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Glenwood Summer of Music features Rick Vito

Staff Report
Rick Vito
Publicity Photo |

The fourth season of the Glenwood Springs Summer of Music kicks off today at Two Rivers Park, with the classical guitar stylings of former Fleetwood Mac lead guitarist Rick Vito. Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Camp opens the evening at 6:30 p.m., followed by Vito at 7:30 p.m.

This multi-genre, free community music series will take place every Wednesday through July 30, rain or shine.

According to his website, Vito is a Grammy-nominated guitarist and performer who has been active in the music industry since the 1970s. He worked as a solo artist, songwriter, session musician and as a band member for John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, Roger McGuinn and many other Rock And Roll Hall of Fame artists. He is best known as a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1991, and more recently as the frontman for the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band. Vito is also the recipient of the W.C. Handy Award, presented by the Blues Foundation to foster blues heritage.



“I joined the Musician’s Union when I was 16 and was playing semi-professionally through high school and college at clubs and fraternity parties, etc.’” Vito said on his website. “Two things happened around the time I turned 21. First, I was invited to come to New York City [along with my friend Rick Valenti] to record some demos with Todd Rundgren. The result was that a song we wrote, ‘Can’t Live Without Love,’ made it on a James Cotton Blues Band record that Todd produced.”

And though he found success in music in his teen years, Vito first discovered his passion for music at an early age, while playing his mother’s guitar.



“I started fooling around with my mom’s old Oahu Hawaiian acoustic guitar when I was around 7 or 8, after seeing Elvis and also Ricky Nelson with James Burton on TV,” Vito said on his website. “The next Christmas I found a little Stella acoustic of my own under the tree. Guitar was a natural instrument for me, and I’ve never put it down since. I don’t read music but I also play a little bass, ukulele, drums, harmonica and some very bad keyboards.”

LOCAL MUSICIANS, CUISINE WARM UP THE CROWD

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Camp takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. The group is a consortium of talented middle and high school students, joined by college students from Denver-based universities, who will perform together under the direction of Chris Bank. JAS Summer Camp will present big-band jazz and pop tunes.

Face painting and information about art center classes and membership will be available at the information tent, which will be located next to the food vendors.

Food will be offered by Gandhi’s Indian Restaurant, The New Castle Diner, Jeffreezz Sorbetto and Slow Groovin BBQ.

Also, Glenwood Music will give away a Paul Reed Smith electric guitar from the stage, and the Gear Exchange will donate a recycled bike. Check out the art center information tent to find out how to win these prizes.

Next week, the Summer of Music will feature Calixto, a Denver-based Cuban jazz and dance band.

There are no pets, smoking or glass bottles allowed at the concert series.

For more information, visit http://www.glenwoodarts.org or call the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts at 945-2414.

SPONSORS

The Glenwood Springs Summer of Music is made possible by help from sponsors Alpine Bank, Bighorn Toyota, The City of Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, KMTS Radio, The Ramada Inn, Gould Construction, Glenwood Hot Springs, Garfield and Hecht PC, KSNO Radio, KSPN, The Lift FM, and KNFO Radio stations, and VIA/Paragon Technology Group, Sunlight Mountain Resort, Pioneer Steel, Inc., Stifel, Carpet One Floor and Home, Copy Copy, Microplastics, Holy Cross Roundup Foundation, Western Colorado Community Foundation, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, First Line Security, Mountain Roll Offs Inc, Roaring Fork Liquors, Glenwood Music and the Gear Exchange.


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