrote seven of the duo Sonny and Cher's 10 hits, including the #1 "I Got You, Babe." That song enabled Sonny to become the only member of Congress to have a #1 hit. Plus, he was Mayor of Palm Springs for four years (1988-1992). 

Sonny and Cher had their own TV variety show from 1971 to 1974. They rank as the third most successful married couple on the pop chart. It's hard to say who's actually #1-2, however.  Les Paul and Mary Ford had seven top 10's and two #1's....but so did the Captain and Tennille.

Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident in early 1998. He was 62. Over twenty years after “I Got You Babe” was a #1 hit.