Jon Bon Jovi

Release history and significance

Tony Bongiovi ran the Power Station studio and co-produced this novelty Christmas album with Meco Monardo for RSO Records. When Monardo needed a young voice on a track, he recruited the studio’s gofer and custodian, Tony’s cousin Jon. Jon supplied the lead voice for “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” backed by a high-school chorus. His official archive preserves the contract and payment confirmation for this first professional recording job. [1] [3]

Monardo imagined a series of annual Star Wars Christmas albums. Most of the original songs were written by Maury Yeston; Anthony Daniels returned as C-3PO, while Ben Burtt supplied familiar droid and Wookiee sound effects. The story placed the characters among toy-making robots learning the meaning of Christmas. Jon’s early vocal was one part of this elaborate seasonal production. [3]

Lucasfilm dates both the album and its first single to 14 November 1980. The single paired “What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)” with Jon’s track, which was released simultaneously with the LP. The record sold around 150,000 copies, but RSO soon went out of business. [2] [3]

Three years later, Bongiovi, name changed to Bon Jovi, broke through with his hit “Runaway,” but the future rock frontman is still first heard professionally in a musical greeting to a lovable film robot.

Market context

StarWars.com reports approximately 150,000 original album copies pressed. [3] Median prices on Discogs for various U.S. pressings generally range from US$50 to US$60 as of September, 2026. [4] The original illustrated jacket connects the record’s appeal to both music and Star Wars collecting.