Joe Bonamassa
Joseph Leonard Bonamassa (/ˌbɑːnəˈmɑːsə/ BAH-nə-MAH-sə;[2] born May 8, 1977) is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He started his career at age twelve, when he opened for B.B. King.[3] Since 2000, Bonamassa has released fifteen solo albums through his independent record label J&R Adventures, of which eleven have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues chart.[3][4]
Joe Bonamassa
Joseph Leonard Bonamassa
May 8, 1977
New Hartford, New York, U.S.
- Musician
- singer
- songwriter
- Guitar
- vocals
1989–present
- J&R Adventures
- Provogue
- Keeping the Blues Alive[1]
Bonamassa has played alongside many notable blues and rock artists,[5] and has earned three Grammy Awards nominations.[6][7] Among guitarists, he is known for his extensive collection of vintage guitars and amplifiers.[8]
In 2020, Bonamassa created Keeping the Blues Alive Records, an independent record label that promotes and supports the talent of blues musicians. Notable artists include Dion DiMucci, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Joanna Connor, and Larry McCray. Bonamassa produces and collaborates on many of the projects.[9][10]
Early life
Bonamassa was born in New Hartford, New York, and grew up in Utica, New York.[11][12] He started playing guitar at age four, encouraged by his father, who was an avid music fan and exposed him to British blues rock records by Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, greatly inspiring him. At eleven years old, Bonamassa was mentored and trained by American guitar legend Danny Gatton. When he was twelve years old, he had his own band called Smokin' Joe Bonamassa, which gigged around western New York and Pennsylvania, including cities such as Scranton and Buffalo, only on weekends since he had school on weekdays. Bonamassa played a crimson 1972 Fender Stratocaster he called "Rosie", given to him by his father.[13]
Bonamassa opened for B.B. King at approximately twenty shows in 1989.[13] Before he reached eighteen years old, Bonamassa was playing in a band called Bloodline with the sons of Miles Davis, Robby Krieger and Berry Oakley. Although Bloodline did not become a famous act, it attracted some attention to Bonamassa's guitar chops.[14]
Career
2000–2019
Bonamassa's debut studio album, A New Day Yesterday, was released in 2000. It features original tunes and covers of artists such as Rory Gallagher, Jethro Tull and Warren Haynes.[15] The album features a guest appearance by Gregg Allman on the song "If Heartaches Were Nickels", and was produced by Tom Dowd.[16] The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard Blues chart.[17]
Between 2002 and 2006, Bonamassa had three studio albums hit No. 1 on the Billboard Blues charts, and all five of his solo studio albums made the Top 10.[18] In 2009, Bonamassa fulfilled one of his childhood dreams by playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where Eric Clapton played a duet with him.[19] Bonamassa's live album, Beacon Theatre: Live from New York, was released in 2012. The show featured one of Bonamassa's musical heroes, Paul Rodgers (formerly of the bands Free and Bad Company), as a guest.[14]
The live acoustic album, An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House, was released as a CD/DVD/Blu-ray set on March 26, 2013. This concert marked the first time Bonamassa played a wholly acoustic show. The acoustic ensemble that performed the show was assembled with the help of Bonamassa's longtime producer, Kevin Shirley.[20] The concluding, three-night stand of Bonamassa's spring 2013 tour, occurred at the famous Beacon Theatre in New York City.[20] Over the summer of 2013, Bonamassa performed four shows in London featuring three different bands (and a horn section at one show), covering four different sides of his music. Each show had a unique set list. The shows were recorded for a DVD release, and the set of DVDs was released in October 2013 as "Tour de Force".[21]
Keeping the Blues Alive Records
In June 2020, Dion released Blues with Friends via Keeping the Blues Alive Records (KTBA),[61][1] a new record label created by Bonamassa and Roy Weisman for Dion and other blues musicians to showcase their talents.[62] The album features Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and others (including liner notes by Bob Dylan).[63][64][65][66] The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart (9 weeks at No. 1 and 59 weeks total),[67] and No. 4 on iTunes.[68] It also charted in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Australia.[69][70][71][72][73]
Dion also released "You Know It's Christmas" (featuring Bonamassa and co-written with Mike Aquilina) in 2020.[74][75] Dion produced a music video for all songs,[76] releasing them on his website and social media platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube.[77]
Dion's song "Blues Comin' On" (with Bonamassa) from Blues with Friends was nominated for a 2021 Blues Music Award.[78][79] The album was also awarded Favorite Blues Album.[80]
Joanne Shaw Taylor released the charting single "If That Ain't a Reason" from the No. 1 The Blues Album (2021),[81][82][83][84] and Joanna Connor released the No. 1 blues album 4801 South Indiana Avenue (2021)[85] on the label.[82]
Dion released Stomping Ground in November 2021,[86][87][88] along with music videos.[89] Except for a cover of "Red House", the songs were written by Dion and Aquilina. Multiple guest artists participated on the album, including Springsteen and Patti Scialfa on "Angels in the Alleyways",[90][91] with extensive liner notes written by Pete Townshend.[92] It became Dion's second No. 1 album on the Billboard blues chart.[93]
Larry McCray (album Blues Without You) and Robert Jon & the Wreck (single "Waiting for Your Man") are also on the KTBA label, with music released by both in 2022.[94][95]
In 2022, Joanne Shaw Taylor released Blues from the Heart: Live.[96] The single and music video for "Can't You See What You're Doing to Me" features Kenny Wayne Shepherd.[97] All projects were produced by Bonamassa.[98]
Personal life
On November 21, 2022, Bonamassa announced in a since-deleted post on Instagram that he would no longer use social media, fearing that he would "be provoked one day into saying something I might regret.” He had replied to a trolling post harshly a few days prior. He stated that future Instagram posts would not be made by him.[99] By January 2, 2023, he had returned to Instagram and stated he would check back in periodically.[100]
Solo studio albums
Solo live albums
With Black Country Communion
With Rock Candy Funk Party
With Beth Hart
With Sleep Eazys