Richie Castellano

American guitarist, vocalist, engineer, born February 7, 1980, in Brooklyn, New York. Anne Marie Nacchio's husband. His father is John Castellano (3), who was the lead guitarist in the 1960s group, The Missing Links (9). Started singing his dad’s band at age 5. Began formal guitar lessons at age 8; was taught bass guitar by his uncle, engineer Phil Castellano, who also supplied him with hand-me-down recording equipment. Recorded his first CD, Alone In My Basement, in 1997 while in junior high school. Attended Purchase College Conservatory of Music, and earned a bachelor degree in Music Production and a master in Music Composition. Began association with Blue Öyster Cult at age 20 as front-of-house engineer. In 2004, when Blue Öyster Cult's bass player Danny Miranda left the band, Blue Öyster Cult frontman Eric Bloom asked Castellano to fill in. A few weeks later, Bloom and Buck Dharma asked him to join Blue Öyster Cult full-time.