We had a great midwest tour these past few weeks and it really hit home how
lucky I am to be playing music and having all these folks coming out to see me and the band.
The guys in the band have been working hard all year and it's paying off with a big sound and a lot of fun. But it's mostly because of the fans and friends who come out and support us.
I remember meeting Tab Benoit when I opened for him in 1998 at the Broadway Oyster Bar in St. Louis, Mo. I had been listening to his records and I wanted to do what he was doing so bad.
I had my cd released "Blue Room" and was playing gigs with the guys in the band all around the area. I walked up to Tab and said "Man, I want to do what you're doing. How do I do it? How do I get to do what you're doing? Please tell me...." He took a sip of his drink and looked at me and said
"Looks like you're already doing it to me."
He was right, I just didn't know it cause it was right in front of me. I was playing every night, playing my music and the music I wanted to play, selling my cd off the stage.
Then he told me the most important thing...."Just get out there man. Get out on the road. It takes about 20 years from what I can see. It's the 20 year plan. You get out there and tour for the next 20 years and don't stop and people will know who you are and you get to keep playing guitar."
That made sense to me, it still does.
I knew I was never gonna just become "famous", I wasn't going to suddenly have fame and fortune
and that has never been my motivator. I want to play my guitar, just like he said.
I came from a working class family and I wanted to work, I just wanted to work holding my guitar.
Thats all that mattered to me. So I had faith that this man was telling me the truth.
It was working for him, it could work for me.
Faith without works is dead. You can't just believe, you have to do the work in front of you.
I do not believe God to be a carnival show or magician that does tricks at my whim.
I also do not believe that God has any concern or care if I am a musician or a doctor or a custodian.
That does not matter, it's how I treat other people that matters. I am the one who wants to play
the guitar, God wants me to love and care for others. I have learned that if I do the work, if I show
up and talk to the people, share love with the people, listen to the people, give myself to the people
.......I get my reward, I get to play my guitar.
I played a lot of shows over the years. Many shows to empty rooms and small bars, but I played nonetheless. Just like many of you have gone to work and it was just ok that day, it was just the work, but you continue to go to work and do your job. Thats what I have learned to do with my music. Do the job, go to work, show up. All along I have had faith that it would pay off.
All along I have had my guitar in my hands, day in, day out.
Nothing has changed over the past 20 years. Except that more people come out and it's way more fun
when you are all there. If you are not there, then we are just practicing for when you arrive.
I am so thankful for all of you. This is my dream come true. What a wonderful life to be the one to
entertain you for a few hours a night. I promise I will continue to work hard, to get better,
and to do the work.
I know that we are all made in the image of of God, and that image is Love.
Not what we look like, but what we are on the inside, pure love.
Love is the energy of the Universe.
Thanks for bringing the energy this year!
We will bring the Joy in 2018
Peace, Love, Zito
