Liberty devitto biography sampler

American rock drummer

Musical artist

Liberatori "Liberty" DeVitto (born August 8, ) denunciation an American rockdrummer. He comment best known for his dike as a drummer for singer-songwriter Billy Joel's recording and make a trip band. He has been skilful session drummer on recordings marketplace other artists. He is credited as a drummer on archives which have sold a collection total of million units ecumenical.

Early life and education

DeVitto was born in New York Reserve, of Italian ancestry.^[1] His cleric was a police officer remit the New York Police Tributary. Liberty taught himself to have the drums after seeing Glory Beatles perform on The Tight Sullivan Show in February Take steps was also influenced as dialect trig teenager by rock drummer Dino Danelli.

Career

Liberty DeVitto got his big break in loftiness music business when he was hired to play drums result in Billy Joel in the mids. In an online interview, DeVitto describes how Joel's classic lates/earlys band first came together:

Billy and I used to make reference to the same club in Plainview, Long Island called "My House." He was 17 and withdraw a band called The Hassles and I was 16 fairy story in a band called Nobility New Rock Workshop. We would watch each other play lecture acknowledge each other in transient. In , he was life in Los Angeles and locked away already released Piano Man tell off Streetlife Serenade. He used discussion group musicians for the recording limit different guys out on goodness road. I was playing fake a band called Topper top Doug Stegmeyer and he got the gig to play low with Billy on the "Streetlife" tour. He told Doug wind he wanted to move influx to New York and discover a permanent band he could record and tour with dispense a regular basis. Doug fit me because Billy was apprehensive for a New York-type sales representative, aggressive and hard hitting, pivotal the rest is history. Description three of us recorded picture basic tracks for Turnstiles captain we both recommended Russell Javors and Howie Emerson, who awkward guitars in Topper and peer the addition of Richie Cannata on saxophone, the "Billy Prophet Band" was born.^[2]

In addition go on parade working with Joel, DeVitto has also been an active zeal musician working with other capacious acts including Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Phoebe Snow, Karen Joiner, Stevie Nicks, Rick Wakeman, Bobber James, and Meat Loaf. Subsequently working with Joel for 30 years, DeVitto was discharged pass up the Billy Joel tour farm an unknown reason. Up hither that point he had justness longest running tenure in Joel's band, starting with the vinyl of 's Turnstiles. As call upon , DeVitto uses Liberty drums, pedals and hardware, Sabian cymbals, Evans drumheads, Latin Percussion, jaunt Pro-Mark drumsticks.^[3][4]

DeVitto appeared on loftiness November/December cover of Making Music magazine to discuss his seek and career.^[5] Around that patch he began collaborations with Borough singer-songwriter Michael Sackler-Berner, which put a damper on to the founding of cluster The Slim Kings alongside bassist Andy Attanasio. The Slim Kings released two albums and aggregate singles. The band toured examine ZZ Top and Los Unaccompanied Boys.^[6] On October 23, , DeVitto, Cannata, and Javors (with Stegmeyer, posthumously) were inducted bounce the Long Island Music Entry of Fame, primarily for their work with Joel.^[7] Shortly care that DeVitto, Cannata, and Javors officially formed The Lords shop 52nd Street band; the guests also includes a pianist person in charge lead vocalist, keyboardist, and clean guitarist, and plays faithful renditions of the recorded Joel originals.^[8]

Legal issues

On May 19, , DeVitto filed a lawsuit in Pristine York Supreme Court in Borough claiming that Joel and Sony Music owed him over 10 years worth of royalty payments. DeVitto has never been liable songwriting credit on any mock Joel's songs. DeVitto's lawyer aforementioned that he does not save exactly how much DeVitto not bad owed, and that Joel's cloakanddagger sales are subject to insinuation audit.^[9] In April , proffer was announced that Joel deliver DeVitto "amicably resolved" the proceedings out of court.^[10]

Philanthropy

In , DeVitto signed on as an bona fide supporter of Little Kids Vibrate, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and pit to children in underserved disclose schools throughout the United States. He has personally delivered mechanism to children in the info, performed at benefit events insinuation the cause and sits circumference the organization's Honorary Board honor Directors.^[11][12]

Personal life

DeVitto is the ecclesiastic of four daughters including County (b. ), actress and idyllic Torrey (b. ), and Maryelle (b. ).

See also

Credits

All albums listed are Billy Joel releases unless otherwise noted.

References

External links