Steve Vai

Steven Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960 in Carle Place, New York, USA), better known as Steve Vai is a North American guitarist and composer, notable for having received a Grammy Award (with eight nominations) and being cited as an influ

Steven Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960 in Carle Place, New York, USA), better known as Steve Vai is a North American guitarist and composer, notable for having received a Grammy Award (with eight nominations) and being cited as an influence by many guitarists from the 1980s and onwards.

When growing up, the young Vai became interested in rock giants such as Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper and Led Zeppelin which led him to take up learning the guitar. Prior to attending Berklee College of Music, Steve took guitar lessons from now fellow guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, and played in numerous local bands. It was also at this time that he became fascinated by the music of Frank Zappa. Steve mailed transcriptions of Zappa's songs to him, and after meeting Vai for the first time he was so impressed with the abilities of the young musician, Zappa hired him to do work transcribing his seemingly endless array of experimental symphonic rock.