"My message is just to express myself by doing whatever songs and guitar stylings that seem honest to me. If you are being honest, then the connection between technique and emotion will sort of blend together and form something that is moving to the listener in some way."

Rick Vito: The Cadillac Man & His Music

Grammy-nominated guitarist and performer Rick Vito will be released his eleventh solo album, “Cadillac Man” (Blue Heart Records / March 2024), a collection of eleven original tracks and an instrumental version of Sam Cooke’s “Just Another Day.” The album title reflects Vito’s lifelong passion for classic Cadillac cars. “Mr Lucky,” his 1969 Sedan De Ville, is pictured on the cover. Fans of slide and blues guitar will find songs on the album to suit every mood, from rhythmic to rocking, swinging to swampy, and all points in between. One standout is Vito’s original rocking arrangement of “It’s Two A.M.,” previously recorded by Shemekia Copeland and winner of the 2001 W.C. Handy Blues Award for “Song of the Year.” Perhaps best known as a member of the legendary supergroup Fleetwood Mac (1987-1991), Rick Vito’s guitar work and songs are featured on their albums, Greatest Hits, Behind The Mask, The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac, The Chain, and the live concert DVD, Tango In The Night. After the release of his debut solo album, King of Hearts (1992), he began worldwide touring with his own band. Vito later partnered with Mick Fleetwood to form the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band feat. Rick Vito. Shortly after the release of their CD, Blue Again, he was nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award in the "Best Traditional Blues" category as both artist and producer. Vito’s now iconic slide guitar solo on Bob Seger’s “Like A Rock” has been heard and heralded by untold millions, on Seger’s hit albums.

(Rick Vito with his Cadillac "Mr. Lucky" 1969 Sedan De Ville / Photo by Anthony Scarlati)

His unique guitar work has also appeared on hundreds of recordings by such legendary Rock & Roll and Blues Hall of Fame artists as Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, John Fogerty, Little Richard, Leon Russell, Boz Scaggs, John Prine, Delbert McClinton, Rita Coolidge, Roy Orbison, Jackson Browne, Roger McGuinn, Todd Rundgren, Maria Muldaur, and scores of others. "I'd been without a Caddy for many years when my mom reminded me one day, 'You're a Cadillac Man! Hence came the song, which is now the title track of my album," says Vito. "The songs were a joy to write, a pleasure to record, and great fun to perform. To me, that's what a good record should be. I invite you to, as the lyrics say, 'Take a ride with me baby, I'm a Cadillac Man!" Bonnie Raitt describes as “sharp as a Cadillac tail fin.”

Interview by Michael Limnios

Special Thanks: Rick Vito, Betsie Brown & Sallie Bengtson (Blue Heart Records)

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music? What has remained the same about your music-making process?

RV: When you first start out you're deep into a learning process and tend to feel a bit more insecure and frustrated. Music can be a real mysterious thing to try and conquer, and it's always the new territory that presents one musical challenge after another. As you put more and more years into learning, practicing, performing and creating, you eventually get to a point where, as in life, your experience builds up and you feel more comfortable in your own skin. Certain aspects of it become second nature, just like swimming or riding a bike. It becomes more enjoyable because you've put the time in and are getting better, more satisfying results. On the flip side, I still get very nervous before performing until I'm onstage, then it's ok.

You’ve your debut release with Blue Heart Records. How did that relationship come about? Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album “Cadillac Man”?

RV: It was a long process, actually. When I participated in the 2020 tribute to Peter Green with Mick Fleetwood & Friends in London, people in high places began contacting me about another solo record. Because of Covid, many things shut down and this initial energy began to dwindle down. Yet I was determined to assemble all my material and also began recording new things. Over the course of a few years, after trying out a few concepts, I finally had what I thought was a cohesive and exciting original record that made me happy. A couple of the guys I recorded with had been working with Betsie Brown at Blind Raccoon and were very impressed with her. So, I decided to call her about my new album, not knowing that she was partners with Sallie Bengtson in Blue Heart Records. They both loved it and we decided to go into business together, so to speak. The capper was finding an old track I'd cut ten years prior and completely forgotten about, "It's Two AM," which had been successful for Shemekia Copeland and won Blues Song of the Year for me. The track had really great energy, so I put the finishing touches on it, and then the record was complete!

