Aside from the regular solo on virtually every Bon Jovi song over a thirty-year career and the all-too-infrequent solo effort, Richie Sambora has willingly accepted the part of the reliable ‘bagman’; sublimating his immense talent as the trusted Number Two in one of the world's most successful rock bands.
Now, thanks to Pandora Radio’s Legends & Icons series, the virtuoso string-slinger is given his due front-and-center.
Appropriately, Sambora is now part of a spotlight page that includes many other music legends and includes video interviews where you can feel like you have the Dark Slim Duke all to yourself, as well as watch a specially curated mix tape and listen to songs from his recent outstanding CD, ‘Aftermath of the Lowdown’.
In the first video clip titled ‘Authenticity’, Sambora refers to himself in his early days as a ‘needle in a haystack’; yet another musician with rock n’ roll dreams, but one who knew deep down inside that if he “got a chance to hone my craft, I could be good at it”.
Talking about “Bon Jovi, The Beginning”, he reveals that he was on his own trajectory playing in his own band, writing original music and playing covers. His band included bassist Alec Jon Such (who later became the original bass player for Bon Jovi).
Sambora was even part owner of a club back in Jersey, and it was while he was in California auditioning for ‘Kiss’ that Jon Such asked him if it would be alright for him to play with a Jersey kid named Jon Bon Jovi in a cover showcase in Sambora’s club.
Richie approved, and Jon Such told Sambora, “You should listen to this kid. He has a lot to offer this organization”.
And the rest as they say, is history.
In order to not spoil the rest of it for adoring Richie Sambora fans, you’ll have to tune into Pandora Radio on the web here to listen to the rest of the interviews where Sambora talks about everything from his solo work to the meaning of ‘Aftermath of the Lowdown’.
For lovers of Richie, the only thing bigger than the man’s heart is his talent, and it’s heart-warming to see Pandora provide the platform to showcase the Bon Jovi foil in a medium that affords him the respect he richly deserves, and, makes fans feel like they are sitting there listening to Richie talk only to them.
Read more articles by Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora Examiner Glenn Osrin here.
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