I'm Darren D'Rito sometimes known as Darren Peacock. (thats small P) Did you know that the Flying D'Rito Brothers were once called The Flying Dorito Brothers in their early years?
Rumor has it that in the early 90's, the chief CEO of Frito Lay made a special visit to Bartonville to investigate any local bands that were associating themselves too closely with a Frito Lay product or dressing like water chestnuts. We often resisted the temptation of dressing like fruits or vegetables, but our affiliation with the tasty tortilla chip was too obvious and the name changed.
We became The Flying D'Rito Brothers based loosely on a fictional lost uncle of mine called Uncle Rico who thought the name too butch after the sex change therefore setting upon the name, Rita.... but with the bad eye and nasty handwriting, often looked like Rito... so there you go!
I was 28 years old when I first played with friend and co founder, Daryl D’Rito. It was 1988, and the Flying D’Rito Brothers were considered “bigger than life" enjoying fame usually only reserved for Saturday morning cartoon characters.
While other bands loaded and unloaded their equipment from town to town, the D'Ritos were always "Unavailable For Anything." The Sky Harbor World Tour consisted of one world, one gig, one venue.
Before too long, we realized that harmony must exist. I found Danny D'Rito kidnapped by a family of children in a downtown Bartonville ranch house and asked if he'd ever played bass guitar. His answer was no! I knew he was the man for the job.
Tom D'Rito came next. He came unannounced and wrapped in butcher paper as he began his college thesis on the origins of the North American Water Chestnut. We felt he was better suited to playing dobro. He was renamed Slider.
The years came and went like my first marriage, but good things never last. Danny became ill and one day had to go. We miss him very much...but his spirit is always there. Bil with one L found his way into the band just as Danny was getting weaker. Bil D’Rito gave us a new direction but the magic was still there. Ever try to not laugh around Bil? It can’t be done. Bil left town in 1999 and Tom and I carried on.
It was during this period that we met the mighty Chris D'Rito and later Tom T2 D'Rito . For a short period the D'Ritos flirted as a 5 or 6 or 12 piece band. The pay was always hard to divide, but now with 27 in the band, we owned each other from time to time!
2002 was the year Slider had to leave for California. The battle with his illness had just begun but lasted over a decade.
We miss Tom every night.
Rich and Dee D’Rito both played bass at different times and served the band with honor and glory but sometimes, things end up back at the starting
blocks.
An old college buddy and all around musical tour de faucet and sometime plummer, Marc D’Rito found his way to the drum throne and sings harmoniously!!!! Add in a pinch of seasoning and a few bay leaves and Kevin D’Rito appeared with a four string gitter box!!!!
So now, I'm much older and have been happily remarried for some 29 odd years. In my opinion, the D’Rito Brothers have never sounded better and the future of the band is secure.
Special shout out to Erich D’Rito,
Lance D’Rito and all the D’Rito cousins, Danny Light, Curt Caudill, Paul Hill and more who proudly served the band and country.
Someday when we are voted into the Folk and Roll Hall of Fame..... just as the lights come up and the applause dies down.....I'll tightly grip the microphone and proudly exclaim...... "we were fairly competent".
Good Night.
Darren D'Rito
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