Q&A with Mike Zito

Who are your musical heroes?

Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eddie Van Halen, Lyle Lovett, Delbert McClinton, Buddy Guy … so many.

What is your greatest memory playing with one of your heroes?

I have been so fortunate to play with many of my heroes over the years. About two years ago I was performing at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago and Buddy was having a drink at the bar. In the middle of our show, the manager came over and told me that Buddy wants to get up and sing with the band. He got up and sang for a good 20 minutes, and it was amazing.

What is your favorite original song and why?

Well, that’s a tough question. Songs and albums are like children. I like some better than others depending on the day. “Gone to Texas” is probably my favorite. It’s a true story, very honest and always evolving musically after all these years.

What are you most proud of?

Almost 20 years of sobriety and 20 years of marriage to Laura.

What are you most grateful for?

My family. They have stood by my side through it all, encouraging me and my music. It’s not easy when you’re gone all the time on the road, but they see the big picture and believe in my dream.

a world of “guitar slingers.”

“Writing songs is what it’s all about,” Zito says. “If you don’t have great songs, you don’t have much.”

Mike draws strength and inspiration from a list of musical heroes, but his wife is his greatest hero. Laura was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer, rocking the couple’s world.

“She was a teacher at C.O. Wilson Middle School in Nederland and had been teaching for 24 years,” Zito says. “She retired at the end of the year to focus on her battle with cancer.”

You can follow Mike and Laura’s journey on his blog bluesmaninrecovery.com.

“The only thing I think about or dream about is my wife winning her battle,” he says. “She is a fighter and my true hero.”

— By Chrissie Mouton