Liberatori "Liberty" DeVitto (born August 8, 1950) is an American
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
drummer
A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one mem ...
. He is best known for his work as a drummer for New York singer-songwriter
Billy Joel
William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man (song), Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo ...
's recording and touring
band
Band or BAND may refer to:
Places
*Bánd, a village in Hungary
*Band, Iran, a village in Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran
* Band, Mureș, a commune in Romania
*Band-e Majid Khan, a village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, I ...
. He has also been a
session drummer on recordings of other artists. He is credited as a drummer on records that have sold a combined total of 150 million units worldwide.
Early life and education
DeVitto was born in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, of
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
ancestry, where his father was a
police officer
A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...
at the
New York Police Department. He taught himself to play the drums after seeing
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
on their appearance on ''
The Ed Sullivan Show
''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...
'' in February 1964. He was also influenced as a teenager by rock drummer
Dino Danelli
Dino Danelli (July 23, 1944 – December 15, 2022) was an American drummer. Danelli was best known as an original member and the drummer in the rock group The Young Rascals. He has been called "one of the great unappreciated rock drummers in his ...
.
Career
DeVitto got his big break in the music business when he was hired to play drums for Billy Joel in the mid-1970s. In an online interview, DeVitto describes how Joel's classic late-1970s/early-1980s band first came together:
Billy and I used to play the same club in Plainview, Long Island
Plainview is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located near the North Shore of Long Island in the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 27,100. The Plainview post office has ...
, called "My House." He was 17 and in a band called The Hassles
The Hassles were a rock group in the 1960s, most notable for recording the first releases to feature Billy Joel. The group released two full-length albums (United Artists Records) and a number of singles.
History
The original line-up of the group ...
and I was 16 and in a band called The New Rock Workshop. We would watch each other play and acknowledge each other in passing. In 1974, he was living in Los Angeles and had already released '' Piano Man'' and ''Streetlife Serenade
''Streetlife Serenade'' is the third studio album by American recording artist Billy Joel, released on October 11, 1974 by Columbia Records.
The album peaked at No. 35 on the US album charts, eventually selling more than one million copies. ...
''. He used studio musicians for the recording and different guys out on the road. I was playing in a band called Topper with Doug Stegmeyer
Douglas Alan Stegmeyer (December 23, 1951 – August 25, 1995) was an American musician who was best known as the bassist and back-up vocalist for Billy Joel. Stegmeyer also performed as bassist for Debbie Gibson and Hall & Oates.
Biography
...
and he got the gig to play bass with Billy on the "Streetlife" tour. He told Doug that he wanted to move back to New York and find a permanent band he could record and tour with on a regular basis. Doug recommended me because Billy was looking for a New York-type drummer, aggressive and hard hitting, and the rest is history. The three of us recorded the basic tracks for ''Turnstiles
A turnstile (also called a turnpike, gateline, baffle gate, automated gate, turn gate in some regions) is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. A turnstile can be configured to enforce one-way human traffic. In addition, a ...
'' and we both recommended Russell Javors and Howie Emerson, who played guitars in Topper and with the addition of Richie Cannata
Richie Cannata (born March 3, 1949) is an American music producer, saxophonist, keyboardist and studio owner. He is most notable for playing saxophone in Billy Joel's band alongside Liberty DeVitto, Russell Javors, and Doug Stegmeyer. After leav ...
on saxophone, the " Billy Joel Band" was born.
In addition to his work with Joel, DeVitto has also been an active session musician working with other big acts such as
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
,
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...
,
Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Snow (born Phoebe Ann Laub; July 17, 1950 – April 26, 2011) was an American roots music singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for her hit 1974 and 1975 songs " San Francisco Bay Blues", " Poetry Man", "Harpo's Blues", and her credited ...
,
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer, who formed half of the sibling duo the Carpenters alongside her older brother Richard. With a distinctive three-octave contralto range, she was prais ...
,
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist.
After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasi ...
,
Rick Wakeman,
Bob James and
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is on t ...
.
After working with Joel for 30 years, DeVitto was discharged from drumming duties for the 2006 Billy Joel tour for an unknown reason. Up to that point, he had the longest running tenure in Joel's band, starting with the recording of 1976's ''
Turnstiles
A turnstile (also called a turnpike, gateline, baffle gate, automated gate, turn gate in some regions) is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. A turnstile can be configured to enforce one-way human traffic. In addition, a ...
''.
As of 2018, DeVitto uses Liberty drums, pedals & hardware,
Sabian cymbals,
Evans
Evans may refer to:
People
*Evans (surname)
*List of people with surname Evans
Places United States
*Evans Island, an island of Alaska
*Evans, Colorado
*Evans, Georgia
*Evans County, Georgia
*Evans, New York
*Evans Mills, New York
*Evans City, ...
drumheads,
Latin Percussion
{{for, the company, Latin Percussion
Latin percussion is a family of percussion, membranophone, lamellophone and idiophone instruments used in Latin music.
Instruments Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican styles Folkloric and Santeria
* Trap drums
* Abakua ...
and
Pro-Mark
Promark is a Houston, Texas-based American drum stick company. Since 2011, it is part of strings company D'Addario. Promark is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.
History
Promark w ...
drumsticks.
DeVitto appeared on the November/December 2013 cover of ''
Making Music'' magazine to discuss his life and career.
