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Richie Sambora
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Richie Sambora is an American guitarist, songwriter and singer, born on 11 July 1959 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He grew up in Woodbridge Township. His first instrument, at the age of six, was the accordion. At twelve he picked up the guitar, after the death of Jimi Hendrix in 1970. From an early age he was influenced by blues and the rock 'n' roll of the 1960s.
Music and breakthrough
He played in the group Message, which made the independent album Lessons in 1982, later in Mercy and in Duke Williams & the Extremes. At nineteen he had an independent label of his own, Dream Disc Records. His first professional tour was as the opening act for Joe Cocker. Shortly before he joined Bon Jovi in 1983, he auditioned unsuccessfully for Kiss. At Bon Jovi he took the place of guitarist Dave Sabo, who started Skid Row. He was a member of that band from 1983 to 2013 and co-wrote many songs. In 2018 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bon Jovi.
Influence
Solo he released three albums: Stranger in This Town in 1991, Undiscovered Soul in 1998 and Aftermath of the Lowdown in 2012. In 2018 he formed the duo RSO with Orianthi, which released the album Radio Free America that year. His guitar playing belongs to the sound of 1980s stadium rock, with solid riffs and melodic solos.