Editing Richie Sambora (section)

==Career==
===Early career===
Sambora was a guitarist for the band [[Message (band)|Message]], and with that band put out a 1982 independent record titled ''Lessons''. It was re-released in 1995 under the name ''Message'', and in 2000 as ''Lessons''. He was later in a band, Mercy, which was signed to [[Led Zeppelin]]-owned record label [[Swan Song Records]], and then Duke Williams & the Extremes, who were signed to [[Capricorn Records]]. Sambora was also in an improvisational club band called Richie Sambora & Friends. He was part-owner of a club in New Jersey, and at age 19 owned his own independent label Dream Disc Records. Sambora's first professional tour was as an opening act for [[Joe Cocker]] in the early 1980s. Shortly before joining Bon Jovi in 1983, Sambora unsuccessfully<ref name="guitarking">{{cite web|last1=Harding|first1=Mark|title=Play Like... Richie Sambora|url=http://www.guitar-king.com/play-like-richie-sambora/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501200059/http://www.guitar-king.com/play-like-richie-sambora/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-05-01|website=Guitar King|access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref> auditioned for [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], to be [[Ace Frehley]]'s replacement.

===Bon Jovi===
{{See also|Bon Jovi}}
Sambora joined Bon Jovi in 1983,<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/richie-sambora-no-regret-leaving-bon-jovi-family-first|title=Richie Sambora on why he left Bon Jovi in 2013: 'Family had to come first'|first=Jessica|last=Napoli|date=December 21, 2020|website=Fox News}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/richie-sambora-jon-bon-jovi-speaking/|title=Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi Are Speaking Again|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=August 19, 2016 }}</ref> replacing the band's original lead guitarist [[Dave Sabo]], who went on to form [[Skid Row (American band)|Skid Row]].<ref name="MSNBCGettingLifeBackTogeter">{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19309670/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621081634/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19309670/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2007|title=Richie Sambora: Getting 'life back together'|last=Celizic|first=Mike|date=June 17, 2007|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|access-date=2008-07-10}}</ref> [[Alec John Such]] had been playing in a band with Sambora and joined Bon Jovi while Sambora was away in Los Angeles auditioning for Kiss. When Sambora returned home, Such promptly invited him to see the band play. Sambora was impressed with Bon Jovi after seeing the band perform live, describing the band as "magic", and he subsequently approached Jon Bon Jovi backstage and "gave him a verbal [[résumé]]". Though Sambora initially believed Bon Jovi was not interested in him, he received a phone call several days later inviting him to rehearse with the band. When Jon arrived and heard the band with Sambora, he hired him on the spot. That night, the pair returned to Bon Jovi's mother's house and wrote the songs "Come Back" and "Burning for Love", both of which would appear on the band's 1983 [[Bon Jovi (album)|debut album]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-1567142.html|work=The Independent|location=London|title=How we met|first=Nicholas|last=Barber|date=January 8, 1995|access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref>

In the [[1989 MTV Video Music Awards]], Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi performed acoustic versions of "[[Livin' on a Prayer]]" and "[[Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi song)|Wanted Dead or Alive]]". While [[MTV Unplugged]] was already in development by the time of this event, its [[showrunners]] have credited the pair's performance with influencing the show to go from initially being meant only for "young, up-and-coming artists" into being a simplified showcase for the "big, stadium, electric-arena-type acts".<ref>https://www.theringer.com/2017/09/07/music/mtv-unplugged-nirvana-don-henley-paul-mccartney</ref>

