Best Known As: Music Performer

Gist:  Richard "Richie" Stephen Sambora (born on July 11, 1959), is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer/ songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the popular rock band Bon Jovi. Along with frontman Jon Bon Jovi, he forms the primary songwriting unit of the band. He is also a solo artist, having released two solo albums; Stranger in This Town in 1991, and Undiscovered Soul in 1998.

Life Facts:  Sambora married actress Heather Locklear in Paris on December 17, 1994. Daughter Ava Elizabeth was born October 4, 1997. Locklear filed for divorce in February 2006 citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized on April 11, 2007. Just a few days later, on April 20, Sambora's father Adam died of lung cancer. Sambora briefly dated actress Denise Richards. usmagazine.com - "Denise Richards and Richie Sambora Split!

" - retrieved 15-04-2009 Sambora resides in Los Angeles and owns a home in New Jersey and a high-rise condo at Two Liberty Place in Philadelphia.

On June 7, 2007, it was announced that Sambora was entering an "undisclosed rehab facility in Los Angeles" for treatment related to alcoholism. Following his release, he told an interviewer, "I was just drinking too much and I needed to get my life together. I'm still in therapy and stuff like that, but it's good. I'm great. I feel fine." In a trailer for an upcoming Bon Jovi documentary, Sambora is seen talking about his addiction to painkillers following a 2006 shoulder injury, and how his bandmates convinced him to get help.

On March 26, 2008, Sambora was arrested for drunk driving in Laguna Beach, California. He was pulled over at 10:52pm after an officer noticed his car "weaving on the road", but was "quiet and cooperative and didn't cause any problems." Due to the fact that his young child was in the automobile, he could have potentially faced child endangerment charges. At his May 2008 arraignment, he pled no contest "to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher", was fined $390, placed on probation for three years, and was required to attend a drivers education course.

Career Facts:  Sambora married actress Heather Locklear in Paris on December 17, 1994. Daughter Ava Elizabeth was born October 4, 1997. Locklear filed for divorce in February 2006 citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized on April 11, 2007. Just a few days later, on April 20, Sambora's father Adam died of lung cancer. Sambora briefly dated actress Denise Richards. usmagazine.com - "Denise Richards and Richie Sambora Split!

" - retrieved 15-04-2009 Sambora resides in Los Angeles and owns a home in New Jersey and a high-rise condo at Two Liberty Place in Philadelphia.

On June 7, 2007, it was announced that Sambora was entering an "undisclosed rehab facility in Los Angeles" for treatment related to alcoholism. Following his release, he told an interviewer, "I was just drinking too much and I needed to get my life together. I'm still in therapy and stuff like that, but it's good. I'm great. I feel fine." In a trailer for an upcoming Bon Jovi documentary, Sambora is seen talking about his addiction to painkillers following a 2006 shoulder injury, and how his bandmates convinced him to get help.

On March 26, 2008, Sambora was arrested for drunk driving in Laguna Beach, California. He was pulled over at 10:52pm after an officer noticed his car "weaving on the road", but was "quiet and cooperative and didn't cause any problems." Due to the fact that his young child was in the automobile, he could have potentially faced child endangerment charges. At his May 2008 arraignment, he pled no contest "to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher", was fined $390, placed on probation for three years, and was required to attend a drivers education course.