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Wikipedia / Rick Vito

Richard Francis Vito (born October 13, 1949) is an American guitarist and singer. He was a member of Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991, taking over as lead guitarist after Lindsey Buckingham left the group. He is best known for his blues and slide guitar style, whose influences include Elmore James, Robert Nighthawk, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Alvino Rey, Les Paul, Django Reinhart, and Keith Richards.

Career

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 Dominos’ 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, Boz Scaggs, 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 11th solo CD, “Cadillac Man”, was released March 22, 2024, and his latest, “Slidemaster,” an all slide guitar instrumental album, was released on April 3, 2026.

Vito performed with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band internationally including at the 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, Lindsey Buckingham 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 features 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 left 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 to play the pre-game show of Super Bowl XXVII in January 1993.

Vito later joined the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band in 2008 as frontman, lead guitarist and co-producer. The band recorded a live album, Blue Again!, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Blues Album in 2010. The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band was put on hold in 2017, although he did perform with Fleetwood, John Mayall, Christine McVie, Bill Wyman and others in 2020 for a performance honoring the music of Peter Green, a founding member of Fleetwood Mac.

Filmography

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

Solo albums

Guest performances

- Gary Nicholson

DVDs

References