allboutguitar

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Zito was immersed in the gritty sounds of the south side that would unknowingly become the groundwork of his future in music. Like the legends before him, music has coursed through his veins from the early age of five, when he began singing and performing. It didn't take long for him to discover his instrument of choice, electric guitar, after receiving a Van Halen record for his birthday. His education and journey were just starting - little did he know he would find himself among such legends at a local guitar shop just out of high school.

Albuquerque, New Mexico native RYAN McGARVEY was named Guitar Center's "Guitarmaggeddon: Next King Of The Blues" champion of New Mexico in 2006. In 2007 & 2008 he was named "Blues Act Of The Year" in The Weekly Alibi's Annual Readers Poll. In 2007 Ryan took home the New Mexico Music Award for "Blues Song Of The Year" for his song "Cryin' Over You", and was nominated for "Mainstream Rock Song Of The Year" for his song "The One That Got Away". Most recently Ryan was named one of very few guitar players to impress the editors of Guitar Player Magazine at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.

Read more about Ryan McGarvey on Last.fm.

Jeff Loomis was the lead guitarist for the ground breaking metal band Nevermore. A player of many influences and styles, Loomis is often seen as one of the world's most talented and gifted metal guitarists. In 2008, he released a solo album entitled 'Zero Order Phase' (Century Media), featuring special guest appearances by fellow guitarists Ron Jarzombek and Pat O'Brien, legendary jazz bassist Michael Manring, and OFZ producer Neil Kernon.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band is a multicultural American blues and funk band composed of Robert Randolph, Marcus Randolph (drums), Danyel Morgan (bass), and Jason Crosby (organ). Frontman Robert Randolph was trained as a pedal steel guitarist in the House of God Church, Keith Dominion, in Nashville, TN and makes prominent use of the instrument in the band's music. The group's sound is inspired by successful 1970s funk bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone, another multicultural band comprised of former members of the Church of God in Christ.