Sonny Sandoval
Encyclopedia
Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval (born May 16, 1974) is an American
singer and rapper. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock
band P.O.D.
.
to a Hawaii
an-Chamorro mother and a Mexican
-Italian
father. He grew up in the Otay Mesa neighborhood of South San Diego, and joined a gang at age thirteen. He drank and used marijuana frequently during his teenage years. However, in 1992, when he was eighteen, Sandoval's mother died of leukemia
at the age of 37. During her illness, Sonny was greatly influenced by his mother's faith as a devout Christian
. Turning his life around, he pursued a career as an emcee. He later joined the band Enoch, a group started by Wuv Bernardo, Gabe Portillo and Marcos Curiel
, which, with the addition of Sandoval, later became P.O.D. (acronym for "Payable On Death"). Sandoval states his musical roots as reggae, rock, and rap, all of which are apparent in P.O.D.
He and his wife Shannon married in 1996, and have two daughters, Nevaeh and Marley, and a son, Justice. Sandoval is widely credited with the sudden popularity of the name Nevaeh, which, as he revealed on MTV Cribs
, is Heaven spelled backwards.
For most of P.O.D.'s career, Sandoval was well known for his dreadlocks
(which, by the release of the video for "Going in Blind
", had reached the length of his waist), but since the release of P.O.D.'s seventh studio album, When Angels & Serpents Dance
, he has cut them off. He did this because of the meaning of the dreads. He realized people started using the style as a way to look cool and then seeing that the meaning wasn't seen by fans, he then decided to remove them.
Sonny Sandoval appeared in Project 86
's self-titled album
in the song "Six Sirens".
In 2004 he contributed to two tracks on Anastacia
's self titled album
, "Seasons Change" and "I Do".
He has been named number 63 in Hit Parader
s Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time in 2006. He is currently involved with EXIT Concerts and his own organization, The Whosoevers.
In 2009, Sandoval appeared on Tribal Seeds
' new album The Harvest, in the song "Warning".
In 2010, Sandoval appeared on War of Ages
' fourth album release Eternal
, in the song "Eternal".
In 2010, Sandoval appeared on Lecrae
's fourth album release Rehab
, in the song "Children of the Light".
In 2011, Sandoval appeared on Dominic Balli's single, "American Dream".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and rapper. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
.
Biography
Sandoval was born in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to a Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an-Chamorro mother and a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
-Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
father. He grew up in the Otay Mesa neighborhood of South San Diego, and joined a gang at age thirteen. He drank and used marijuana frequently during his teenage years. However, in 1992, when he was eighteen, Sandoval's mother died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
at the age of 37. During her illness, Sonny was greatly influenced by his mother's faith as a devout Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Turning his life around, he pursued a career as an emcee. He later joined the band Enoch, a group started by Wuv Bernardo, Gabe Portillo and Marcos Curiel
Marcos Curiel
Marcos Curiel is the guitarist of rock bands P.O.D., The Accident Experiment and Daylight Division.Curiel was born in San Diego California in 1974 and is of Mexican descent. He grew up in the neighboring city of Chula Vista, where he graduated from Bonita Vista High School in 1992. Curiel started...
, which, with the addition of Sandoval, later became P.O.D. (acronym for "Payable On Death"). Sandoval states his musical roots as reggae, rock, and rap, all of which are apparent in P.O.D.
He and his wife Shannon married in 1996, and have two daughters, Nevaeh and Marley, and a son, Justice. Sandoval is widely credited with the sudden popularity of the name Nevaeh, which, as he revealed on MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs and CMT Cribs, depending on which channel it airs, is a franchise reality television program that originated on the MTV Networks' MTV. It later aired on its CMT channel that features tours of the houses and mansions of celebrities. The first show aired September 2000...
, is Heaven spelled backwards.
For most of P.O.D.'s career, Sandoval was well known for his dreadlocks
Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks, also called locks, a ras, dreads, "rasta" or Jata , are matted coils of hair. Dreadlocks are usually intentionally formed; because of the variety of different hair textures, various methods are used to encourage the formation of locks such as backcombing...
(which, by the release of the video for "Going in Blind
Going in Blind
"Going in Blind" is a song by American alternative metal band P.O.D.. It was recorded and released as a single exclusively for Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years in 2006.-Chart positions:...
", had reached the length of his waist), but since the release of P.O.D.'s seventh studio album, When Angels & Serpents Dance
When Angels & Serpents Dance
When Angels & Serpents Dance is the seventh studio album by P.O.D., released in 2008. It was the first album to include Marcos Curiel since his departure from the group and first to be released by INO/Columbia. It also includes Mike Muir from Suicidal Tendencies, Helmet guitarist Page Hamilton,...
, he has cut them off. He did this because of the meaning of the dreads. He realized people started using the style as a way to look cool and then seeing that the meaning wasn't seen by fans, he then decided to remove them.
Sonny Sandoval appeared in Project 86
Project 86
Project 86 is an American Christian rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1996. The line-up consists of bassist Steven Dail, vocalist and songwriter Andrew Schwab, and guitarist Randy Torres. The band has released seven studio albums, which have collectively sold over 500,000 units...
's self-titled album
Project 86 (album)
Project 86 is the debut album of the American band Project 86. It was released on June 16, 1998 on BEC Recordings, a the Christian imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. This album established Project 86 as one of the more promising hardcore/metal groups in the Christian music scene...
in the song "Six Sirens".
In 2004 he contributed to two tracks on Anastacia
Anastacia
Anastacia is an American singer-songwriter. Anastacia has been highly successful in Europe, Asia, South Africa and South America, but has had only minor success in her native United States...
's self titled album
Anastacia (album)
Anastacia is the eponymous third studio album by American recording artist Anastacia. It was released in Europe and Australia on March 29, 2004 and in Japan on June 9, 2004...
, "Seasons Change" and "I Do".
He has been named number 63 in Hit Parader
Hit Parader
Hit Parader is an American music magazine focusing on the genres of hard rock, pop, and heavy metal.The magazine was originally started as a pop song lyric magazine by Charlton Publications in 1942. Charlton sold off the magazine before the company went under in 1991...
s Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time in 2006. He is currently involved with EXIT Concerts and his own organization, The Whosoevers.
In 2009, Sandoval appeared on Tribal Seeds
Tribal Seeds
Tribal Seeds is a San Diego based reggae band. They released a self-titled album on February 12, 2008 which was one of the eight iTunes "Best of 2008" reggae albums....
' new album The Harvest, in the song "Warning".
In 2010, Sandoval appeared on War of Ages
War of Ages
War of Ages is a Christian metalcore band formed during the summer of 2002 in Erie, Pennsylvania. They have five music videos: "All Consuming Fire", "Stand Your Ground", "Through the Flames", "Strength Within", and "Collapse". Aaron Harkness aka Aaron Martyr made an appearance in Stand your Ground...
' fourth album release Eternal
Eternal (War of Ages album)
-Members:*Leroy Hamp – Vocals*Steve Brown – Guitar*Branon Bernatowicz – Guitar*TJ Alford – Bass*Alex Hamp – Drums...
, in the song "Eternal".
In 2010, Sandoval appeared on Lecrae
Lecrae
Lecrae Moore is an American Christian Hip Hop artist signed to Reach Records, the record label that he co-founded. Thus far Lecrae has released five solo studio albums, and his latest Rehab: The Overdose was released on January 11, 2011...
's fourth album release Rehab
Rehab (Lecrae album)
Rehab is the fourth studio album by Christian hip hop artist Lecrae. It was released on September 28, 2010 on Reach Records. According to the Reach Records website, the album's "motto" is "The Christian life is an entrance into rehab." Centered on release and freedoms from inhibiting addictions and...
, in the song "Children of the Light".
In 2011, Sandoval appeared on Dominic Balli's single, "American Dream".