"Finding my wife and starting a family changed me profoundly, filling in many of the gaps in my personal life which in turn, helped me when the bigger gigs like Fleetwood Mac came along. My wife has always helped me to see clearly through some of the falseness and bs that is rampant in the music business. This allowed me to express myself more honestly, I think." (Photo: Rick Vito with his 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville, Vito’s lifelong passion for classic Cadillac cars)

What touched you from the classic Cadillac cars? Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

RV: Back in the 1950s, my father worked for a Cadillac-Oldsmobile dealership just outside Philadelphia and for years he drove an Oldsmobile. One day in 1961 he came home in a brand new, Midnight Blue Cadillac convertible. This blew me away and I'll never forget that car. When I moved out to California in the 70s to get into the music business, the old cars were relatively cheap. My mechanic kept telling me about his '60 Cadillac convertible and I wound up buying it. Then later I bought a '58 sedan, a 60 coupe, a '59 Coupe De Ville, and another '60 convertible. So, I've had a lifelong passion for them.

Last year I found "Mr. Lucky," a '69 Sedan De Ville with 11K original miles and I snapped it up. This is the car on the cover of the new album, "Cadillac Man." I also enjoy designing electric guitars and painting in an abstract style. I studied acting in college and have had very minor roles in a couple of movies and commercials. Blink and you'd never see me, haha!

What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome as a person and as artist and has this helped you become a better musician?

RV: The hardest obstacle I've had to face is insecurity, probably like most artists. On one hand you know that what you do is of a high quality and you're proud of it. Then on the other hand, you second guess yourself in weaker moments. I'm lucky that I never had a problem with drugs or substances, and I've known any talented people, many friends, who fell by the wayside and either didn't go far and some who passed away as a result.

Finding my wife and starting a family changed me profoundly, filling in many of the gaps in my personal life which in turn, helped me when the bigger gigs like Fleetwood Mac came along. My wife has always helped me to see clearly through some of the falseness and bs that is rampant in the music business. This allowed me to express myself more honestly, I think.

"If you are being honest, then the connection between technique and emotion will sort of blend together and form something that is moving to the listener in some way. As Rick Nelson, one of my earliest heroes once said, "you have to please yourself." If I can honestly do that, then I will have succeeded in my art." (Photo: Iconic guitarist Rick Vito at his house in Topanga Canyon, CA 1975)

What moment changed your music life the most?

RV: There have been a few. My mother took my brother and I to see the Everly Brothers live at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City in the late 50s. It was loud, it was cool, and it opened up the real world of rock and roll for me. In late 1970 I'd been listening to Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and decided that when they came to town, I'd introduce myself, which I eventually managed to do. Soon after at another show, they invited me to sit in. This brought the house down and impressed them, I guess. They said I should move to L.A. if I wanted to go pro and that they would help me. So, in an instant, I was validated and had a clear-cut path right in front of my eyes as to what I was going to do in life!

How do you prepare for your recordings and performances to help you maintain both spiritual and musical stamina?

RV: I don't prepare much for recording. I try to be in the moment and let the creativity, "ooze on out," to quote James Brown. I've been known to pray a bit before shows to help with my spiritual connection to the music and audience.

Musician and Visual Artist: Is there a message you are trying to convey with your art? What's the balance in music between technique skills and soul/emotions?

RV: My message is just to express myself by doing whatever songs and guitar stylings that seem honest to me. If you are being honest, then the connection between technique and emotion will sort of blend together and form something that is moving to the listener in some way. As Rick Nelson, one of my earliest heroes once said, "you have to please yourself." If I can honestly do that, then I will have succeeded in my art.

Rick Vito - Home

(Photo: Grammy-nominated musician Rick Vito with his "Rick Vito Soulshaker" guitar by Revered Guitars)