Richie Sambora is one of music's most talented and respected songwriters, singers lead guitarists and producers. Sambora has been a member of Bon Jovi since the band's inception in 1983, he has toured the world several times over and has collected sixty-eight gold and platinum albums from around the world. The group Bon Jovi is the only hard rock band in history to have back to back #1 albums and four #1 singles, and all were co-written by Richie Sambora: "Bad Medicine," "I'll Be There For You," "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer." In addition 14 million copies of Slippery When Wet and 10 million copies of New Jersey were sold around the world, with the band's first two albums, Bon Jovi and 7800 Fahrenheit, rapidly closing in on the double platinum mark.
Sambora was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and raised in Woodbridge. He got his first guitar in 1971 when he was twelve, and started playing in bands three years later. A diversified music listener, Sambora comes from a background of Beatles, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin, "a lot of blues stuff," and his range of listening goes from Peter Gabriel to Metal Church to Tchaikovsky. Sambora was given the opportunity to explore all of his musical avenues when he was afforded the making of his solo record, Stranger In This Town. "Mr. Bluesman," a single on the album was inspired by Clapton and Clapton agreed to play lead guitar on the track, fulfilling a dream for Sambora.
Sambora has also written and/or produced songs for Alice Cooper, Demond Child and others. Sambora has the title track "Guitar Man" on Les Paul's album, an unsurpassable honor for a guitarist and Skid Row, a mutual project of Sambora and Bon Jovi, sold four million records.
Currently, Bon Jovi is on an extensive worldwide tour, in which they'll perform primarily at stadiums. In 1994, the band released Cross Road, a greatest hits collection that would re-establish the group among rock's top international acts. Cross Road also went on to sell over 12 million copies worldwide and yield a new smash single "Always." In July of 1995, Bon Jovi will be releasing their next album, These Days -- drawing on roots that were planted and bonds that were formed twelve years ago.
Sambora's desire to expand and explore diverse avenues of music promises longevity as an artist, songwriter and producer well into the '90's and beyond. Sambora divides his time between Los Angeles and New Jersey with his wife, actress Heather Locklear.
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