Name: Richard Stephen Sambora
DOB: July 11, 1959
Where: Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Genres: rock, hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal, blues
Occupation: Singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist
Instruments: guitar, vocals, talkbox
Years Active: 1983-present
Early Life
-Son of Joan, a secretary and Adam Sambora, a factory foreman.
-Is of Polish and Italian descent and was rasied Catholic
-Began playing guitar at age 12 following the death of Jimi Hendrix
-His most important musical influences are: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Winter, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Joe Kmiecik, George Harrison
-In the late 60s and early 70s, Janis Joplin had an influence on his music
Career
-Started with a band called Message. Bon Jovi was impressed and thought they sould work together.
-By the time Bon Jovi arrived, the band sounded 20 times better
-Sambora has taken over as lead vocalist occasionally on some songs, such as "I'll Be There for You", "These Days", "Lay Your Hands on Me" "Homebound Train".
-Made a cameo appearance in the Sims Superstar
-Sings the song "Long Way Around" during the final scene in the 1997 film Fire Down Below.
-Also provided guitar on the track "Misery" on Pink's 2001 album Missundaztood with Steven Tyler
Bon Jovi
-In Oct. 1984, Bon Jovi supported the heavy metal band KISS in Leeds
-Their best selling album is their 1986 Slippery When Wet album, which features the tracks "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive"
-In 1992, the band returned with their Keep the Faith album. It was released in Nov. 1992, and produced by Bob Rock. Signaled an end to their metal roots and signaled the beginning to a more rock and roll driven groove. This album showed Bon Jovi could still rock in the 1990s, a decade which had a growing love for Grunge.
-Their 2000 released album, Crush, enjoyed more than enough success. It was all thanks to the single "It's My Life", which was written to help introduce the music of Bon Jovi to a younger fan base
-In Sept. 2005, Have a Nice Day, Bon Jovi's 9th studio album, was released. One of the tracks, "Who Says You Can't Go Home" went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals on Feb. 11, 2007
-In the 80s, mostly played Kramer, Jackson, Charvel, and Hamer superstrats along with customized Les Paul guitars, along with vintage Fender and Gibson guitars
-In the 1990s, Fender issued a Richie Sambora signature Fender Stratocaster model with Floyd Rose tremolo system and 2 Fender Texas Special single coil pickups.
Personal Life
-Has been an avid fan of raising money for Michel J. Fox's Parkinson's Disease charity. Has also donated money privately to cancer charities since the death of his father, including both hospitals where he was treated.
-In May 2004, Sambora received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Kean University. He attended Kean University as a freshman, but dropped out to pursue music full time as a guitarist.
-On April 20, 2007, his father, Adam, died of lung cancer
-Lives in a house in Laguna Beach, Calif.
-On March 26, 2008, Sambora was arrested in Laguna Beach, California for drunk driving
Discography
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