Sonny & Cher

A sweet and sincere ode to togetherness, Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe” has been a perennial favorite at wedding receptions, karaoke bars, and just about everywhere else songs are sung ever since its release in 1965. The smash hit also transformed its performers—born Salvatore Bono and Cherilyn Sarkisian—into one of America’s most iconic couples, at least until they divorced in 1975. Before their time in the spotlight, both were busy behind the scenes in the music business—Bono as a songwriter, producer, and promoter and Cher as a session singer who appeared on some of Phil Spector’s biggest hits. After missing the charts as Caesar and Cleo, their run of hits as Sonny & Cher began with 1964’s “Baby Don’t Go,” a charming demonstration of their unique chemistry. While their onstage rapport veiled their often rocky relationship, their music’s warmth made them one of the era’s most irresistible pop acts.