Joe Bonamassa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Bonamassa
Bonamassa performing in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Leonard Bonamassa
Born	(1977-05-08) May 8, 1977 (age 48) New Hartford, New York, U.S.
Genres	Blues rock hard rock
Occupations	Musician singer songwriter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1989–present
Labels	J&R Adventures Provogue Keeping the Blues Alive

Joseph Leonard Bonamassa (born May 8, 1977) is an American blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He started his music journey at just twelve years old. He even opened shows for the legendary B.B. King.

Since the year 2000, Joe Bonamassa has released many solo albums. Most of these albums have reached the top of the Billboard Blues chart. He has also played with many famous blues and rock artists. Joe has received three nominations for the Grammy Awards. He is also known for having a huge collection of old, special guitars and amplifiers.

In 2020, Bonamassa started his own record label called Keeping the Blues Alive Records. This label helps new and talented blues musicians. Some artists on his label include Dion DiMucci, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Larry McCray. Joe often helps produce their music and plays with them.

Joe Bonamassa's Early Life

Joe Bonamassa was born in New Hartford, New York. He grew up in Utica, New York. He began playing guitar when he was only four years old. His father loved music and showed him British blues rock artists like Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. These musicians greatly inspired young Joe.

When he was eleven, Joe was taught by the famous American guitar player Danny Gatton. At twelve, Joe had his own band called Smokin' Joe Bonamassa. They played shows in New York and Pennsylvania on weekends. Joe used a red 1972 Fender Stratocaster guitar. His father had given it to him, and he called it "Rosie."

In 1989, Joe opened for B.B. King at about twenty concerts. Before he turned eighteen, Joe played in a band called Bloodline. The band included the sons of famous musicians like Miles Davis and Robby Krieger. Even though Bloodline didn't become super famous, people noticed Joe's amazing guitar skills.

Joe Bonamassa's Music Career

Early Albums and Big Shows (2000–2019)

Joe Bonamassa's first studio album, A New Day Yesterday, came out in 2000. It had his own songs and covers of songs by artists like Rory Gallagher. The album also featured a guest appearance by Gregg Allman. It reached No. 9 on the Billboard Blues chart.

Between 2002 and 2006, three of Joe's albums hit No. 1 on the Billboard Blues charts. All five of his solo albums made it into the Top 10. In 2009, Joe played at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This was a dream come true for him. Eric Clapton even joined him for a duet there.

Joe's live album, Beacon Theatre: Live from New York, was released in 2012. This show featured Paul Rodgers, one of Joe's musical heroes. In 2013, Joe released an acoustic album called An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House. This was his first all-acoustic concert.

Bonamassa performing at Radio City Music Hall in 2015

Joe's album Different Shades of Blue (2014) was special. It was his first solo album since 2002 to have only original songs. Joe wrote the songs in Nashville with other songwriters. He wanted to create serious blues rock music. The album did very well. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 1 on the blues chart.

In 2015, Joe won a Blues Music Award for best guitarist. In 2018, the company Fender released a special amplifier designed by Joe. On June 27, 2018, Joe played at the famous Grand Ole Opry. He joined Chase Bryant on stage for a song.

Recent Music and Live Shows (2020–Present)

On June 11, 2021, Joe Bonamassa released a live album and film. It was called Now Serving: Royal Tea Live from the Ryman. This was recorded during a special concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2020. The show was streamed live online. It raised $32,000 for Joe's Fueling Musicians program. This program helped musicians who were struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working with Beth Hart

Joe Bonamassa first noticed singer Beth Hart after seeing her perform on TV. They often met at shows in Europe. Joe was very impressed by her singing. He got the idea to work with a female singer. Beth Hart came to mind. They met and decided to make an album together.

They chose soul songs they both loved for their first album, Don't Explain. Beth loved songs like "For My Friend" by Bill Withers. Joe wanted to cover "I'll Take Care of You" by Brook Benton.

Their next album, Seesaw, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. They released another album, Black Coffee, in 2018.

Other Music Projects

Joe Bonamassa is also part of a jazz-funk band called Rock Candy Funk Party. They released their first album, We Want Groove, in 2013. They also recorded a live album at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. The band even played on the TV show Conan in 2014.

From 2015, Joe also hosted podcasts with Matt Abramovitz. These shows, called The Pickup Radio, were all about guitars. They talked about their favorite guitars and guitarists.

Joe is also the guitarist and a singer for the hard rock supergroup Black Country Communion. The band released their fourth album, BCCIV, in 2017.

