Dave Amato
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Dave Amato |
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Dave Amato (born March 3, 1953) is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band REO Speedwagon.
He was born and raised near Framingham, Massachusetts. At age 11, his first band was called "The Sandstones with Steve Bremner on guitar, Gino Bonvini on Bass (Dave played in later bands with them) and Gary Pegararo on drums, then "The Aftermath", "Dave and the Essex", "One Way Out", "Sledge-Hamma", "Ice" and "August". Dave turned down a record contract and an opening spot (W/Sledge-Hamma) with Aerosmith. He felt he wouldn't achieve success on the East Coast. In 1980, Amato moved to the West Coast, pursuing his musical career in Los Angeles. He played a short stint with Black Oak Arkansas, did sessions with LaToya Jackson, and sang backing vocals for the likes of David Lee Roth, Rick Springfield, Kim Carnes, and Mötley Crüe.
In 1985 Amato took on vocal and guitar responsibilities with Ted Nugent. His most memorable tour was in 1986 when he sang lead vocals and played guitar with Nugent, and they shared the tour bill with Aerosmith. He stayed with Nugent for three years, making the albums Little Miss Dangerous and If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em. Due to a conflict of schedules, Amato left Nugent in December 1988 when Nugent accepted an unplanned tour and Amato had other obligations. They remain good friends and have even shared the stage with Nugent opening for REO Speedwagon in 2001.
After the break from Nugent, Dave travelled to Australia, to tour with Jimmy Barnes, playing guitar on the double live album Barnestorming. His playing and vocals are also featured on Barnes' earlier albums For The Working Class Man and Freight Train Heart. Amato also played lead guitar and sang some lead vocals with John and Dino Elefante (formerly of Kansas) but was never an official member of their Christian rock group Mastedon. They cut two CDs; It's a Jungle Out There (1988) and Lofcaudio (1990).
When Gary Richrath left REO Speedwagon in 1989, Amato joined the band in May. He said the "REO songs are great because there is a guitar solo in every song. In 2007 REO released an all-new CD titled Find Your Own Way Home.
Amato also toured extensively as the lead guitarist for Cher and in 1991 he toured for Richie Sambora's Stranger in This Town as well as select performances when Richie was promoting his Undiscovered Soul album. In 1992 he appeared in the video for Michael Bolton's hit "How can We Be Lovers If We Can't Be Friends" and briefly toured with Player in 1998.
Guitars
- 1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
- 1954 Gibson Les Paul Junior Sunburst
- 1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior TY Yellow
- 1956 Gibson Les Paul Special TY Yellow
- 1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior Doublecut w Bigsby Cherry Red
- 1959 Gibson Les Paul Custom Triple Pickup Black
- 1961 Gibson Les Paul Junior Cherry Red
- 1963 Gibson SG Junior White
- 1963 Gibson SG Special White
- 1964 Gibson SG Cherry Red
- 1968 Gibson SG Custom White
- 1968 Gibson ES-335 Sunburst
- 1978 Gibson ES-335 Sunburst
- 1983 Gibson Explorer Korina
- 1983 Gibson Flying V Korina, Red
- 1989 Gibson EDS-1275 White
- 2002 Gibson Firebird 7 String Sunburst
- Late Model Gibson EDS-1275 Custom Black
- Late Model Gibson Joe Perry Signature Les Paul
- Late Model Gibson Les Paul Black, White, Sunburst, Red, Gold,& others
- Late Gibson Les Paul Custom Triple Pickup White
- Late Model Gibson SG Custom Cream, Red
- Late Model Epiphone Casino
- 1950 Fender Broadcaster Butterscotch
- 1952 Fender Telecaster Surf Green
- 1954 Fender Stratocaster 2 Tone Sunburst
- 1955 Fender Stratocaster Coral Pink & 2 Tone Sunburst
- 1956 Fender Esquire Blonde
- 1957 Fender Esquire Blonde
- 1958 Fender Stratocaster Desert Sand
- 1963 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst
- 1964 Fender Stratocaster White
- 1966 Fender Telecaster Red
- 1979 Fender Stratocaster Black
- 1990 Fender Stratocaster Vintage White
- 2004 Fender George Harrison Telecaster Rosewood
- 2004 Fender Jeff Beck Telecaster Butterscotch
- 2005 Fender Telecaster Sherwood Green
- 2005 Fender Jaguar Sunburst
- Late Model Fender Stratocaster Blonde, Cream, 2 Tone Sunburst & others
- Late Model Fender Telecaster Custom Shop Doubleneck, Lake Placid Blue
- Late Model Fender Richie Sambora Stratocaster Model Practice Guitar
- Gretsch Chet Atkins Model Dark Brown & Duo Jet Black
- Rickenbacker 360 Jetglow
- Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglow
- Rickenbacker 325 John Lennon Model Jetglow Black
- Rickenbacker 325/12 John Lennon Model Jetglow Black
- Martin Eric Clapton Signature Acoustic Guitar
- Martin D-28 12 String
- Martin Dave Crosby Signature Acoustic Guitar
- Late Model Epiphone Texan
- 1965 Gibson J-160 E John Lennon Model Sunburst
- 1967 Gibson Humminingbird Sunburst
- Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon String Classical Guitar
- 1998 Gibson Chet Atkins 6 & 12 String Black
- 2000 Gibson J-160 E John Lennon Model Dark Sunburst
- Late Model Gibson J-185 12 String Maple
- Late Model Gibson J-185 6 String Dark Sunburst
- Late Model Gibson J-200 6 String Maple
Discography
with Ted Nugent
with Jimmy Barnes
with Richie Sambora
with REO Speedwagon
with Mastedon