Vinnie Vincent
Vinnie Vincent (born Vincent John Cusano; August 6, 1952) is an American guitarist and songwriter. He is a former member of the rock band Kiss from 1982 until mid-1984 during the band's transition out of their 1973-1983 makeup period. Vincent was the last member to wear a unique makeup/costume configuration, as the character of "The Ankh Warrior" (a design created by Paul Stanley) until he and the band were first shown without the makeup during an interview on MTV in September 1983. He also was the leader of his own band, Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
Early life
Vincent John Cusano was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Theresa "Terri" (Farraro) and Alfonso Cusano, musicians. He picked up the guitar at an early age and was inspired by bluegrass and rock and roll. In 1980, Vincent moved to Los Angeles, California where he became a staff songwriter for the television series Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi. Many of the series songs were written on Vincent's acoustic guitar while sitting at the Cunninghams' kitchen table on the Happy Days set, during off-time from the show's rehearsal schedule. Vincent has said the times of working at the Paramount lot were genuinely "happy days". According to the site "Kiss Related Recordings", Vincent has played with Dan Hartman as well as the bands Hunter, Warrior, Hitchhikers and Heat going as far back as 1970. Prior to his tenure in Kiss, Vincent appeared as guitarist on former Young Rascal Felix Cavaliere's project, a group called Treasure in 1977.
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Famous quotes by Vinnie Vincent:
