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American guitarist and singer (born 1949) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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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 | October 13, 1949 Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues, Swing, Roots rock, World |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards |
| Years active | 1969 – present |
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 Shake the Cage Tour.[4] Mick Fleetwood then asked Rick Vito to join the group as the lead guitarist. Vito and Billy Burnette officially joined Fleetwood Mac in September 1987.[5] He first appeared on the band's 1988 Greatest Hits album, which featured Vito's playing on "As Long as You Follow" and "No Questions Asked", which were recorded specifically for the compilation.[6] He then worked with the band on their Behind the Mask album, which was released in 1990.[7] Vito quit Fleetwood Mac in November 1991 to begin working on a solo career.[8] 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.[9]
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. Vito split from the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band in 2017,[10] although he did perform with Fleetwood in 2021 for a performance honoring the music of Peter Green, a founding member of Fleetwood Mac.[11]
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