Executive Department 

Proclamation 

WHEREAS, in 1983, Jon Bon Jovi – as founder and lead vocalist – was signed by Polygram Records and proceeded to form one of the most famous and enduring bands ever, Bon Jovi, with New Jersey musicians David Bryan on keyboards, Alec John Such on bass, Tico Torres on drums, and rounded out with Richie Sambora on guitar; an

WHEREAS, the group launched an illustrious career of multiple world tours beginning with the 1984 release of their eponymous album, Bon Jovi, featuring the band’s first hit single, “Runaway,” which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100; and

WHEREAS, in 1985, the band’s second album, 7800⁰ Fahrenheit, went gold; and

WHEREAS, in 1986, the band released their third album, Slippery When Wet, which included hit singles, “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Wanted” and “Livin’ on a Prayer;” and

WHEREAS, Bon Jovi’s next album, New Jersey, reached number one upon debut in 1988, later boasting the still unbroken record of spawning the most Top 10 hits with the five singles: “Bad Medicine,” “Born to Be My Baby,” “I’ll Be There For You,” “Lay Your Hands on Me” and “Living in Sin;” and

WHEREAS, in 1989, Bon Jovi played a record capacity, sold-out show at Giants Stadium in New Jersey and became the first band to officially perform in the Soviet Union, and after back to back albums and world tours, the band took a break to work on their own solo projects; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, Bon Jovi released their fifth album, Keep the Faith, and the band then toured 37 countries and performed 177 shows on their Keep the Faith tour and I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead tour over the coming 16 months; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, Bon Jovi released their greatest hits album, Cross Road, featuring the top charting song, “Always,” and that same year, the band won Best Selling Rock Band at the World Music Awards; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, Hugh McDonald joined the band as bassist, and on their worldwide tour for Cross Road and subsequently These Days, Bon Jovi played the final 1995 shows at London’s Wembley Stadium across three sold-out concerts; and

WHEREAS, towards the end of the 1990s, Bon Jovi reconvened to record “It’s My Life”, and then in 2000 released their next album, Crush, which received two Grammy nominations in 2001 for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Performance; and

WHEREAS, the band went on to play another worldwide tour, performing sold-out shows in North America, Europe and Japan, and while on tour, the band released their first-ever live album, One Wild Night Live 1985-2001; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Bon Jovi quickly rallied support for those affected by the attacks, performing several concerts in Monmouth County, New Jersey and Madison Square Garden to raise relief funds; and

WHEREAS, influenced by 9/11 and current events around the world, the group released Bounce, their eighth album in 2002; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, Bon Jovi re-recorded versions of their biggest hits in a slowed-down acoustic sound for their album, This Left Feels Right, and the next year, the band released a box set called 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong, which contained 50 rare and unreleased tracks and a behind-the-scenes DVD; and

WHEREAS, two years later, Bon Jovi’s next album, Have A Nice Day, included the band’s country hit, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” which climbed to number one on the Billboard’s Country Chart and gave the group their first Grammy; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, Bon Jovi further explored the country genre with their album, Lost Highway, and in addition to their tour – which became the highest-grossing tour in 2008 – they appeared at the 6th Annual CMT Music Awards, American Idol, and MTV Unplugged;

WHEREAS, in 2009, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, later that year, the band returned to their rock roots with their number one debuting album, The Circle, opening Meadowlands Stadium with four sold out concerts at the outset of their next #1 tour of the year worldwide; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, Bon Jovi released their twelfth album, What About Now, together with their number one album, Because We Can, and performed over the course of a twelve month, five continent Because We Can tour which was their third #1 worldwide tour; and

WHEREAS, in 2015, the band’s next album, Burning Bridges, was released as a “fan album” and the following year, the band released their 15th album, This House Is Not for Sale, which debuted for the first of two times at number one on the Billboard Top 200; and

WHEREAS, in addition to individual awards received by its musicians, Bon Jovi has released 15 albums and six compilations; has sold more than 120 million records worldwide; and has performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans; and

WHEREAS, on April 14, 2018, Bon Jovi is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, five musicians from New Jersey communities believed in their dream and used their talents to form Bon Jovi, one of the most famous, enduring rock bands of all time;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Philip D. Murphy, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim:

APRIL 14, 2018

AS

BON JOVI DAY

in New Jersey.

GIVEN, under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this thirteenth day of April in the year two thousand eighteen, the two hundred forty-second year of the Independence of the United States.

Governor                                                                           Lieutenant  Govenor

Philip D. Murphy                                                                    Sheila Y. Oliver                          .