Sonny Bono was alive and well on January 6, 1998.
Salvatore Phillip `` Sonny '' Bono ( [ ˈboʊnoʊ ] February 16 , 1935 -- January 5 , 1998 ) was an American singer , producer , and politician who came to fame in partnership with his second wife Cher , as the popular singing duo Sonny & Cher . He was mayor of Palm Springs , California from 1988 to 1992 , and congressman for California 's 44th district from 1995 until his death in 1998 .