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Liberty De Vitto
...born in Brooklyn, New York, on August
8, 1950, second generation Italian, life began in a one room furnished
apartment. Liberty’s mom would empty a dresser drawer, line it with a
baby blanket, and that became Liberty’s bed. His Mom said it was the
radio on top of the dresser, which she kept on all the time, that gave
Liberty his love for music
In 1968, the same year he graduated from
high school, after constant practice, (playing to records - Liberty
never took lessons) and playing in local bands, he received a phone call
from a guy that said he was Mitch Ryder’s tour manager. He said Mitch’s
drummer was very sick and they needed someone to fill in. Liberty said,
“When?” They said “Tonight.” Next thing he knew he was on stage with
Mitch, taking cues from the sax player. They did "Jenny Takes a Ride",
"Devil with a Blue Dress", "Sock it to Me Baby", and others. That tour
lasted for 6 weeks, playing up and down the East Coast. |
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Right after Mitch Ryder, Liberty got
a gig with Long Island alumni, Richie Supa, and had his first
recording experience. The album "Supa's Jamboree" was recorded
in Atlanta, 1969-70, and was produced by Buddy Buie of the
Classics 4 and Atlanta Rhythm Section Fame. The album was
released on Paramount Records and a tour immediately followed.
The band sometimes opened for groups like the James Gang and
Grand Funk Railroad. One night after a Grand Funk gig, Liberty
was driving the equipment van from Cleveland, Ohio, back home to
Long Island. The van hit some black ice and flipped off the side
of the road, rolling four times. Liberty had sustained serious
injures, which brought him a year of not playing. Then one day,
a friend, who was playing weddings at a catering hall, asked if
Liberty would sit in for him. Liberty said, “He lent me his tux
and the gig lasted two and a half years!” During those years the
group Topper was formed. The band consisted of Liberty on drums,
Doug Stegmeyer on bass, Russell Javors on guitar and vocals,
Howie Emerson on guitar, slide guitar and dobro. The band had a
sound of it’s own, with all original material. A club owner once
called Topper, “the worst band to ever play his club.” Topper,
with the addition of sax player Richie Cannata, eventually
became Billy Joel’s band.
Twenty-seven years later?
musicians come and go, Liberty is still with Billy Joel and the
rest is history. Liberty's new love is that of his band The Funk
Club. Comprised of local musicians in Orlando, Florida, such as
Kyle Henderson (vocals), Tommy Calton (guitar), and Larry Jacoby
(bass), The Funk Club brings a funk and groove element to some
great classic rock music.
2006: The 2006 Billy Joel tour is
the first known tour to not include DeVitto on drums since his
inclusion in Billy Joel's band in the 1970s. Prior to that
point, he had the longest running tenure in Joel's band.....
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