Rick Vito

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.

Rick Vito
Rick Vito in concert with Mick Fleetwood, 2020
Rick Vito in concert with Mick Fleetwood, 2020
Background information
Birth nameRichard Vito
Born (1949-10-13) October 13, 1949
Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresBlues, Swing, Roots rock, World
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, Artist-designer, actor, writer
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards
Years active1969 – 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 latest CD, Soulshaker, was released on 5 April 2019.

Vito performed with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band at Byron Bay Bluesfest over Easter 2016.[2] 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
Vito performing with Mick Fleetwood and Pete Townshend in 2020

In 1987, Lindsey Buckingham quit Fleetwood Mac before the band began their Tango In The Night Tour.[3] Fleetwood Mac Drummer Mick Fleetwood asked Billy Burnette 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.[4] Vito quit Fleetwood Mac in November 1991 to begin working on a solo career.[5] 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.[6] 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 (1984) (TV) singer
  • The Last Castle (2001) Red Team leader
  • Angel Eyes (2005) (songwriter: "It's 2 A.M.")
  • Firewall (2006) (songwriter 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

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

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
  1. Furman, Leah (2003). Rumours Exposed: The Unauthorized Biography of Fleetwood Mac. Kensington Publishing Corporation. p. 196. ISBN 9780806524726. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  2. "Byron Bay Bluesfest". Bluesfest.com.au. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  3. Ressner, Jeffrey (1987-09-24). "Lindsey Buckingham Leaves Fleetwood Mac". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  4. Adelson, Martin E. (1949-10-13). "Rick Vito". Fleetwoodmac.net. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  5. "Fleetwood Mac Timeline for the 1990s". Fleetwoodmac-uk.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  6. "Say You Love Me 1993 Superbowl". YouTube. 2015-02-14. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
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