Vai mailed Frank Zappa a transcription of Zappa's " The Black Page", an instrumental song written for drums, along with a tape with some of Vai's guitar playing. Steve Vai (on guitar in between the drum set and keyboard set), Frank Zappa and band during a concert at the Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY Vai followed those lessons by attending and graduating the Berklee College of Music, afterwards recording a promotional piece for them, speaking about auditioning for Frank Zappa, at age twenty.
He has acknowledged the influence of many guitarists including Jeff Beck and jazz fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth.
In 1974, Vai took guitar lessons from guitarist Joe Satriani, and played in numerous local bands, one that took the name, "The Steve Vais". In 1999 Vai started his own record label Favored Nations with the intent to showcase, as Vai describes: ".artists that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments." Career 1970s and 1980s Vai has been a regular touring member of the G3 Concert Tour which began in 1996. Apart from his work with Frank Zappa, Vai has also recorded and toured with numerous musical artists including Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth and Whitesnake.
The guitarist began a solo career starting in 1984 and has released 13 solo albums as of 2008.
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After starting his professional career as a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai would also record and tour in Zappa's backing band starting in 1980. Steven "Steve" Siro Vai (born Jin Carle Place, New York) is an Italian American instrumental rock guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, producer, beekeeper, and actor. Instrumental rock, hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rockÄavid Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Alcatrazz, Frank Zappa, G3, Billy Sheehan, Ozzy Osbourne