Richard Francis (Rick) Vito (born October 13, 1949, in Darby,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...

, United States) is an American

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselve ...

and

singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or witho ...

. He was part of

Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarist Peter Green (musician), Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the li ...

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

Lindsey Buckingham Lindsey Adams Buckingham (born October 3, 1949) is an American musician and record producer, best known as the lead guitarist and male lead vocalist of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with Fl ...

left the group. He is best known for his blues and slide guitar style, whose influences include

Elmore James Elmore James ( Brooks; January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963) was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader. Noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice, James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fa ...

, Robert Nighthawk,

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

Alvino Rey Alvin McBurney (July 1, 1908 – February 24, 2004), known by his stage name Alvino Rey, was an American jazz guitarist and bandleader. Career Alvin McBurney was born in Oakland, California, United States, but grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Early i ...

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 Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943), often referred to during the 1960s and 1970s as "Keith Richard", is an English musician and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-princi ...

. 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 Robert Clark Seger ( ; born May 6, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and The Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s, break ...

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

s since 1986. He played the slide guitar

solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Comics * ''Solo'' (DC Comics), a DC comics series * Solo, a 1996 mini-series from Dark Horse Comics Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ' ...

on the Bob Seger song (and Chevy truck TV commercial), "

Like a Rock ''Like a Rock'' is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1986. The title track is best known for being featured in Chevrolet truck commercials throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Content " Fortuna ...

". He was a long-standing member of

Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporate ...

's touring band in the 1980s and 1990s. Vito also recorded and/ or performed with

John Mayall John Mayall, OBE (born 29 November 1933) is an English blues singer, musician and songwriter, whose musical career spans over sixty years. In the 1960s, he was the founder of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its ...

, Jackson Browne,

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...

Roger McGuinn James Roger McGuinn (born James Joseph McGuinn III; July 13, 1942) is an American musician. He is best known for being the frontman and leader of the Byrds. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the Byrds. As ...

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...

Dobie Gray Dobie Gray (born Lawrence Darrow Brown; July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011) was an American singer and songwriter whose musical career spanned soul music, soul, country music, country, pop music, pop, and Musical theatre, musical theater. Hi ...

John Fogerty John Cameron Fogerty (born May 28, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty, he founded the band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), for which he was the lead si ...

Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasi ...

Albert Collins Albert Gene Drewery, known as Albert Collins and the Ice Man (October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993),Skeely, Richard. "Albert Collins: Biography" Allmusic.com. was an American electric blues guitarist and singer with a distinctive guitar style. ...

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

Maria Muldaur Maria Muldaur (born Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato; September 12, 1942) is an American folk and blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s. She recorded the 1973 hit song " Midnight at the Oasis" and has ...

, 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 latest CD, ''Soulshaker'', was released on 5 April 2019. Vito performed with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band at

Byron Bay Bluesfest The Byron Bay Bluesfest, formerly the East Coast International Blues & Roots Music Festival, is an annual Australian music festival that has been held over the Easter long weekend in the Byron Bay, New South Wales, area since 1990. The festiva ...

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 Townsend, David Gilmour, Jonny Lang, John Mayall, Christine McVie, Bill Wyman, Jeremy Spencer and more.

Fleetwood Mac

In 1987,

quit Fleetwood Mac before the band began their Tango In The Night Tour. Fleetwood Mac Drummer

Mick Fleetwood Michael John Kells Fleetwood (born 24 June 1947) is a British musician, songwriter and occasional actor. He is best known as the drummer, co-founder, and leader of the rock band Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood, whose surname was merged with that of t ...

asked

Billy Burnette Dorsey William Burnette III (born May 8, 1953 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995. Burnette also had a brief career in acting. Family ba ...

to join the group as the lead guitarist, but Burnette declined to join unless his friend Rick Vito also joined, and Vito was named lead guitarist. Fleetwood accepted and Vito and Burnette joined Fleetwood Mac in September 1987. 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 Christine Anne McVie (; née Perfect; 12 July 1943 – 30 November 2022) was an English musician and songwriter. She was best known as keyboardist and one of the vocalists of the band Fleetwood Mac. McVie was a member of several bands, nota ...

