Richie Kotzen

The Profile

American guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Formerly of Poison and Mr. Big, and co-founder of The Winery Dogs. Prolific solo artist blending rock, blues, soul, funk and fusion, noted for expressive vocals and fluid guitar technique.

Born 1970 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. Played on Poison’s Native Tongue (1993), joined Mr. Big (1999–2002), and formed The Winery Dogs (2012) with Billy Sheehan and Mike Portnoy. Extensive solo catalog exceeding 20 studio albums.

Reviews highlight Kotzen’s versatility as a guitarist, singer and multi-instrumentalist with a soulful edge. Peace Sign mixes funk, ballads and hard rock; Into the Black leans melodic and ballad-heavy; Change shifts toward classic American rock; Salting Earth is self-played and self-mixed, touching hard rock, soul and blues. Comparisons include Chris Cornell and Glenn Hughes.