Sonny Sandoval

Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval (born May 16, 1973) is an American musician, rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of nu metal band P.O.D.

Biography

Sandoval was born in San Diego, California, to a Chamorro-Hawaiian mother and a Mexican-Italian father.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When he was eighteen, Sandoval's mother was diagnosed with leukemia.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> During her illness, Sandoval was greatly influenced by his mother's faith as a devout Christian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="CCM">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Career

P.O.D.

Sandoval is best known as co-founder and the lead vocalist of the metal band P.O.D. Over the course of their career, the band has received three Grammy Award nominations, contributed to numerous motion picture soundtracks and toured internationally. They have sold over 12 million records worldwide.<ref name=":1" /> With their third studio album, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, P.O.D. achieved their initial mainstream success; the album was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2000.<ref name="P.O.D. Biography">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="P.O.D. leaves Atlantic Records and Curiel returns">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Whosoevers

Since 2008, Sandoval has been part of an outreach group, The Whosoevers, with Ryan Ries, Lacey Sturm of Flyleaf, and Brian Welch, guitarist for the nu metal band Korn.

Other work

Before the formation of P.O.D., Sandoval was a member of a rap/hip-hop group in high school called Unlicensed Product.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.

Sandoval published autobiography Son of Southtown on February 25, 2025.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Legacy

In 2023, the City of San Diego declared June 23 to be "Sonny Sandoval Day," meant to honor the vocalist.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Family

He and his wife Shannon married in 1996, and have two daughters and a son.<ref name="ABCNews">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NYTimes">Template:Cite news</ref> He resides in San Diego.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Appearance

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", reached his waist). At the time of the release of P.O.D.'s seventh studio album, When Angels & Serpents Dance, he cut them off, but has since regrown them.<ref name="youtube">Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Discography

P.O.D.

• Snuff the Punk (1994)
• Brown (1996)
• The Fundamental Elements of Southtown (1999)
• Satellite (2001)
• Payable on Death (2003)
• Testify (2006)
• When Angels & Serpents Dance (2008)
• Murdered Love (2012)<ref name="New Song Featuring JAMEY JASTA Available For Free Download">Template:Cite web</ref>
• SoCal Sessions (2014)
• The Awakening (2015)
• Circles (2018)
• Veritas (2024)

Guest appearances

• "Six Sirens" by Project 86 on the album Project 86 (1998)
• "America" by Santana (with P.O.D.) on the album Shaman (2002)
• "Seasons Change" & "I Do" by Anastacia on the album, Anastacia (2004)
• "Let It Go" by Kirk Franklin, with TobyMac on the album, Hero (2005)
• "Warning" by Tribal Seeds on their album, The Harvest (2009)
• "Eternal" by War of Ages on their album, Eternal (2010)
• "Children of the Light" by Lecrae on his album, Rehab (2010)
• "American Dream" by Dominic Balli on his album, American Dream (2011) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• "The Only Name" by For Today on their album, Immortal (2012)
• "Something Better" Flyleaf on their EP, Who We Are (2013)
• "Criminals" by Islander on their album, Violence & Destruction (2014)
• "Chasing the Horizon" by Noize MC (2019) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• "They Don't Like It" by Fire from the Gods (2019)
• "Secrets" by Written By Wolves (2019)
• "Magic Eyes" by Nights Like Thieves (2020)
• "All or Nothing" by Ill Niño (2021)
• "Nemesis" by Manafest (2022)
• “Lights, Camera, Action” by Islander (2022)
• "Attitude" by H.R. on his album "Let Luv Lead (The Way)" (2023)

External links

• The Whosoevers Official Website
• Official website
• The Warriors Tour Official Site
• Template:Usurped
• theSouthtown.com
• MTV EXIT Concerts
• Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Xbox Live VNR