Sonny Sandoval

Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval (born May 16, 1974)^[1] is an American musician, rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Christian nu metal band P.O.D.

Sonny Sandoval
Sandoval performing in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Paul Joshua Sandoval
Born	(1974-05-16) May 16, 1974 (age 50) San Diego, California, U.S.
Genres	Christian metal nu metal rap metal alternative metal reggae hard rock
Occupations	Musician rapper singer songwriter
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Rescue Atlantic Columbia/INO Razor & Tie Tooth & Nail
Member of	P.O.D.
Formerly of	Unlicensed Product

Biography

Sandoval was born in San Diego, California.^[1] to a Chamorro-Hawaiian mother and a Mexican-Italian father.^[2] When he was eighteen, Sandoval's mother was diagnosed with leukemia.^[3] During her illness, Sandoval was greatly influenced by his mother's faith as a devout Christian.^[4][5]

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.^[3] 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.^[6][7]

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.^[8]

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 25th, 2025.^[8][9]

Legacy

In 2023, the City of San Diego declared June 23 to be "Sonny Sandoval Day," meant to honor the vocalist.^[10]

Personal life

Family

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.^[11][12] He resides in San Diego.^[13]

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.^[14]

Discography

P.O.D.

Main article: P.O.D. discography

• 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)^[15]
• 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) ^[16]
• "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)
• "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)