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Rick Vito | |
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![]() Rick Vito in concert with Mick Fleetwood, 2020 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Richard Vito |
Born | Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S. | October 13, 1949
Genres | Blues, Swing, Roots rock, World |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards |
Years active | 1969 – present |
Richard Francis Vito (born October 13, 1949) is an American guitarist and singer. He was part of Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991. Vito took over as lead guitarist after Lindsey Buckingham left the group. [1] He is best known for his blues and slide guitar style, whose influences include Elmore James, Robert Nighthawk, B.B. King, Alvino Rey, Les Paul, George Harrison, and Keith Richards.
Vito began his professional career in 1971 upon moving to Los Angeles and subsequently joining Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, also working with Todd Rundgren and Derek & The Dominoes’ Bobby Whitlock. Vito has been a featured player on Bob Seger's albums since 1986. He played the slide guitar solo on the Bob Seger song (and Chevy truck TV commercial), "Like a Rock". He was a long-standing member of Bonnie Raitt's touring band in the 1980s and 1990s. Vito also recorded and/ or performed with John Mayall, Jackson Browne, Little Richard, Roger McGuinn, Roy Orbison, Dobie Gray, John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Albert Collins, Dolly Parton, Maria Muldaur, Bob Seger, and many others. Vito has had ten solo CD releases and tours often in Europe and the US with his own band. He produced rockabilly singer Rosie Flores' CD, Speed of Sound. His CD/DVD production collaboration with Mick Fleetwood, Blue Again! , received a Grammy nomination in 2010. Vito is also the recipient of the W.C. Handy Blues Award. Mojo on My Side was released in Europe in 2014, and worldwide in 2015 on Delta Groove Records with two new tracks. His CD Soulshaker was released on 5 April 2019; his latest and 11th solo CD, Cadillac Man, was released March 22, 2024 [2] .
Vito performed with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band at Byron Bay Bluesfest over Easter 2016. [3] He also participated in an all-star tribute to Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green at the London Palladium in February 2020. Billed as "Mick Fleetwood & Friends," the show highlighted Vito's guitar and vocals alongside of Billy Gibbons, Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, Jonny Lang, John Mayall, Christine McVie, Bill Wyman, Jeremy Spencer and more.
In 1987, Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac before the band began their Tango In The Night Tour. [4] Fleetwood Mac Drummer Mick Fleetwood then asked Rick Vito to join the group as the lead guitarist. Vito and friend Billy Burnette joined Fleetwood Mac in September 1987. [5] Vito quit Fleetwood Mac in November 1991 to begin working on a solo career. [6] Despite his departure from the group, Vito joined his former bandmates Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Burnette, and John McVie to play the pre-game show of Super Bowl XXVII in January 1993. [7] Vito later joined the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band in 2008 and recorded a live album, Blue Again! , which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Blues Album in 2010.
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Blue Again is a live album by the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, featuring Rick Vito, released in 2008. It was recorded at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, Missouri on 8 February 2008.
"Paper Doll" is a song by the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. It was also released as a single exclusively in North America with "The Chain" as its B-side. The song's chord progression was written by Rick Vito and John Heron and the melody and lyrics were composed by Stevie Nicks. While "Paper Doll" achieved only minor success in the United States, it reached the top ten in Canada, peaking at number nine in February 1993.
"Love Is Dangerous" is a single released in 1990 by British-American band Fleetwood Mac from their album Behind the Mask. The single failed to chart on the US Hot 100, but reached number 7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and number 70 in Canada. It was one of the album's two songs co-written by Stevie Nicks and Rick Vito. Vito recorded a solo version of the song for his album Crazy Cool in 2001.
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