In a career spanning more than 50 years, Zito has experienced success as a prolific session musician, being featured on a wide array of other artists' recordings, including work with Joe Cocker, White Lion, Poison, Mr. Big, Neil Sedaka, Yvonne Elliman, Charlie Sexton, Eric Carmen, Art Garfunkel, Leo Sayer, Diana Ross, Marc Tanner, Elton John, Cher, The Motels, as well as The Cult, Eddie Money, Heart, Juliet Simms, Bad English and Prism.
[citation needed] Zito also co-composed the score for the 1986 Japanese anime film Project A-ko with Joey Carbone.
Zito's production style was retrospectively described as "panoramic and cosmic" by Doug Stone of AllMusic regarding his work with Cheap Trick on their 1988 album Lap of Luxury.
Zito then began working closely with producer Giorgio Moroder, playing on some of the most successful movie soundtracks of the era.
He also played guitar on songs for other artists' albums including Berlin's Take My Breath Away, Irene Cara's Flashdance... What a Feeling, and Glenn Frey's The Heat Is On during this period.