1962-1964

Cher first met Sonny Bono in Los Angeles' Aldo's coffee shop in November 1962 when she was sixteen. The much older Sonny (he was already 27) was working for legendary record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood. Sonny and Cher became fast friends, eventual lovers, and later married. Through Sonny, Cher started as a session singer, and would sing backup on several of Spector’s classic recordings, including The Righteous Brothers' You've Lost That Loving Feeling, The Crystals' Da Doo Ron Ron and The Ronettes’ Be My Baby.

During this time, the duo was a big hit on diverse college campuses across the country, including Stanford University, a large university in California, as well as St. Lawrence University, a small Upstate New York college.

Her first solo recording was the unsuccessful novelty single Ringo, I Love You, released under the pseudonym of Bonnie Jo Mason and produced by Phil Spector. Her second attempt was Dream Baby, released under the name Cherilyn, was written and produced by Sonny Bono. Both were released in 1964.

With Sonny continuing to write, arrange and produce the songs, Sonny and Cher’s first incarnation was as the duo Caesar and Cleo(patra). They received little attention, despite releasing the single The Letter in late 1964 which featured the B-side Baby Don't Go.[1