Editing Richie Sambora (section)

==Early life==
Richard Stephen Sambora was born on July 11, 1959, in [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey]], the son of Joan (née Sienila), a secretary, and Adam C. Sambora, a factory foreman.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1731050671.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&type=current&date=Apr+25%2C+2007&author=&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=ADAM+C.+SAMBORA%2C+70%2C+of+POINT+PLEASANT&pqatl=google | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630040845/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1731050671.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT&type=current&date=Apr+25,+2007&author=&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=ADAM+C.+SAMBORA,+70,+of+POINT+PLEASANT&pqatl=google | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 30, 2013 | work=Asbury Park Press | title=Adam C. Sambora, 70, of Point Pleasant | date=April 25, 2007 }}</ref> Sambora is of [[Polish people|Polish]]<!--- Sambora is of Polish descent on both sides, and both "Sambora" and "Sienila" are Polish surnames, not Italian ones ---> descent<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20091124/NEWS/911240346/Rock-star-Richie-Sambora-s-return-for-charity-campaign-rocks-his-hometown-of-Woodbridge|title=Rock star Richie Sambora's return for charity campaign rocks his hometown of Woodbridge|website=Mycentraljersey.com|access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref> and was raised [[Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5fIZAAAAIBAJ&pg=5401%2C4368640&dq=sambora-learns-the-hard-way&hl=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721183042/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5fIZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5401%2C4368640&dq=sambora-learns-the-hard-way&hl=en|url-status=dead|title=New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search|date=July 21, 2012|archive-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref> He grew up in [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey]],<ref>Falkenstein, Michelle. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/31njarts.html "Around the Scene, a Whirl of Change"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 31, 2006. Accessed September 30, 2007. "Bruce Springsteen, who grew up in Freehold, served up the critically acclaimed "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" in April, and the singer Jon Bon Jovi, who was raised in Sayreville, and his band's guitarist Richie Sambora, from Woodbridge, will be immortalized as action figures next July by McFarlane Toys, it was announced in October."</ref> and graduated from [[Woodbridge High School (New Jersey)|Woodbridge High School]] in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-18 |title=Bon Jovi's Sambora Scores Philanthropic Points Home In New Jersey |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bon-jovis-sambora-scores_b_365188 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> He played basketball in high school; his sophomore team won the 1975 Group 4 State title.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LoGiudice |first=Daniel |title=Woodbridge to celebrate 40th anniversary of state championship boys basketball team |url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2015/01/28/woodbridge-celebrate-th-anniversary-state-championship-hoops-team/22474827/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Courier News |language=en-US}}</ref>

Sambora's first instrument was the accordion, which he began to play at the age of 6.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MTRBWY |date=2018-01-02 |title=RSO - Richie Sambora & Orianthi |url=https://maytherockbewithyou.com/mtrbwy/2018/01/rso-richie-sambora-orianthi/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=maytherockbewithyou.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He began playing the guitar at the age of 12, following the death of [[Jimi Hendrix]] in 1970. From his early days, Sambora was strongly influenced by [[blues]] and 1960s [[rock and roll]]. His most important influences were [[Eric Clapton]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Stevie Ray Vaughan]], [[Johnny Winter]], [[Jimmy Page]], [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]], [[Brian May]], [[George Harrison]], [[Hank Marvin]], [[Dave Davies]], [[Pete Townshend]], [[Ritchie Blackmore]], [[Tony Iommi]], [[Manny Charlton]], [[Bernie Leadon]], [[Don Felder]], [[Joe Walsh]], and [[B. B. King]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/Richie+Sambora |title=Richie Sambora – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at |publisher=Last.fm |access-date=2014-07-15}}</ref> and he has also cited [[psychedelic soul]] singer [[Janis Joplin]] as having a big influence on his musical style. Sambora was also influenced by Spanish [[European classical music|classical music]] and began a lifelong love of the [[Classical guitar|Spanish guitar]]. Classical music directly inspired several of his songs, such as ''The Answer'' which was originally written on piano.<ref>{{YouTube|VXfu2teSN6w|Sambora playing the intro to his songs, 1995}}</ref>

Sambora also plays many other instruments, such as drums, bass, saxophone, and piano. The first time he performed on stage was at a [[Catholic Youth Organization]] dance when he was a teenager.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}