, 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 Mick Fleet ...

to play the pre-game show of

Super Bowl XXVII Super Bowl XXVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for t ...

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.

Filmography

*''

Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust ...

'' (1984) (TV) singer *'' The Last Castle'' (2001) Red Team leader *''Angel Eyes'' (2005) (songwriter: "It's 2 A.M.") *''

Firewall Firewall may refer to: * Firewall (computing), a technological barrier designed to prevent unauthorized or unwanted communications between computer networks or hosts * Firewall (construction), a barrier inside a building, designed to limit the spre ...

'' (2006) (

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes 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 ...

and performer: "She's So Crazy")

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 A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...

'' - guitars and backing vocals on two songs. * 1990 '' Behind the Mask'' * 1992 ''

25 Years – The Chain ''25 Years – The Chain'' is a box set by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac originally released on 24 November 1992. The set contains four CDs, covering the history of the band from its formation in 1967 to 1992. The set features sev ...

'' * 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''

Guest performances

* 1972 ''

Something/Anything? ''Something/Anything?'' is the third album by American musician Todd Rundgren, released in February 1972. It was his first double album, and was recorded in late 1971 in Los Angeles, New York City and Bearsville Studios, Woodstock. Three quarter ...

'' –

Todd Rundgren Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, multimedia artist, sound engineer and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the band U ...

* 1972 '' Raw Velvet'' –

Bobby Whitlock Robert Stanley Whitlock (born March 18, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, with Eric Clapton, in 1970–71. Whitlock's musical career began with Me ...

* 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'' –

* 1975 ''

Common Sense ''Common Sense'' is a 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–1776 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Writing in clear and persuasive prose, Paine collected various moral and political arg ...

'' –

John Prine John Edward Prine (; October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. He was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death. He ...

* 1975 ''Change'' –

Spanky and Our Gang Spanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s sunshine pop band led by 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''), because of the s ...

* 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. He was known for producing, and co-writing with Bob Gaudio, a string of Top 10 singles for the Four Season ...

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

David Soul David Soul (born David Richard Solberg; August 28, 1943) is an American-British actor and singer. He is known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television series '' Starsky & Hutch'' from 1975 to 1979; Joshua Bolt on ...

* 1977 '' Thunderbyrd'' –

* 1978 ''Kissin' in the California Sun'' –

Katy Moffatt Katherine Louella "Katy" Moffatt (born November 19, 1950) is an American musician, lyricist, composer, vocalist. She is the sister of country singer-songwriter Hugh Moffatt. Midnight radio Moffatt became impassioned by music as a child grow ...

* 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 Arlo Guthrie and many others including John Denve ...

* 1979 ''Open Your Eyes'' –

* 1980 '' Blue Delicacies'' – Ronnie Barron * 1980 '' No More Interviews'' – John Mayall * 1982 ''

Fast Times at Ridgemont High ''Fast Times at Ridgemont High'' is a 1982 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Amy Heckerling (in her feature directorial debut), from a screenplay by Cameron Crowe, based on his 1981 book ''Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Sto ...

'' (Original Soundtrack) – Various/ Jackson Browne * 1982 '' Green Light'' –

* 1982 '' The Perfect Stranger'' –

Jesse Colin Young Perry Miller (born November 22, 1941), known professionally as Jesse Colin Young, is an American singer and songwriter. He was a founding member and lead singer of the 1960s group the Youngbloods. After their dissolution in 1972, Young embarked ...

* 1982 ''

Revenge Will Come Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." ...

'' –

Greg Copeland Greg is a masculine given name, and often a shortened form of the given name Gregory. Greg (more commonly spelled " Gregg") is also a surname. People with the name * Greg Abbott (disambiguation), multiple people * Greg Abel (born 1961/1962), Cana ...

* 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 Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on '' Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and th ...

