Cher, known for her work with former husband Sonny Bono and for a solo career that included number one hits like “Believe,” was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Cerito, California, on May 20, 1946. Her father worked as truck driver and her mother worked part-time as an actress and model. Cher’s parents divorced when she was young and she spent time in foster care when her mother ran out of money. In Mary Anne Cassata’s “The Cher Scrap Book,” the entertainer said she was consumed with dreams of fame from a young age.“I lived in my dreams all day and all night — it was my secret fantasy. I knew I wanted to become a television or movie star . . . I really didn’t think I could become a singer or a dancer. I just thought I would be famous. That was my goal,” Cher recalled. Cher took her first step towards stardom when she became involved with Sonny Bono in 1962. At the time, Bono was an assistant producer to Phil Spector and landed Cher session gigs on legendary tracks including the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Loving Feeling,” and the Ronettes’ "Be My Baby.” Eventually, Sonny & Cher would go on to fame in their own right.