The song "Next 100 years" from the album Crush, written by Sambora and [[Jon Bon Jovi|Bon Jovi]], is a self cover. The Japanese version, with lyrics by [[B'z]]'s [[Koshi Inaba]], was recorded first in 1999 by [[Johnny & Associates]]'s special unit called [[J-Friends]] as part of the relief efforts for the 1995 [[Great Hanshin earthquake]]. The live version of the song  was also included in a DVD released in April 2003, "J-FRIENDS Never Ending Spirit 1997-2003". It included performances from several of the agency's groups, as well as by the special unit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2024 |title=All 359 Bon Jovi songs ranked worst to best ~ 16. "Next 100 Years," Crush (2000) |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bon-jovi-songs-ranked/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913111656/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bon-jovi-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=#8cmCD【Next 100 Years/J-FRIENDS、 稲葉浩志、 伊達歩、 John Bon Jovi、 Richie Sambora、 有賀啓雄.】1999年 、返金保証 |url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DDPX1JSP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240913112330/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DDPX1JSP |archive-date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Amazon |language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=「J-Friends Next 100 Years」 |url=https://www.elov-label.jp/s/je/discography/JEDJ-0001 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240913112419/https://www.elov-label.jp/s/je/discography/JEDJ-0001 |archive-date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Elov Label Records |language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=J-FRIENDS Never Ending Spirit 1997-2003 |url=https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_J-FRIENDS_000000000110985/item_J-FRIENDS-Never-Ending-Spirit-1997-2003_42212 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240913123134/https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_J-FRIENDS_000000000110985/item_J-FRIENDS-Never-Ending-Spirit-1997-2003_42212 |archive-date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=HMV |language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 May 2020 |title=redbank's BON JOVI collection |url=https://redbankbj.com/wp/?p=9174 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913111932/https://redbankbj.com/wp/?p=9174 |archive-date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Redbank |language=English, Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=J-Friends |url=https://www.shinsaihatsu.com/bunka/2/j-friens.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913125134/https://www.shinsaihatsu.com/bunka/2/j-friens.html |archive-date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Shinsaihatsu |language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ｊ－ＦＲＩＥＮＤＳ東京ドーム年越しライブ |url=http://www.sanspo.com/enter/music/m9911/m1111.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001210134700/http://www.sanspo.com/enter/music/m9911/m1111.html |archive-date=10 December 2000 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Sanspo |language=Japanese}}</ref>

Sambora left the band in 2013<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto1"/> prior to a concert in Calgary during the band's [[Because We Can (concert tour)|Because We Can]] tour. Since his departure, Sambora has only played with Bon Jovi at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2018. In 2016, Sambora stated that his reason for leaving the band was in order to give his family more of his attention. "I really needed to take some time to be with my daughter," he stated "She needed me and I needed her, actually."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vallon|first1=Vanessa|title=Jon Bon Jovi reveals why Richie Sambora left the band (Watch)|url=https://www.axs.com/jon-bon-jovi-reveals-why-richie-sambora-left-the-band-watch-108341|access-date=19 January 2018|publisher=AXS|date=October 17, 2016}}</ref>

Sambora also released a solo EP with Orianthi, and performed alongside the RSO band member and his girlfriend on April 7, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/richie-sambora-on-bon-jovi-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-w514037|title=Hear Richie Sambora Talk Hall of Fame, Relationship With Jon Bon Jovi|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/04/richie_sambora_orianthi_set_to.html|title=Richie Sambora, Orianthi set to highlight Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Celebration Day|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-04-05|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Solo albums===
Sambora's first solo album was 1991's ''[[Stranger in This Town]]'', a blues-influenced album that charted at No. 36 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and No. 20 on the [[UK Albums Chart]]. The lead single, "Ballad Of Youth", reached a high of No. 63 on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and No. 59 in the UK. "One Light Burning" was released as the second single and the album titled track, "Stranger In This Town" as the third which charted at No. 38 on the [[Mainstream rock]] charts. [[Eric Clapton]] played the lead guitar on the promo single ''Mr Bluesman'', backed by Sambora on acoustic guitars. Sambora did a short US tour in support of the album, featuring [[Tony Levin]] (bass), Dave Amato (guitar), [[Crystal Taliefero]] (percussion) and Bon Jovi bandmates Tico Torres (drums) and David Bryan (keyboards). The track "Rosie" was co-written by Jon Bon Jovi and was initially intended for the fourth Bon Jovi album ''[[New Jersey (album)|New Jersey]]''. It was also released as a promo single in Japan. "[[Ballad of Youth]]" was released in the UK in summer 1991 and despite plugs from ''[[The Friday Rock Show]]'' on [[BBC Radio 1]] the song barely skimmed the top 75.

''[[Undiscovered Soul]]'' was Sambora's second solo album, released in 1998. The album was produced by [[Don Was]]. The album charted at No. 174 on [[The Billboard 200]] and No. 24 on the [[UK Albums Chart]]. The lead single "Hard Times Come Easy" charted at No. 39 on the [[Mainstream rock]] chart and No. 37 in the UK, the second single "In It For Love" charted at No. 58 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The title track "Undiscovered Soul" and "Made in America" were also released as singles. In support of ''Undiscovered Soul'', Sambora toured Japan, Australia and Europe in the summer of 1998. The band featured Richie Supa (guitar), Ron Wikso (drums), Kasim Sulton (bass), Tommy Mandel (keyboards), Everett Bradley (percussion; Japan only), [[Gioia Bruno]] (percussion; Australia only) and Crystal Taliefero (percussion; Europe only).