In 2021, Joe appeared on the TV show To Tell the Truth. In 2022, he played lead guitar on two songs for Alan Parsons' album, From The New World. In 2024, Joe played guitar on a special re-release of a song by Mark Knopfler. This was to help the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Joe Bonamassa's Guitar Collection

Bonamassa's signature Epiphone Les Paul

Joe Bonamassa is famous for his huge collection of old guitars and amplifiers. He started collecting them when he was young. His parents owned a music shop in New York. His first old guitar was a 1963 Stratocaster.

Joe used to buy guitars all the time, even ones he wouldn't play. Then he sold many of them to focus on guitars he could actually use. In 2020, Joe said his favorite guitar is his 1951 Fender Telecaster. He calls it "The Bludgeon." In 2021, Fender released a special copy of "The Bludgeon."

In 2014, he bought a rare 1958 Gibson Flying V guitar. He named it Amos after its first owner. He plays this valuable guitar in his concerts. Joe also collects Gibson Les Paul guitars. He has many "bursts," which are special Les Pauls made between 1958 and 1960. In 2021, Epiphone made a copy of his 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom.

Joe also has over 100 amplifiers. Most of them are old "tweed" Fender amps. He calls the area in his home where he keeps his vintage gear the "Bona-seum." In 2019, Joe said he had more than 400 guitars and 400 amplifiers. Even though he loves gear, Joe doesn't like using guitar pedals.

Joe Bonamassa's Musical Influences

Bonamassa performing at Stafford, Texas in 2007

Unlike many blues rock guitarists, Joe Bonamassa was influenced more by British and Irish blues artists than American ones. He said three albums had the biggest impact on his playing:

• The Beano Album by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton
• Rory Gallagher's Irish Tour '74
• Goodbye by Cream

He also mentioned that Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas Flood was a big influence when he was young. Joe also liked the early blues music of Jethro Tull. He named Martin Barre and Mick Abrahams as important musicians to him.

Keeping the Blues Alive Records

In June 2020, Dion released his album Blues with Friends. This was through Keeping the Blues Alive Records (KTBA). Joe Bonamassa and Roy Weisman created this new record label. It helps blues musicians show their talents. The album featured famous artists like Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.

Dion also released a Christmas song with Joe in 2020. Dion made music videos for all his songs. These were shared on his website and social media. Dion's song "Blues Comin' On" with Joe was nominated for a 2021 Blues Music Award. The album also won Favorite Blues Album.

Joanne Shaw Taylor and Joanna Connor have also released successful blues albums on the KTBA label. Larry McCray and Robert Jon & the Wreck have also released music through KTBA. All these projects were produced by Joe Bonamassa.

Awards and Nominations

Joe Bonamassa's Discography

Solo Studio Albums

• A New Day Yesterday (2000)
• So, It's Like That (2002)
• Blues Deluxe (2003)
• Had to Cry Today (2004)
• You & Me (2006)
• Sloe Gin (2007)
• The Ballad of John Henry (2009)
• Black Rock (2010)
• Dust Bowl (2011)
• Driving Towards the Daylight (2012)
• Different Shades of Blue (2014)
• Blues of Desperation (2016)
• Redemption (2018)
• Royal Tea (2020)
• Time Clocks (2021)
• Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 (2023)

Solo Live Albums

• A New Day Yesterday Live (2002)
• Shepherd's Bush Empire (2007)
• Live from Nowhere in Particular (2008)
• Live from the Royal Albert Hall (2009)
• Beacon Theatre: Live from New York (2012)
• An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House (2013)
• Tour de Force: Live in London – The Borderline (2014)
• Tour de Force: Live in London – Shepherd's Bush Empire (2014)
• Tour de Force: Live in London – Hammersmith Apollo (2014)
• Tour de Force: Live in London – Royal Albert Hall (2014)
• Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks (2015)
• Live at Radio City Music Hall (2015)
• Live at the Greek Theatre (2016)
• Live at Carnegie Hall: An Acoustic Evening (2017)
• British Blues Explosion Live (2018)
• Live at the Sydney Opera House (2019)
• Now Serving: Royal Tea Live from the Ryman (2021)
• Tales of Time (2023)
• Live at the Hollywood Bowl (2024)

With Black Country Communion

• Black Country Communion (2010)
• Black Country Communion 2 (2011)
• Live Over Europe (2011)
• Afterglow (2012)
• BCCIV (2017)

With Rock Candy Funk Party

• We Want Groove (2013)
• Rock Candy Funk Party Takes New York: Live at the Iridium (2014)
• Groove Is King (2015)
• The Groove Cubed (2017)

With Beth Hart

• Don't Explain (2011)
• Seesaw (2013)
• Live in Amsterdam (2014)
• Black Coffee (2018)

With Sleep Eazys

• Easy to Buy, Hard to Sell (2020)

See also

In Spanish: Joe Bonamassa para niños