Beth Hart facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beth Hart
Beth Hart in 2022
Background information
Born	(1972-01-24) January 24, 1972 (age 53) Los Angeles, California, US
Genres	Blues rock jazz fusion soul
Occupation(s)	Musician singer composer
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar bass guitar cello percussion
Labels	143 Lava Atlantic Koch Provogue

Beth Hart (born January 24, 1972) is an American musician from Los Angeles, California. She became well-known with her 1999 song "LA Song (Out of This Town)". This song was a number one hit in New Zealand. It also reached the top 5 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. The song was also in the top 10 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 charts.

Beth Hart has worked with guitarist Joe Bonamassa many times. Their first album together was Don't Explain (2011). They later released Seesaw (2013), which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Their live album Live in Amsterdam (2014) was very popular. It reached the top of the Billboard Blues Album Chart. Beth Hart has had six albums reach number one on this chart. Their most recent album together is Black Coffee (2018).

Hart has also had two number one songs in Denmark: "As Good as It Gets" and "Learning to Live". Her album Leave the Light On sold over two million copies, earning a double platinum award. Her most recent album, A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (2022), features her singing songs by the famous band Led Zeppelin.

Early Life and Musical Start

Beth Hart was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California. She started playing the piano when she was just four years old. At first, she focused on classical music by composers like Bach and Beethoven. As she got older, she also started playing songs by artists such as Etta James, Otis Redding, and Led Zeppelin.

When she was in 10th grade, Hart attended the High School for the Performing Arts. She studied vocals and cello there. A classmate encouraged her to sing at "open mic nights" at a place called the Comedy Store. These were nights where anyone could get on stage and perform.

Music Career Highlights

Early Music and First Albums (1987–1998)

Beth Hart began performing in clubs in Hollywood when she was 15. She formed a band called Beth Hart and the Ocean of Souls. They recorded an album in 1993. This album included songs like "Am I the One" and a cover of The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".

Her first official album with the Beth Hart Band, Immortal, came out in 1996. It featured the song "God Bless You". "Am I the One" from the earlier recording was also on this album. After touring for this record, including playing at Lollapalooza in 1996, the Beth Hart Band broke up.

In 1993, Beth Hart appeared on a TV show called Star Search. She won the Female Vocalist competition. Even though she won, she said it was hard to get a record deal right away.

Becoming Well-Known (1999–2009)

Hart's second solo album, Screamin' for My Supper, was released in 1999. This album had the hit song "LA Song (Out of This Town)". This song became number one in New Zealand. It also reached the top 10 on US music charts. The song was even played on an episode of the TV show Beverly Hills, 90210. Around this time, Hart also played the main role in Love, Janis. This was a musical based on letters written by the singer Janis Joplin.

Her album became very popular in Europe. The song "Learning to Live" reached number one in Denmark. The album sold over two million copies there. "Learning to Live" was also used as the theme song for a TV show called Losing It with Jillian. In 2003, she sang backing vocals for the band Deep Purple on their song "Haunted". She was the only musician to do this for them.

In 2005, Hart released her first live album, Live at Paradiso. It was recorded in a former church in Amsterdam. This album was available as both a CD and a DVD. It included her own songs and a cover of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. Hart also sang on the song "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" for Toots Thielemans' album One More For the Road in 2006.

Hart's fourth solo album, 37 Days, came out in Europe in 2007. It also became a DVD. This album reached number one in Denmark and stayed there for two weeks. It was her first album to top a national chart and earned a Gold award in Denmark. This album helped her become even more successful in Europe.

Working Independently and with Joe Bonamassa (2010–2014)

Her fifth solo album, My California, was released in 2010. It was her first album with Provogue Records. A song from this album, also called "My California", was used in the final episode of season 6 of the TV show Californication. In 2012, her song "Take It Easy on Me" was used in the TV drama Waterloo Road. She also released a short album called Introducing Beth Hart in 2012.

During this time, Hart worked with other famous musicians. She sang on "Mother Maria" for Slash's 2010 solo album. She also sang on the song "It Hurts" with rapper Born in 2012. In 2012, she performed with guitarist Jeff Beck at the Kennedy Center Opera House. They sang "I'd Rather Go Blind" as a tribute to Buddy Guy. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama gave them a standing ovation. This led to Beth Hart recording the song "What You Gonna Do About Me" with Buddy Guy for his album Rhythm & Blues.

