Richard Francis Vito (born October 13, 1949) is an American guitarist and singer. He was part of

Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1967 by the singer and guitarist Peter Green (musician), Peter Green. Green named the band by combining the surnames of the drummer, Mick Fleetwood, and the bassis ...

between 1987 and 1991. Vito took over as lead guitarist after

Lindsey Buckingham Lindsey Adams Buckingham (born October 3, 1949) is an American musician, record producer, and the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the Rock music, rock band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with ...

left the group. 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 Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz guitarist, jazz, country guitarist, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid body ...

, 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

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

s since 1986. He played the slide guitar

solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity * Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character * Napoleon Solo, fr ...

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 James Roger McGuinn (; born James Joseph McGuinn III; July 13, 1942) is an American musician, best known for being the frontman and leader of the Byrds. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 as a member of the band. As a so ...

, Roy Orbison, Dobie Gray, John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, Albert Collins,

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

, 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. Vito performed with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band at Byron Bay Bluesfest over Easter 2016. 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.

Fleetwood Mac

In 1987,

left Fleetwood Mac before the band began their Shake the Cage Tour. 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. 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. He then worked with the band on their '' Behind the Mask'' album, which was released in 1990. Vito quit Fleetwood Mac in November 1991 to begin working on a solo career. Despite his departure from the group, Vito joined his former bandmates Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Burnette, and

John McVie John Graham McVie (; born 26 November 1945) is a British bass guitarist. He is best known as a member of the rock bands John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers from 1964 to 1967 and Fleetwood Mac since 1967. His surname, combined with that of drummer ...

to play the pre-game show of Super Bowl XXVII in January 1993. 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, although he did perform with Fleetwood in 2020 for a performance honoring the music of Peter Green, a founding member of Fleetwood Mac.

Filmography

*'' The Last Castle'' (2001) Red Team leader *''Angel Eyes'' (2005) (songwriter: "It's 2 A.M.") *'' Firewall'' (2006) (

songwriter A songwriter is a person who creates musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music genre and film scoring. ...

and performer: "She's So Crazy") * Evil Bong (2006) (TV) singer

Discography

* 1969 ''The Wright Brothers'' (an unreleased 4-song EP, recorded/produced by colleague Neil Kempfer-Stocker; Vito-lead guitar).

Fleetwood Mac

* 1988 '' Greatest Hits'' - guitars and backing vocals on two songs. * 1990 '' Behind the Mask'' * 1992 '' 25 Years – The Chain'' * 2002 '' The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac''

The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Featuring Rick Vito

* 2008 : '' Blue Again!'' * 2016 : ''Live at the Belly Up Tavern''

Solo albums

* 1992 '' King of Hearts'' * 1998 '' Pink & Black'' * 2000 '' Lucky Devils'' * 2001 '' Crazy Cool'' * 2003 '' Band Box Boogie'' * 2005 ''Rattlesnake Shake'' * 2006 ''Talk That Talk'' * 2009 '' Lucky in Love: The Best of Rick Vito'' * 2014 ''Mojo on My Side'' (European Version) * 2015 ''Mojo on My Side'' (Worldwide Version) * 2019 ''Soulshaker'' * 2024 ''Cadillac Man''

Guest performances

* 1972 '' Something/Anything?'' – Todd Rundgren * 1972 '' Raw Velvet'' – Bobby Whitlock * 1973 “ They Love Me, They Love Me Not”- Genya Ravan * 1973 "All I See Is You" - Rabindra Danks * 1975 ''New Year, New Band, New Company'' – John Mayall * 1975 '' Common Sense'' – John Prine * 1975 ''Change'' –

Spanky and Our Gang Spanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s sunshine pop band led by Spanky McFarlane, Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The band derives its name from Hal Roach's ''Our Gang'' comedies of the 1930s (known to modern audiences as ''The Little Rascals''), ...

* 1975 ''Notice to Appear'' – John Mayall * 1975 ''Growing Pains'' – Jamie Owens * 1976 ''A Banquet in Blues'' – John Mayall * 1976 '' Prime Prine'' – John Prine * 1976 ''Street Talk'' –

Bob Crewe Robert Stanley Crewe (November 12, 1930 – September 11, 2014) was an American songwriter, dancer, singer, manager, and record producer. Crewe co-wrote and produced a string of Top 10 singles with Bob Gaudio for the Four Seasons. As a songw ...

* 1977 '' Playing to an Audience Of One'' – David Soul * 1977 ''

Thunderbyrd ''Thunderbyrd'' is an album by the American musician Roger McGuinn, released in 1977 on the Columbia Records label. Following the success of his 1976 album ''Cardiff Rose'', McGuinn intended to make another album in collaboration with its produc ...

'' –

* 1978 ''Kissin' in the California Sun'' – Katy Moffatt * 1978 '' Randy Richards'' – Randy Richards * 1979 '' High and Outside'' –

Steve Goodman Steven Benjamin Goodman (July 25, 1948 – September 20, 1984) was an American folk and country singer-songwriter from Chicago. He wrote the song " City of New Orleans", which was recorded by artists including Arlo Guthrie, John Denver, The ...

