"My mom had a radio on the top of her dresser and she always played it," he noted. "It's funny, because I remember when I became a musician and would drum at weddings, we'd have to play some of the old classics. Because of my mom and her radio, I would recognize the song immediately. That is probably where I got my love for music."
"Ringo Starr was my first and probably most major influence and inspiration," DeVitto said."
"He knew the tough side of Brooklyn," DeVitto said."
Liberty DeVitto was born in Brooklyn on Aug. 8, 1950 to Sicilian immigrant parents and grew up with early musical exposure through his mother's radio. He admires Ringo Starr, Buddy Rich and Motown/R&B drummers as major influences. DeVitto became Billy Joel's longtime drummer during the 1970s and 1980s, helping shape the band's iconic rhythmic feel and contributing to more than 150 million records sold. His playing emphasized deep pocket, tasteful fills and musicality over flashy technique. DeVitto experienced a decades-long tenure with Joel, an eventual breakup, and a subsequent reconciliation while maintaining strong ties to Brooklyn.
Read at Brooklyn Eagle
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