MIKE ZITO Source: Caller Times Date: 09/2008 Writer: Richard Guerrero Jr.

The last time Mike Zito was in Corpus Christi, he was a salesman for Fender guitars in town on business.
This time around, Zito will headline his own show at Dr. Rockit's Blues Bar on the strength of his new album for Eclecto Groove Records.

Based in St. Louis, Zito's career is firmly on the rise after years of independent releases and a formative stretch as a guitarist in cover bands.

The singer-songwriter said although the early records helped him get a feel for the process, he points to his latest album, "Today," as his first release that included all the bells and whistles.

"It's my first national release," Zito said. "The other four releases were just independent releases that I did on my own over the years. This was the first real record with a studio, musicians, producers and people who helped me make my vision come true."

Although Zito's passion for blues is evident throughout the 13-track debut, Zito taps pop and rock influences to create his own style -- one that, he acknowledges, might not always sit well with blues purists.

"We're getting lots of blues fans, and, for the most part, they've been really generous because it's not necessarily blues like what you consider blues to be," Zito said. "But we are getting some rock fans and pop fans, and that's what I'm hoping for -- to be able to cross the bridge there and kind of build our own audience with it. It is a pretty diverse record, and I think it lends itself to a diverse audience."

"Today" benefits handsomely from the experience of Zito's collaborators. They include producers David Z., whose credits include albums by Prince, Buddy Guy and Etta James, and Tony Braunagel, who also played drums on the record. In addition, Zito's band includes bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker), keyboardist Benmont Tench (Tom Petty, Johnny Cash) and percussionist Michito Sanchez (Joe Walsh, Elton John).

And while Zito's profile is still although below the radar of most music fans across America, he's poised to raise it higher with a cameo appearance in "Spring Break '83," starring John Goodman and Jamie Kennedy as well as a host of '80s-era actors.

"There's going to be a couple of my songs on the soundtrack. And if one takes off, there may be a video," he said.
Equal parts Stratocaster shredder and soulful troubadour, Zito's throaty baritone floods his first single, a subdued pop blues take on Prince's "Little Red Corvette." The single recently was released by Eclecto Groove just in time for Zito's swing through Texas and beyond.

"What's on the books for me the rest of the year is to travel in the van and play all over the country as much as possible," he said. "We're looking forward to playing in Corpus and get something going so we can come back."