* 1979 ''Open Your Eyes'' – Maria Muldaur * 1980 '' Blue Delicacies'' – Ronnie Barron * 1980 '' No More Interviews'' – John Mayall * 1982 '' Fast Times at Ridgemont High'' (Original Soundtrack) – Various/ Jackson Browne * 1982 ''

Green Light Green Light, green light, green-light or greenlight may refer to: * Green-colored light, part of the visible spectrum * Greenlight, formal approval of a project to move forward Arts, entertainment, and media Films and television * Green Light ( ...

'' – Bonnie Raitt * 1982 '' The Perfect Stranger'' – Jesse Colin Young * 1982 '' Revenge Will Come'' – Greg Copeland * 1982 ''Walk On'' – Karen Brooks * 1983 '' Lawyers in Love'' – Jackson Browne * 1983 '' Tell Me the Truth'' – Timothy B Schmit * 1984 ''Inside the Fire'' – Rita Coolidge * 1985 '' One Heart at a Time'' – Don Francisco * 1986 '' Like a Rock'' – Bob Seger * 1986 '' Lives in the Balance'' – Jackson Browne * 1987 '' A Very Special Christmas'' – Various/Bob Seger * 1987 '' Rainbow'' –

* 1989 '' Mystery Girl'' – Roy Orbison * 1989 '' Rock Rhythm & Blues'' – Various/Christine McVie * 1990 '' Gypsy Moon'' – Troy Newman * 1990 '' Brent Bourgeois'' – Brent Bourgeois * 1991 '' The Fire Inside'' – Bob Seger * 1992 '' Born to Rock and Roll'' –

* 1992 '' Not Alone'' – Thomas Jefferson Kaye * 1993 '' Great Days: A John Prine Anthology'' – John Prine * 1994 '' Craig Shoemaker Meets the Lovemaster'' – Craig Shoemaker * 1994 '' Greatest Hits'' – Bob Seger * 1994 '' Peter Frampton'' – Peter Frampton * 1994 ''Meet Me at Midnite'' – Maria Muldaur * 1995 '' It's a Mystery'' – Bob Seger * 1995 ''All Day Thumbsucker Revisited: The History of Blue Thumb Records'' – Various/John Mayall * 1997 '' The Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne'' – Jackson Browne * 1998 ''Southland of the Heart'' – Maria Muldaur * 1998 '' Thinkin' About You'' – Rita Coolidge * 1999 '' Extremely Cool'' – Chuck E. Weiss * 1999 ''Steel Cowboys: Bikers' Choice, Vol. 1'' – Various/ Billy Burnette * 1999 '' Lillith Fair Volume 3'' – Bonnie Raitt * 1999 ''The ABC Years'' – John Mayall * 1999 '' Juke Rhythm'' – John "Juke" Logan * 1999 '' Smooth Sailin''' – Marty Grebb * 2001 ''Nothing Personal'' – Delbert McClinton * 2002 '' Forgive'' – Rebecca Lynn Howard * 2002 '' Almeria Club'' – Hank Williams Jr. * 2002 '' Fast Girl'' – The Tractors * 2002 '' The Big Night'' – The Tractors * 2002 ''Speed of Sound'' – Rosie Flores * 2003 '' All Night Breakfast'' –

Jonny Neel Jonny is a masculine given name, and pet name, in the English language. A pet form of Jon, the natural diminutive of given name Jonathan (name), Jonathan, in some cases it can also mean a condom. A variant form of ''Jonny'' is ''Jonnie''. People ...

* 2004 '' The Very Best of Jackson Browne'' – Jackson Browne * 2009 '' Trading 8s'' – Carl Verheyen * 2009 '' Man's Temptation'' – Kermit Lynch * 2011 ''Steady Love'' – Maria Muldaur * 2012 '' Donuts and Coffee'' – Kermit Lynch * 2013 '' Memphis'' – Boz Scaggs * 2014 '' Ride Out'' – Bob Seger * 2015 '' Slide Guitar Summit'' – Arlen Roth * 2017 '' Crazy Like Me'' - Billy Burnette * 2018 '' Out of the Blues'' - Boz Scaggs (LP) * 2018 '' Unchained Melodies'' - Roy Orbison * 2020 '' All American Radio'' - Ned Evett * 2020 '' Celebrate the Music of Peter Green'' * 2021 '' These Strange Times'' - Mick Fleetwood

DVDs

* 1977 (rel. 2010) '' Rockpalast – Roger McGuinn's Thunderbyrd: West Coast Legends Vol. 4'' DVD * 1988 '' Fleetwood Mac: Tango in the Night Live'' DVD * 2003 '' Rick Vito In Concert'' DVD * 2003 '' Guitar Heroes In Concert'' DVD * 2005 '' Rick Vito: Complete Slide Guitar'' DVD * 2009 '' Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring Rick Vito: Blue Again!'' DVD * 2021 “ Celebrate The Music Of Peter Green” DVD

References

External links

Official site

Rick Vito at IMDB

Rick Vito Interview
at NAMM Oral History Collection (2021) {{DEFAULTSORT:Vito, Rick 1949 births Living people People from Darby, Pennsylvania Musicians from Delaware County, Pennsylvania American rock guitarists Fleetwood Mac members American session musicians American lead guitarists American slide guitarists American male singer-songwriters American rock songwriters American rock singers American blues guitarists American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists