Profile of Richie Sambora on Famous Like Me

Richie Sambora (born Richard Stephen Sambora on July 11, 1959 in Woodbridge, New Jersey) is best known as the lead guitarist for Bon Jovi, handles harmony and background vocals, and joins frontman Jon Bon Jovi in writing most of the band's songs over the course of their twenty year run. He has also released two solo albums, Stranger In This Town in 1991, and Undiscovered Soul in 1998. Sambora attended Woodbridge High School. His main influences were Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and The Beatles.

Richie played on a recently released album called Lessons from a band called "Message". The album was recorded in the early 1980s.

Richie got his first guitar when he was just 12 years old. Throughout his career as a guitarist, Richie has displayed an impressive knack for feeling out a guitar solo to the point that it not only follows the key of the song, but the chord progression as well. His technique displays remarkable variety - his soloing in "Wanted Dead or Alive" is laden with artificial harmonics, whereas his riffing for "Livin' on a Prayer" makes extensive use of palm muting. Developing his guitar technique in an era laden with wild soloing inspired by Eddie Van Halen, Richie developed a unique style of speed and precision but it took him a few attempts to impress Jon Bon Jovi. When Jon first saw Richie play he didn't think he was good enough: however he soon changed his opinion after working with Richie. Richie is also one of a few guitarists to make use of the talkbox along with Slash from Guns N' Roses, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry of Aerosmith, and Peter Frampton. The talkbox can be heard clearly in "Livin' on a Prayer" and "It's My Life".

He lives in California with his wife, actress Heather Locklear (married in 1994) and their daughter Ava Elizabeth (born October 1997).

He has appeared in several movie and TV cameos, notably the film 'On The Line' as 'The Mick', and the 'Chris Isaak' show as himself. Recent ventures have seen him compose television theme tunes for both Entertainment Tonight and The Insider. He is a shareholder of the Philadelphia Soul, an Arena Football League football team.

Over the years, Richie has been an ardent fundraiser for many charities, such as Dream Street, the Steve Young Foundation and Michael J Fox's Parkinson's charity.

Discography

with Bon Jovi

• Bon Jovi - 1984, Mercury
• 7800 Degrees Fahrenheit - 1985, Mercury
• Slippery When Wet - 1986, Mercury
• New Jersey - 1988, Mercury
• Keep The Faith - 1992, Mercury
• Crossroad - 1994, Mercury
• These Days - 1995, Mercury
• Crush - 2000, Island
• One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001 - 2001, Island
• Bounce - 2002, Island
• This Left Feels Right - 2003, Island
• 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong - 2004, Island
• Have A Nice Day - 2005, Island

Solo

• Stranger In This Town - 1991, Jambco, Mercury, PolyGram
• Undiscovered Soul - 1998, Mercury

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