* 1985 '' One Heart at a Time'' – Don Francisco * 1986 ''

'' – Bob Seger * 1986 '' Lives in the Balance'' – Jackson Browne * 1987 '' A Very Special Christmas'' – Various/Bob Seger * 1987 ''

Rainbow A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows ...

'' –

* 1989 '' Mystery Girl'' –

* 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 ''Born to Rock and Roll'' is a compilation album by the ex- Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn, released on Columbia Records in August 1991. It was issued following the success of McGuinn's comeback solo album '' Back from Rio'' earlier that same year ...

'' –

* 1992 '' Not Alone'' –

Thomas Jefferson Kaye Thomas Jefferson Kontos (1940 – September 16, 1994), better known as Thomas Jefferson Kaye, was an American record producer, singer-songwriter and musician. He collaborated with The Shirelles, Loudon Wainwright III, and Gene Clark, and also r ...

* 1993 '' Great Days: A John Prine Anthology'' – John Prine * 1994 '' Craig Shoemaker Meets the Lovemaster'' – Craig Shoemaker * 1994 ''

'' – 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/

* 1999 '' Lillith Fair Volume 3'' – Bonnie Raitt * 1999 ''The ABC Years'' – John Mayall * 1999 '' Juke Rhythm'' –

John "Juke" Logan John "Juke" Logan (September 11, 1946 – August 30, 2013) was an American electric blues harmonica player, musician, singer, pianist and songwriter. He is best known for his harmonica playing on the theme music for television programs (''Home I ...

* 1999 '' Smooth Sailin''' –

Marty Grebb Marty may refer to: Names * Marty (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters, also includes stage names * Marty (surname), a list of people Places in the United States * Marty, California, a former settlement * Marty, Min ...

* 2001 ''Nothing Personal'' –

Delbert McClinton Delbert McClinton (born November 4, 1940) is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist. From his first professional stage appearance in 1957 to his most recent national tour in 2018, ...

* 2002 ''

Forgive Forgiveness, in a psychology, psychological sense, is the intentional and voluntary process by which one who may initially feel victimized or wronged, goes through a change in feelings and attitude regarding a given offender, and overcomes the ...

'' –

Rebecca Lynn Howard Rebecca Lynn Howard (born April 24, 1979) is an American country music artist. She has charted seven singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, and has released three studio albums. Her highest-charting single, "Forgive", peaked at ...

* 2002 '' Almeria Club'' – Hank Williams Jr. * 2002 ''

Fast Girl Fast or FAST may refer to: * Fast (noun), high speed or velocity * Fast (noun, verb), to practice fasting, abstaining from food and/or water for a certain period of time Acronyms and coded Computing and software * '' Faceted Application of Su ...

'' –

The Tractors The Tractors were an American country rock band composed of a loosely associated group of musicians headed by guitarist Steve Ripley. The original lineup consisted of Steve Ripley (lead vocals, guitar), Ron Getman (guitar, Dobro, mandolin, tenor ...

* 2002 '' The Big Night'' – The Tractors * 2002 ''Speed of Sound'' –

Rosie Flores Rosie Flores (born September 10, 1950) is an American rockabilly and country music artist. Her music blends rockabilly, honky tonk, jazz, and Western swing along with traditional influences from her Tex-Mex heritage. She currently resides in Au ...

* 2003 '' All Night Breakfast'' – Jonny Neel * 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 Slide or Slides may refer to: Places *Slide, California, former name of Fortuna, California Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums * ''Slide'' (Lisa Germano album), 1998 * ''Slide'' (George Clanton album), 2018 *''Slide'', by Patrick Gleeso ...

'' – 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 * 2021 '' Mick Fleetwood & Friends 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 The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kin ...

* 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 “ Mick Fleetwood & Friends Celebrate The Music Of Peter Green” DVD

References

External links

Official site

Rick Vito at IMDB

Rick Vito Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2021) {{DEFAULTSORT:Vito, Rick 1949 births Living people People from Darby, Pennsylvania American rock guitarists Fleetwood Mac members American session musicians Lead guitarists Slide guitarists American male singer-songwriters American singer-songwriters American rock songwriters American rock singers American blues guitarists American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists