Mike Zito began taking guitar lessons at the age of five and was an integral part of the local music scene in St. Louis by the end of his teenage years. Mike initially released his first records, such as “America's Most Wanted” and “Slow It Down,” independently. In 2008, he finally signed a record deal with Eclecto Groove Records. The title track of his 2009 album “Pearl River” won the 2010 Blues Music Award in the “Song of the Year” category. His third album with Eclecto Groove, “Greyhound,” was nominated for “Best Blues Rock Album” at the 2011 Blues Music Awards. In the same year, Mike Zito founded the band Royal Southern Brotherhood (three studio albums, one live album) together with Cyril Neville, a legend from the band The Meters, and Devon Allman. Zito and Devon Allman, the son of Gregg Allman and his first wife Shelley Kay Jefts, knew each other from their time together in St. Louis, where Devon ran a guitar shop in the suburbs and the two jammed together. In 2013, Zito's album Gone to Texas was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the US; his albums Make Blues Not War (2016) and First Class Life (2018) both reached number one on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart. Zito founded the Gulf Coast Records label with Guy Hale. His albums continued to chart and win awards. He formed the Blood Brothers with New York blues rocker Albert Castiglia. The album “Life Is Hard” (2024) again reached number one on the charts, and their joint tours continued the success story. In October 2024, Mike Zito performed at the Rockpalast as part of the Crossroads Festival, together with Doug Bykirt (bass, backing vocals) and Matt Johnson (drums, backing vocals). Here, too, the band presented the honest, powerful, and sensitive blues rock of their frontman Zito, shaped by his life experiences. This is someone who knows what he's singing about when it comes to the abysses and hardships that the world can confront people with.
1.1. Mississippi Nights
1.2. I'll Make Love To You
1.3. Blues For The Southside
1.4. Wasted Time
1.5. Life Is Hard
1.6. Don't Bring Me Down
1.7. Forever My Love
2.1. Natural Born Lover
2.2. Dying Day
2.3. Darkness
2.4. Back Problems
2.5. Judgement Day
2.6. All Last Night
3.1. Mississippi Nights
3.2. I'll Make Love To You
3.3. Blues For The Southside
3.4. Wasted Time
3.5. Life Is Hard
3.6. Don't Bring Me Down
3.7. Forever My Love
3.8. Natural Born Lover
3.9. Dying Day
3.10. Darkness
3.11. Back Problems
3.12. Judgement Day
3.13. All Last Night
3.14. Interview