In 2001, Sambora had a single for a movie soundtrack ''On The Line'' which was titled "Take Me On".

Fourteen years after his previous solo album, Sambora announced via his Twitter page that recording of ''[[Aftermath of the Lowdown]]'' had been completed with hopes that the album would be released in July 2012. Photographs were published of Sambora working in a recording studio. The new album was produced by Luke Ebbin, who produced Bon Jovi's ''[[Crush (Bon Jovi album)|Crush]]'' and ''[[Bounce (Bon Jovi album)|Bounce]]'' albums. ''[[Aftermath of the Lowdown]]'' was released in September 2012. The album charted at No. 10 on the "[[Top Hard Rock Albums]]", No. 34 on the [[Top Independent Albums]], No. 149 on [[The Billboard 200]] and No. 35 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/richie%20sambora|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130710201745/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/richie%20sambora|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2013-07-10|title = Chart stats – Richie Sambora}}</ref>
[[File:Sambora and Orianthi.jpg|thumb|Sambora and Orianthi at the [[NAMM Show]], January 2017.]]
The track "Every Road Leads Home to You" was released as a single for the album and features a music video. The song is also featured as one of the bonus tracks on [[Bon Jovi]]'s 2013 album ''[[What About Now (album)|What About Now]]''. A special edition single, "I'll Always Walk Beside You'" featuring [[Alicia Keys]] was released as the second single of the album. All the profits from the sale of the special edition single goes to the ongoing recovery efforts of the Red Cross for the devastation from [[Hurricane Sandy]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/richie-sambora-mn0000852376/awards|title = Richie Sambora Tours Devastation From Hurricane Sandy|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The track "Sugar Daddy" was released as a promo single and a music video was made for the song "Taking a Chance on the Wind".

In 2013 following his departure from Bon Jovi, Sambora released the solo single "Come Back As Me".<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2013/07/31/richie-sambora-new-single-come-back-as-me-bon-jovi/#sthash.TlQLHE7I.dpbs |title = Richie Sambora Releases Solo Single 'Come Back As Me' While On Break from Bon Jovi |work = Rock Cellar Magazine |date = July 31, 2013 |publisher=Rockcellar}}</ref>

Sambora announced in early 2015 that he is working on a new album in collaboration with fellow musician and girlfriend [[Orianthi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/richie-sambora-and-orianthi-hit-the-studio-new-album-in-the-works|title=Richie Sambora and OrianthI Hit The Studio; New Album In The Works|website=Bravewords.com}}</ref> In 2016, they performed as RSO together in Australia, South America, and England, where they opened for [[Bad Company]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/rso-feat-richie-sambora-and-orianthi-23c35037.html|title=RSO feat. Richie Sambora & Orianthi Concert Setlists|website=setlist.fm|access-date=2017-10-02}}</ref> In September 2017, RSO released a five-song EP called ''[[Rise (RSO album)|Rise]]''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://glidemagazine.com/194330/roots-guitarists-orianthi-richie-sambora-celebrate-new-musical-adventure-rso-interview/|title=My Roots: Guitarists Orianthi & Richie Sambora Celebrate New Musical Adventure With RSO |date=2017-10-02|work=Glide Magazine|access-date=2017-10-02|language=en-US}}</ref> followed by another EP ''Making History'' which was also released in 2017. The duo released their debut album ''[[Radio Free America (RSO album)|Radio Free America]]'' in May 2018.

===Other work===
Sambora composed television theme songs for ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' and ''[[The Insider (TV series)|The Insider]]''. Sambora (along with Jon Bon Jovi) was part of the ownership group of the [[Philadelphia Soul]], an [[Arena Football League]] football team,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/phillygossip/Richie_Sambora_arrested_for_alleged_DUI_in_Cali.html|title=Richie Sambora arrested for alleged DUI|first=Dan|last=Gross|website=Inquirer.com|date=March 26, 2008 |access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref> until the league suspended operations in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-20 |title=AFL suspends 2009 season |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420143133/http://arenafootball.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=3633481&DB_OEM_ID=3500 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>

