Album Notes

RICHIE KOTZEN BIO

Touted as "one of the best guitar players in

the world, a voice on par with some of the greatest

rock/soul singers and creative songwriting, Richie

Kotzen has had an incredible journey in the world

of music. In 2006 as a solo artist, Kotzen was the

opening act for the legendary Rolling Stones A

Bigger Bang Tour in Japan.


It all started at the age of seven when Richie

learned to play the electric guitar in his hometown

of Reading, PA. He formed his first band at the age

of twelve and played live gigs around PA, Delaware

and New Jersey. When he turned eighteen he

headed West to San Francisco and recorded his first

album for Shrapnel Records. That year, Kotzen was

featured on several magazine covers including

Guitar World and was voted one of the Top 3 Best

New Guitarist's of The Year by it's readers.


After recording three albums for Shrapnel

Records, Kotzen moved to Los Angeles and just out

of his teens he joined the multi platinum glam metal

band POISON and started living the dream! He

recorded the cd Native Tongue with the band and

ventured on a world tour in support of the album.

His song Stand, reached #4 on MTV's Most Wanted

and was in the Top 20 in BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.

That record soon reached platinum status.


After POISION, Kotzen continued recording

albums on various labels including Geffen, Shrapnel

and JVC until 1999 when he was invited by jazz

legend Stanley Clarke to form the band VERTU. They

recorded a self titled album for SONY and spent the

summer in Europe playing the Montreux Jazz and

other festivals. "It was an honor and a great

experience to be in a band with Clarke and the

other members." States Richie.


Later that year Kotzen joined the immensely

popular rock band MR. BIG, who are known for their

#1 hit song To Be With You. In 1999, they played

the Osaka Dome in Japan with AEROSMITH for the

coveted Millennium Count Down.Kotzen wrote 2

studio records with MR BIG and had his first #1

single in Japan with a song called Shine.


Richie continues to make killer solo records and

tours around the world with superstar status in

several countries, playing stadiums, festivals, and

clubs. He has played with other well known

musicians like Gene Simmons from KISS, and Keanu

Reeves band DOGSTAR wherehe has made cameo

performances on stage, including Television

performances with the band on Jay Leno and Regis

and Kelly. Richie is always included in books,

magazines, and websites as one of the top

guitarist's in the world!


Kotzen is one of the few artists to be honored

by Fender Guitar with not one, but two signature

model guitars of which the Kotzen Telecaster guitar

has repeatedly been the #1 selling signature

model guitar for Fender Japan. Cornford

Amplification honored Kotzen with his own signature

series guitar amp RK100 which in 2005 was voted

AMP of The Year in the UK.


Kotzen has amassed a 30 plus album

discography and he is just getting warmed Up…

Website: www.richiekotzen.com


"Touring and making music is my life. It is all I

have ever done. I am very grateful to all the people

around the world who have made that possible"

Richie humbly says.


Richie resides in Los Angeles and enjoys

spending time with his daughter August. His

hobbies include basketball and playing poker. At

times you might catch him jamming with other music

superstars.