Jaunuary 6 [7:55 EDT] -- Pop star turned congressman Salvatore "Sonny" Bono has died in a skiing accident near Lake Tahoe, California. Authorities are reporting that Bono had apparently skied off the trail and collided with a tree.

Bono had been vacationing at the Heavenly Ski Resort on the Nevada side of the Nevada-California border with his wife, Mary Whitaker, and their two children, Chianna, 6 and Chesare, 9. He was alone at the time of the mishap. He was reported missing at approximately 5 p.m. Pacific time. His body was discovered two hours later.

Bono first worked mostly as a songwriter, hooking up with the likes of Phil Spector and the Righteous Brothers. His first hit was "Needles and Pins," co-written with Jack Nitzsche. As a performer, Bono had numerous hits with his then-second wife, Cher, from 1965 to 1973 including "The Beat Goes On," "All I Ever Need Is You," "Bang Bang," "Baby Don't Go," and their signature "I Got You Babe."

He recorded one solo album, "Inner Views" in 1967. Sonny and Cher launched a popular self-titled TV show in the early seventies, but it was cancelled after just three top-rated years on the air. The pair divorced in 1974 and Bono was plunged into obscurity. He gave up on show business and became a restaurant owner and management consultant.

Bono reemerged in the spotlight in 1988 when he launched a successful campaign for Mayor of Palm Springs following a tiff with City Hall over some building plans. He made a bid for the Senate in 1992 but finished third in the Republican primary. He easily won in 1994, however, becoming the representative for California's 44th District.

He and Cher parented Chastity Bono, currently a gay rights activist plus he also had a daughter from his first marriage. He married his current wife in 1986.

Reuters reports that Cher has cancelled an appearance at Harrods in London to fly back to the States. She had been scheduled to open a sale at the store on Wednesday.

Bono was 62.

• Sonny Bono