Sambora is featured on the track "Baby Rock Remix" from [[LL Cool J]]'s 2008 album ''Exit 13''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/30/ll-cool-j-welcomes-50-cent-richie-sambora-on-new-album-declares-it-a-summer-blockbuster/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701201121/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/06/30/ll-cool-j-welcomes-50-cent-richie-sambora-on-new-album-declares-it-a-summer-blockbuster/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 1, 2008|title=Music – New Music News, Reviews, Pictures, and Videos|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref>

Sambora made a guest appearance<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/rock-legend-bo-diddley-dies-in-florida-838753.html|title=Rock legend Bo Diddley dies in Florida|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=June 2, 2008}}</ref> on [[Bo Diddley]]'s 1996 album ''A Man Amongst Men'', playing guitar on tracks "Can I Walk You Home" and "Oops! Bo Diddley".

In 1999, Sambora was a guest vocalist on the [[Stuart Smith (musician)|Stuart Smith]] album ''Stuart Smith's Heaven & Earth'', performing a cover of the [[Deep Purple]] song "[[When a Blind Man Cries]]". Also in 1999, Sambora played the guitar solo on the track "Why Don't You Love Me" on the album ''Tuesday's Child'', by Canadian singer [[Amanda Marshall]].

In 1992 Sambora was on the soundtrack for Red Shoe Diaries with the feverish song “You Never Really Know”. Sambora sang "Long Way Around" for the 1997 [[Steven Seagal]] action film ''[[Fire Down Below (1997 film)|Fire Down Below]]''. The song, written by Seagal and [[David Pomeranz]], appears in the final scene. In a 1998 interview Sambora said his version is in the film itself but a different person's performance of the song is included on the film's soundtrack album, despite Sambora's name appearing on the album credits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjf-europe.demon.nl/chat/richieinterview.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010511090500/http://www.bjf-europe.demon.nl/chat/richieinterview.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2001 |date=October 30, 1998 |title=Interview with Richie Sambora |work=BJF-Europe |location=Dordrecht, The Netherlands |first=Arjan |last=De Jongste |access-date=November 30, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Sambora also recorded the song "One Last Goodbye" for movie ''[[The Banger Sisters]]'', and covered Jimi Hendrix's "[[The Wind Cries Mary]]" for the soundtrack of 1990 comedy ''[[The Adventures of Ford Fairlane]]''.

In 2004, [[Sanctuary Records]] released a self-titled album which had been recorded in 1978 by Shark Frenzy, documenting Sambora's first recorded material. The mix tapes had been damaged in a flood and band member Bruce Foster had remastered them for release many years later.

Sambora co-wrote several tracks and played guitar on Australian rock/pop artist [[Shannon Noll]]'s third album ''Turn It Up''. It was released in Australia in September 2007.

To coincide with his solo album ''[[Aftermath of the Lowdown]]'', Sambora and friends performed as the house band on ''[[The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson]]'' on CBS for one week (December 3–7, 2012).<ref>[http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/tvguide/article/Richie-Sambora-to-Serve-as-The-Late-Late-Show-4037384.php] {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> Several guests sang along with the band over the week, including Ferguson (singing Sugar Daddy),<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Ferguson sings Sugar Daddy (video)|website=[[CBS]]|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_late_show/video/PgKMRTXrTxuVdMwTP_n7q0MCBXFdhiJd/craig-ferguson-craig-s-rock-n-roll-dream|access-date=December 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212152848/http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_late_show/video/PgKMRTXrTxuVdMwTP_n7q0MCBXFdhiJd/craig-ferguson-craig-s-rock-n-roll-dream|archive-date=December 12, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Denis Leary]], [[Eddie Izzard]] and even [[Larry King]], who sang the Late Late Show theme song.<ref>{{cite web|title=Larry King sings Ferguson's theme song with Sambora (video)|website=[[CBS]]|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_late_show/video/0qe9Ny7Vsbv1aZrzSBVk7crSpnHJcoLs/the-late-late-show-12-5-2012|access-date=December 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210093711/http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_late_show/video/0qe9Ny7Vsbv1aZrzSBVk7crSpnHJcoLs/the-late-late-show-12-5-2012|archive-date=December 10, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Sambora competed on the fourth season of the British version of ''[[The Masked Singer (British TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' as the Jacket Potato.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Rebecca |title=The Masked Singer unveils Jacket Potato as Jon Bon Jovi legend ahead of final |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/breaking-masked-singer-unveils-jacket-29193090 |website=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=February 11, 2023 }}</ref>