Around that time he began collaborations with Brooklyn singer-songwriter
Michael Sackler-Berner, which led to the founding of band The Slim Kings alongside bassist Andy Attanasio. The Slim Kings released two albums and multiple singles. The band toured with ZZ Top and Los Lonely Boys.
On October 23, 2014, DeVitto, Cannata, and Javors (with Stegmeyer, posthumously) were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, primarily for their work with Joel. Shortly thereafter, DeVitto, Cannata, and Javors officially formed
The Lords of 52nd Street
The Lords of 52nd Street is a rock band that primarily comprises members of the line-up which backed singer-songwriter Billy Joel from 1976 to 1981, the period during which Joel initiated a run of albums that reached the top ten on the ''Billboar ...
band; the band also includes a pianist and lead vocalist, keyboardist, and a guitarist, and plays faithful renditions of the recorded Joel originals.
Legal issues
On May 19, 2009, DeVitto filed a lawsuit in Manhattan's state Supreme Court claiming Joel and
Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...
owed him over 10 years worth of
royalty payment
A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset o ...
s. DeVitto has never been given songwriting credit on any of Joel's songs. DeVitto's lawyer added that he does not know exactly how much DeVitto is owed, and that Joel's record sales are subject to an audit.
In April 2010, it was announced that Joel and DeVitto "amicably resolved" the lawsuit
out of court
In law, a settlement is a resolution between disputing parties about a lawsuit, legal case, reached either before or after court action begins. A collective settlement is a settlement of multiple similar legal cases. The term also has other mean ...
.
Philanthropy
In 2003, DeVitto signed on as an official supporter of
Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underserved public schools throughout the United States. DeVitto has personally delivered instruments to children in the program, performed at benefit events for the cause and sits on the organization's Honorary Board of Directors.
Personal life
Liberty DeVitto is the father of four daughters, Devon (b. 1980), actress and model
Torrey (b. 1984), Maryelle (b. 1988) and Mae Elizabeth Josephine on 11 February 2017.
See also
*
Billy Joel Band
Credits
''All albums listed are Billy Joel releases unless otherwise noted.''
*1976 ''
Turnstiles
A turnstile (also called a turnpike, gateline, baffle gate, automated gate, turn gate in some regions) is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. A turnstile can be configured to enforce one-way human traffic. In addition, a ...
''
*1977 ''
The Stranger''
*1978 ''
52nd Street''
*1980 ''
Glass Houses''
*1981 ''
Dead Ringer'' –
with Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is on t ...
*1981 ''
The Burning'' –
with Rick Wakeman
*1981 ''
Songs in the Attic
''Songs in the Attic'' is the first live album by Billy Joel, released in 1981.
At the time of its release, it was the first widely available appearance of music from his first album, ''Cold Spring Harbor'', released in 1971.
History
In the lin ...
''
*1982 ''
The Nylon Curtain
''The Nylon Curtain'' is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on September 23, 1982, and produced by Phil Ramone.
''The Nylon Curtain'' peaked at on the '' Billboard'' albums chart, with two million sales ...
''
*1983 ''
An Innocent Man
''An Innocent Man'' is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on August 8, 1983. The concept album is a tribute to the American popular music of Joel's adolescent years with Joel paying homage to a number of ...
''
*1985 ''
Greatest Hits Volume I & II''
*1985 ''
Spoiled Girl
''Spoiled Girl'' is the 12th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Epic Records, in June 1985.
Recorded with a variety of producers in New York, this was Simon's only album for Epic. It was commercially unsuccessful ...
'' –
with Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...
*1986 ''
The Bridge''
*1987 ''
КОНЦЕРТ''
*1989 ''
Storm Front''
*1989 ''
Mick Jones'' –
with Mick Jones
*1993 ''
River of Dreams
''River of Dreams'' is the twelfth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on August 10, 1993. ''River of Dreams'' presented a more serious tone than found in Joel's previous albums, dealing with issues such as trust and ...
''
*1996 ''
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer, who formed half of the sibling duo the Carpenters alongside her older brother Richard. With a distinctive three-octave contralto range, she was prais ...
'' –
with Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer, who formed half of the sibling duo the Carpenters alongside her older brother Richard. With a distinctive three-octave contralto range, she was prais ...
(recorded in 1979–80)
*1997 ''
Greatest Hits Volume III''
*2001 ''Chiller Theatre'' –
John Babcock
*2007 ''Queen Anne's Revenge'' –
with Sean J. Kennedy
*2009 ''Camp Jam: Rock Solid Drums: Drums (Book/CD)'' –
co-written with Sean J. Kennedy
*2010 ''Gargoyles and Weathervanes'' –
with The White Ravens
*2011 ''Highlights from Piano Men—The Music of Elton and Billy'' –
with The Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra
*2011 ''I Used to Play Drums (Book/CD)'' –
co-written with Sean J. KennedyDrummercafe.com
/ref>
*2012 ''Fresh Socks'' – with The Slim Kings
*2017 ''Dirty Socks -'' with The Slim Kings
References
External links
Drummerworld Entry
2013 Audio interview with Liberty DeVitto from the podcast "I'd Hit That"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devitto, Liberty
1950 births
Living people
Musicians from Brooklyn
American session musicians
American rock drummers
American people of Italian descent
Philanthropists from New York (state)
20th-century American drummers
American male drummers
20th-century American male musicians
Billy Joel Band members