Steve Vai - Songwriters, Timeline and Family
Steve Vai's Personal Details
Steve Vai is a Grammy Award winning guitarist who has sold over 15 million albums worldwide
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | June 6, 1960 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Berklee College Of Music, Musicians, Guitarists, Songwriters |
| Spouses | Pia Maiocco (m. 1988) |
| Siblings | Michael Vai |
| Known as | Steven Siro Vai |
| Childrens | Fire Vai, Julian Angel Vai |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Carle Place, New York, United States |
| Height | 183 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | John Vai |
| Mother | Theresa Vai |
| Net Worth | $14 million as of January 3,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Born in | Carle Place, New York, United States |
| Famous as | Guitarist, Songwriter |
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Steve Vai's photo
Who is Steve Vai?
Steven Siro Vai is a three time Grammy Award winning guitarist and songwriter best known for his soulful music that explores the depth of human emotions.The guitar virtuoso’s expertise in music is so vast that his music can never be categorized into any specific genre. His deep love for music motivates him to create unique sounds that are not just technically faultless but also appealing to the human emotions. Steve has never tried to imitate anyone nor does he aim to be better than any other musician—he only aims to give his best to music and create music that provides him artistic and spiritual fulfillment. His interest in music began early on in his childhood and he started receiving guitar lessons from the famed guitarist Joe Satriani as a teenager. He cites his major influences to be Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Brian May, and Jeff Beck. He sent a transcription of ‘The Black Page’, an instrumental for drums, to the legendary musician Frank Zappa. Impressed by the young man’s talents, Zappa made him a member of his band. After working with Zappa for a couple of years, he left to pursue a solo career. His debut album ‘Flex-Able’ was a major hit and paved the way for a successful career as a musician.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born on June 6, 1960, in Carle Place, New York as one of the five children to John and Theresa Vai.
He loved music from a young age and started playing the organ when he was barely six. By the time he was ten he was playing the accordion too. He picked up the guitar when he was 13. He was determined to play the instrument like Jimmy Page and therefore started taking lessons from the noted guitarist, Joe Satriani.
As a teenager he performed with several bands and also started coaching other aspiring musicians. He attended Berklee College of Music and recorded a promotional piece for them.
Career
He made a transcription of Frank Zappa’s ‘The Black Page’ and sent it to him along with a tape of his guitar recording. Zappa was impressed by the talented young man and hired him to transcribe his guitar solos in 1979.
Vai also did overdubs on many guitar parts on Zappa’s album, ‘You Are What You Is’. He was made a full fledged member of Zappa’s band and toured with him in 1980.
He worked with Zappa for two years during which he toured extensively. Zappa referred to him as his “little Italian virtuoso”. He was a featured artist on the recording, ‘Zappa’s Universe’.
He left Zappa in 1982 and moved to California. He released his debut solo album ‘Flex-Able’ in 1984. The album was greatly influenced by Zappa. It was a moderate success.
In 1985 he joined Billy Sheehan and David Lee Roth’s band Eat’em and Smile. It featured Roth on vocals, Sheehan on bass and Vai on guitar, and Gregg Bissonette on drums. The group’s debut album, ‘Eat’em and Smile’ was a big hit.
The group embarked on a world tour that began in May 1986 and continued through 1987. The tour was highly successful. The band, however, disbanded soon after due to creative differences between the members.
He joined the band Whitesnake in 1989. He played all the guitar parts in the album, ‘Slip of the Tongue’. He also played for other bands at this time.
His solo album, ‘Passion and Warfare’ was released in 1990. The album was critically appreciated and spawned the tracks ‘For the Love of God’, ‘I Would Love To’, and ‘The Animal’.
In 1996, his album, ‘Fire Garden’ was released. The album was divided into two phases - one phase containing primarily instrumental music while the other one had vocals by Vai on most of the songs.
The 1999 album, ‘The Ultra Zone’ pays tribute to two legendary guitarists - Frank Zappa and Stevie Ray Vaughan. This album too, like its predecessor had one side full of instrumental music and another with vocals.
His concept album, ‘Real Illusions: Reflections’ was out in 2005. It had the tracks ‘Lotus Feet’, ‘Dying for Your Love’, and ‘Building the Church’.