In 2011, Beth Hart teamed up with blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa. They released their first album together, Don't Explain. This album featured classic blues and soul songs. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and earned a gold award in the Netherlands. She also sang on Bonamassa's song "No Love on the Street" from his album Dust Bowl.

The next year, Hart's album Bang Bang Boom Boom became one of her most successful. It appeared on music charts in at least 10 countries. It was also her first album to chart on the Billboard Blues Album Chart, reaching number 3. She worked with producer Kevin Shirley on this album, who also worked on Don't Explain.

In 2013, Hart and Bonamassa released another album, Seesaw, also produced by Kevin Shirley. This album reached number 8 on the Billboard Top Independent Album Chart. In 2014, Seesaw was nominated for a Grammy Award. Beth Hart was also nominated for a Blues Music Award as Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist. This album reached her highest position ever on the Billboard 200 chart, making it into the top 50.

Hart's second live album and DVD, Live in Amsterdam, was also recorded in Amsterdam. This time, it was at the Royal Carré Theatre. Hart and Bonamassa performed five shows in Europe, including two at the Carré Theatre. In 2014, she performed with Jeff Beck again during his tour in Australia.

New Albums and Continued Success (2015–Present)

Hart's seventh solo album, Better Than Home, was released in 2015. The making of this album was challenging for Hart. The lead song, "Mechanical Heart", reached number one on the "iTunes Blues" song list. The album also reached number one in the Netherlands and on the Billboard Blues Charts in the US. It also charted well in Germany and the UK. In 2016, Hart and Jeff Beck released the song "Tell Her You Belong To Me". They had performed it live on a TV show. Mojo magazine named Better Than Home the fourth best blues album of 2015.

Hart released her eighth album, Fire on the Floor, in 2016. She wrote most of the songs herself. The title track was released first, followed by "Love Is a Lie".

In 2018, Hart and Bonamassa released Black Coffee. This album reached number one on the Billboard Blues Chart. It also made it into the top 100 albums in the Netherlands.

On November 30, 2018, Hart released a live concert recording called Live at the Royal Albert Hall. This was released as both a video and a live album. The recordings were from her performance at the famous Royal Albert Hall in May 2018.

Hart's ninth solo album, War in My Mind, came out in 2019. This album became her highest-charting solo album in several European countries. It reached the top 20 in the UK and the top 10 in Germany.

In 2021, Hart started hinting at new music. On November 12, she announced her tenth solo album, A Tribute to Led Zeppelin. She also released the first song from it, a cover of "Good Times Bad Times". The album was released in February 2022. It debuted at number one in the Netherlands. It also became her highest-charting solo album in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Her latest album, You Still Got Me, was released in 2024.

Her Unique Musical Style

Beth Hart is known for her powerful and expressive singing voice. People describe her vocals as "visceral" (meaning very strong and emotional), "gritty," "soaring," and "dynamic." She can sing with a deep, rich voice called a contralto. Besides singing, Hart also plays the piano, guitar, cello, bass guitar, and percussion instruments.

Joe Bonamassa, who has worked with her often, once said about her performance: "I was totally amazed by Beth. She's like the new Janis Joplin or Tina Turner – she's the real deal!"

Famous pop singer Miley Cyrus has also said that Beth Hart is one of her favorite singers of all time. In 2013, Miley told Billboard magazine that Beth Hart "has one of the best voices, I feel like, of all time."

Personal Life

Beth Hart lives in the Silver Lake District of Los Angeles. She has been married to her road manager, Scott Guetzkow, since March 15, 2001. David Wolff has been her manager since 1994.

Awards and Nominations

Beth Hart has received many awards and nominations for her music. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, her album Seesaw was nominated for Best Blues Album. She has been nominated for a Blues Music Award for six years in a row. In 2018, she won the "Instrumentalist - Vocals" category at the Blues Music Awards.

Discography

• Beth Hart and the Ocean of Souls (1993)
• Immortal (1996)
• Screamin' for My Supper (1999)
• Leave the Light On (2003)
• 37 Days (2007)
• My California (2010)
• Don't Explain with Joe Bonamassa (2011)
• Bang Bang Boom Boom (2012)
• Seesaw with Joe Bonamassa (2013)
• Better Than Home (2015)
• Fire on the Floor (2016)
• Black Coffee with Joe Bonamassa (2018)
• War in My Mind (2019)
• A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (2022)
• You Still Got Me (2024)

See also

In Spanish: Beth Hart para niños