Richie Sambora

Richard Stephen Sambora (/sæm.bʊərə/ sam-BORE-a; born July 11, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter and singer. He was the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and co-principal songwriter for the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. In 2018, Sambora was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bon Jovi. He reunited with his former bandmates for a performance at the induction ceremony.

As a solo artist, Sambora has released three albums: Stranger in This Town (1991), Undiscovered Soul (1998), and Aftermath of the Lowdown (2012). In 2018, Sambora and Orianthi formed the duo RSO. After releasing two EPs, RSO released their debut album, Radio Free America, in May 2018.

Richard Stephen Sambora was born on July 11, 1959, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the son of Joan (née Sienila), a secretary, and Adam C. Sambora, a factory foreman. Sambora is of Polish descent and was raised Catholic. He grew up in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, and graduated from Woodbridge High School in 1977. He played basketball in high school; his sophomore team won the 1975 Group 4 State title.

Sambora's first instrument was the accordion, which he began to play at the age of 6. He began playing the guitar at the age of 12 following the death of Jimi Hendrix in 1970. From his early days, Sambora was strongly influenced by blues and 1960s rock and roll.

Sambora was a guitarist for the band Message, and with that band put out a 1982 independent record titled Lessons. It was re-released in 1995 under the name Message, and in 2000 as Lessons. He was later in a band, Mercy, which was signed to Led Zeppelin-owned record label Swan Song Records, and then Duke Williams & the Extremes, who were signed to Capricorn Records. Sambora was also in an improvisational club band called Richie Sambora & Friends. He was part-owner of a club in New Jersey, and at age 19 owned his own independent label Dream Disc Records. Sambora's first professional tour was as an opening act for Joe Cocker in the early 1980s. Shortly before joining Bon Jovi in 1983, Sambora unsuccessfully auditioned for Kiss, to be Ace Frehley's replacement.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.