His most recent album is ‘The Story of Light’ which was released in 2012. This was his first full length album after 2005.
Major Works
His Gold-certified album, ‘Passion and Warfare’, contained his best known song, ‘For the Love of God’ which he had recorded after fasting for four days. The album was based on a series of dreams that Vai had when he was younger.
Awards & Achievements
He is the recipient of three Grammy Awards, the most recent one being for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for ‘Peaches En Regalia’ in 2008.
Personal Life & Legacy
He is married to Pia Maiocco, a bassist. They have two children
This famous guitarist is a beekeeper and sells his honey for his Make a Noise Foundation.
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Steve Vai's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1983 - Grammy Awards for solo albums | |
| 0 | 1994 - Grammy Award for for his performance | |
Steve Vai biography timelines
- // 6th Jun 1960He was born on June 6, 1960, in Carle Place, New York as one of the five children to John and Theresa Vai.
- // 1979He made a transcription of Frank Zappa’s ‘The Black Page’ and sent it to him along with a tape of his guitar recording. Zappa was impressed by the talented young man and hired him to transcribe his guitar solos in 1979.
- // 1980Vai also did overdubs on many guitar parts on Zappa’s album, ‘You Are What You Is’. He was made a full fledged member of Zappa’s band and toured with him in 1980.
- // 1982He left Zappa in 1982 and moved to California. He released his debut solo album ‘Flex-Able’ in 1984. The album was greatly influenced by Zappa. It was a moderate success.
- // 1985In 1985 he joined Billy Sheehan and David Lee Roth’s band Eat’em and Smile. It featured Roth on vocals, Sheehan on bass and Vai on guitar, and Gregg Bissonette on drums. The group’s debut album, ‘Eat’em and Smile’ was a big hit.
- // 1986The group embarked on a world tour that began in May 1986 and continued through 1987. The tour was highly successful. The band, however, disbanded soon after due to creative differences between the members.
- // 1989He joined the band Whitesnake in 1989. He played all the guitar parts in the album, ‘Slip of the Tongue’. He also played for other bands at this time.
- // 1990His solo album, ‘Passion and Warfare’ was released in 1990. The album was critically appreciated and spawned the tracks ‘For the Love of God’, ‘I Would Love To’, and ‘The Animal’.
- // 1996In 1996, his album, ‘Fire Garden’ was released. The album was divided into two phases - one phase containing primarily instrumental music while the other one had vocals by Vai on most of the songs.
- // 1999The 1999 album, ‘The Ultra Zone’ pays tribute to two legendary guitarists - Frank Zappa and Stevie Ray Vaughan. This album too, like its predecessor had one side full of instrumental music and another with vocals.
- // 2005His concept album, ‘Real Illusions: Reflections’ was out in 2005. It had the tracks ‘Lotus Feet’, ‘Dying for Your Love’, and ‘Building the Church’.
- // 2008He is the recipient of three Grammy Awards, the most recent one being for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for ‘Peaches En Regalia’ in 2008.
- // 2012His most recent album is ‘The Story of Light’ which was released in 2012. This was his first full length album after 2005.
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Steve Vai's FAQ
What is Steve Vai birthday?
Steve Vai was born at 1960-06-06
Where is Steve Vai's birth place?
Steve Vai was born in Carle Place, New York, United States
What is Steve Vai nationalities?
Steve Vai's nationalities is American
Who is Steve Vai spouses?
Steve Vai's spouses is Pia Maiocco (m. 1988)
Who is Steve Vai siblings?
Steve Vai's siblings is Michael Vai
Who is Steve Vai childrens?
Steve Vai's childrens is Fire Vai, Julian Angel Vai
What was Steve Vai universities?
Steve Vai studied at Berklee College Of Music, Berklee College of Music
What was Steve Vai notable alumnis?
Steve Vai's notable alumnis is Berklee College Of Music
How tall is Steve Vai?
Steve Vai's height is 183
Who is Steve Vai's father?
Steve Vai's father is John Vai
Who is Steve Vai's mother?
Steve Vai's mother is Theresa Vai
What is Steve Vai's sun sign?
Steve Vai is Gemini
How famous is Steve Vai?
Steve Vai is famouse as Guitarist, Songwriter