MIKE ZITO Source: Press Telegram Date: 09/2008 Writer: Phillip Zonkel

Zito Takes Spin in “Corvette”

Mike Zito grinds out a hefty serving of rock-blues guitar work on his new CD, "Today." But one of the disc's most popular tracks is his cover of Prince's "Little Red Corvette."

The 37-year-old Southeast Texas-based musician says he's a huge Prince fan and has been playing his acoustic version for 15 years. "I'm trying to strip it down to the words and the melody," Zito says.

He doesn't know if Prince has heard it, but in the meantime, Zito has another fan. "My mother-in-law likes it," Zito says. "When I told her Prince originally recorded it, she didn't know who he was. She says, 'That song is beautiful.' "

Audiences can hear Zito's version live Friday when he performs at The Cellar in downtown Long Beach.

Though he calls Texas home, Zito grew up in St. Louis. He started singing at age 5. Three years later, after receiving Van Halen's self-titled debut album, Zito fell in love with his instrument of choice, the electric guitar.

Soon thereafter he got his first electric guitar, though he says neither he nor anyone in his family knew how to play it. It wasn't until he attended high school, he says, that he learned how to strum.

Zito ultimately immersed himself in the St. Louis music scene and released his debut independent album, "Blue Room," in 1996. Three years later, Zito released "America's Most Wanted."

Not only was Zito performing a regular dose of six nights a week in his hometown, but he also was touring outside the region. Unable to cope with the constant pressure and stress, Zito says, he started drinking heavily and also turned to drugs for solace. He slid downhill fast, he says.

"It caused a lot of turmoil. I wasn't focused. The focus was on partying and having a good time and wanting to be a rock star," Zito says.

He got divorced twice.

"It got so bad, I couldn't play music anymore. At one point, I was semi-homeless, roaming the land with no work and no money. It was full-blown addiction," he says.

Eventually, Zito moved to Texas, got married for the third time, entered a rehab program and got clean, he says.
With a clean slate and new experiences influencing his songwriting, Zito released "Slow It Down" in 2004, followed two years later by "Superman." In 2007, Zito signed a deal with Eclecto Groove Records, which released "Today."

Technically, the CD is Zito's fifth, but it's his first national release, produced by Grammy Award-winning producers Tony Braunagel (Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt) and David Z. (Prince, Etta James, Jonny Lang).

Zito selected his favorite tracks from his previous albums and rerecorded them. He says delivering "Today" is the latest milestone in his career and personal life since being clean and sober."In the last five years, all my dreams have come true," Zito says. "I have a record deal. I play and sing better than ever. And I get to live indoors."