Fellow second generation Italian rhythm section member, Rico, also arrived in this world at the Vale Of Evesham on a chilly 17th February 1955. He grew up to attend Evesham High School where he delighted his parents by gaining eight O level GCE's and going on for A level Art and English before winning a University place to take a five year course in Landscape Architecture.

After two years of the Landscape Architecture course, however, Rico bought his first bass guitar ( a Fender Precision ) with his next year's grant money and much to his parents lack of delight was booted out of college early.

Not what it sounds like!
Stuck with having to support himself Rico worked for a while in a chicken hatchery where one of his jobs was to sex chickens (not what it sounds like). Soon after he worked for a couple of years in a local sausage factory.

He joined his first band when he answered an advertisement in the Melody Maker for bass players. He went along to the auditions with about 100 other young hopefuls, not even knowing which band he was to audition for. He soon found that it was The Eric Bell Band. Eric, who had been a founder member of Thin Lizzy, was now going it alone and needed a band. Rico was called back for a second audition and was chosen for the gig. He spent three and a half years in this band touring the U.K. and Europe. They opened on tours for Slade and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, before gigs dried up and Eric went back to Ireland to play in a showband.

Opening for Roy Orbison
Whilst the Eric Bell Band was drawing to a close Rico had also started playing in Raymond Froggatt's band. Joining at the same time as Phil Capaldi, Rico's association with his current rhythm section pal was now forming. The Froggatt band toured the U.K. and Europe and backed visiting U.S. country acts such as Ronnie Prophet, Don Gibson, Wanda Jackson, The Nashville Super Pickers, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Vernon Oxford and Billy Walker. They also toured as opening act for Roy Orbison, Hoyt Axton and Don Williams as well as playing on three series of "Sing Country" for BBC2 TV.

The Bruvvers elect then joined Carrie Duncan playing country rock, played for fun with local Evesham band Broken Spur and also had a spell as the rhythm section for Rose Marie.

Professionally, Rico parted company with Phil for a while in 1989 when invited by Mike D'Abo to join Mike D'Abo and The Mighty Quintet. John Taylor had asked Phil whether Rico wanted to be part of The Bruvvers when Neil & Phil had become full time, but it was another two years in 1993 before they eventually got their man.

Career highlights
As career highlights, Rico lists his first show with Eric Bell. Although not normally nervous when going onstage, his first ever professional show was at a packed Hammersmith Odeon. As the band walked onstage there was a massive surge forward in the audience and Rico became so nervous that he could not even push his jack plug into the amplifier and had to be helped by a road manager to do it. Fortunately his panic soon passed and has never re-appeared. He also lists stepping onto the stage with Joe at The Royal Albert Hall ( this time without the panic attack ) and his first TV show with Raymond Froggatt.