Richie Sambora

Richie Sambora is a musician and songwriter best known as the longtime lead guitarist of Bon Jovi. Sambora spent his childhood in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and was raised in nearby Woodbridge Township. He played the accordion as a child and was heavily influenced by rock and blues growing up. He attended Woodbridge High School and later pursued music full-time, honing his guitar skills as a member of the band Message.

Sambora’s career took off in 1983 when he joined Bon Jovi, helping define the band’s signature sound alongside frontman Jon Bon Jovi. He cowrote many of the group’s biggest hits, including “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name.” His work with the band has earned him multiple accolades, including nine Grammy nominations and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

In addition to his work with Bon Jovi, Sambora released solo albums such as Stranger in This Town (1991) and Aftermath of the Lowdown (2012). He is widely recognized for his guitar skills, songwriting and contributions to some of rock’s most enduring anthems.

Sambora married Heather Locklear in 1994, and the pair welcomed daughter Ava (born in 1997) before divorcing in 2007. He was later linked to Denise Richards. He moved on with Orianthi from 2014 to 2018.