User:Rickvittallo

Rick Vittallo was born in Chicago, Ill. Son of legendary guitarist internationally renowned entertainer, Rick Verde. His accomplishments include "The Three Suns" RCA muti-million selling gold record, "Twilight Time", and countless others. As a young boy Rick was a musical prodigy studying classical guitar with Master Richard Pick at the Chicago School of Music from the age of 9 years old until he was 16. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 70's to continue his musical education at the Dick Grove school of Music. His first job in L.A. was Musical Director for Buddy Greco. By the late 70's Rick began working with his own band and developed a kind of symbiotic "thing" - and it resulted in being one of the busiest bands in L.A to this date. In the 8o's Rick worked with stars like Frank Sinatra and conducted for Engelbert Humperdinck. By the 90's Rick was working for MCA at "Universal Studio's in Hollywood" as "Frankenstein" in the "Beetle Juice Grave Yard Revue" playing guitar, singing and dancing in the live show. He spent 10 years at Paramount on "Frasier" and 6 years on "News Radio". After 4 decades he is still living, and playing in Los Angeles, California.

Rick has become a world-class guitarist and vocalist performing all classical, rock, pop, jazz, latin and country styles in live and recorded performances. He is currently working with Connie Stevens along with the best of the best in the industry, while leading his own 10 piece band. He is also making featured performances with stars like Bill Champlin, Mindi Abair, and Max Weinberg, just to name a few. Presently, he has been in the studio recording his latest album, and playing concerts with his own solo projects.

Rick is a state-of-the-art programmer, composer, arranger, and educator. He has worked with, and learned from many of the musical greats of our time. As a guitarist, arranger and conductor. Rick has conducted pops programs with a number of major orchestras such as The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Chicago Symphony, and the Melbourne Symphony among others. His guitar solo performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Engelbert Humperdinck are internationally well known. Rick Vittallo is also the inventor of the "Vittallo Caged Guitar Method." Instructing guitar at a very young age, Rick has been teaching this innovative system to successful students for over 40 years. He is an actor, comedian, and a Martial Artist holding a Black Belt Degree in Kenpo Karate. certifications by Ed Parker, Jr, Cecil Peoples,  John Conway,  John Conway, Jr,  Kris Adrian, Gene Briscoe, and Jeff Speakman.