Frank Vignola Live at the Sheldon - Set One Track 4

Starting to play guitar at the age of five, Vignola's first teacher was guitarist Jimmy George, who had been a member of Dion And The Belmonts. At the age of 12, Vignola also began playing the banjo and two years later won the Grand National Banjo Championship in Canada and recorded a banjo album. While playing guitar in rock bands in high school, he also drew inspiration from jazz records and contemporary pop sounds. From the jazz world, he listened to Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Bucky Pizzarelli, Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery, while the pop world offered him a wide choice of rock and soul guitarists including Eddie Van Halen and Eric Clapton. Bridging the gap, he had an especial liking for the playing of Al Di Meola and Pat Metheny. Vignola also studied at the Cultural Arts Center of Long Island, meanwhile playing in rock bands. Among jazz musicians with whom he played and sometimes recorded during the 80s and 90s were Ken Peplowski, Susannah McCorkle, Charlie Byrd, Max Morath, Lionel Hampton, El