 While still in his teens, Joe met musician Berry Oakley, Jr.,
and together they put together the group Bloodline. Signed to EMI Records, their
self-titled debut CD on EMI produced two chart hits, "Stone Cold Hearted" and
"Dixie Peach," both hard-driving fusions of blues, boogie, funk, and southern
roadhouse rock. Following initial success, Bloodline eventually disbanded. Joe,
realizing that he would need to do more than play guitar, began studying with a
vocal coach.
In 2000, Joe finished work on his debut solo CD, A New Day Yesterday. With his
newfound vocal confidence, the disc featured appearances by such respected
players as Gregg Allman, Rick Derringer, and Leslie West. The CD's producer,
legendary Tom Dowd, had, in the course of his 25-year career at Atlantic
Records, recorded with such greats as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Eric
Clapton, Rod Stewart, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, among countless others.
Dowd quickly became a Joe fan and friend.
The memorable melodies and potent guitar work of A New Day Yesterday brought to
mind the classic blues-based rock of Cream, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Jeff Beck Group,
and the Allman Brothers Band. The CD included outstanding originals such as
"Miss You, Hate You" and the slide guitar showcase "Cradle Rock," along with a
powerhouse version of the title song "A New Day Yesterday," first recorded by
Jethro Tull in 1969. Upon returning from the road in 2002, Bonamassa hooked up
with Clif Magness (Avril Lavigne) to record the muscular and sweeping studio
disc So, It's Like That, which hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart multiple
times. With its inspired fusion of classic blues and pop production, So, It's
Like That helped expand Bonamassa's already impressive fan base.
To celebrate 2003 "Year of the Blues," Bonamassa released Blues Deluxe,
featuring nine cover versions of blues classics along with three originals. For
years, fans had asked whether Joe would ever do a classic blues album. So when
the So, It's Like tour ended, Bonamassa entered the studio with producer Bob
Held and engineer Gary Tole (David Bowie, Jimmy Vaughan, Bon Jovi) and recorded
some of his favorite blues covers just to "blow off steam." The resulting
masters were so compelling that Bonamassa and his label decided to finish the
record and release Blues Deluxe.
Around this time, Joe became involved with "Blues in the Schools," a program
developed by the Blues Foundation to help perpetuate the heritage and legacy of
blues music to new generation of fans. The lectures take teenage students on a
journey, tracing the evolution of blues music, from its birth among the field
workers of the Delta during the late 1800's up to the present day. The lectures
are followed by a live performance by Bonamassa.
Bonamassa's next CD, Had To Cry Today, continued where Blues Deluxe left off.
Mixing original and classic blues, the CD incorporates influences of Chicago,
Delta and British blues into something electrifying and wholly unique. From the
40's and 50's music of B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy, to the English
invasion of the Yardbirds, Clapton and Cream, Had To Cry Today deftly elaborates
on the many faces of one of modern music's most influential genres.
In the summer of 2005, Bonamassa was personally asked by BB King to open for his
landmark 80th Birthday Celebration Tour. A few months later in January 2006,
Bonamassa, in recognition of efforts in promoting blues music through North
America and Europe as well as his efforts with Blues in the Schools, was
nominated as the youngest member of The Blues Foundation committee board.
Bonamassa's latest CD, You and Me, is scheduled for a June 6, 2006 release. The
new CD marks the debut collaboration of Bonamassa and producer Kevin Shirley
(Led Zeppelin, The Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Joe Satriani). Says South
African-born Shirley: "When I was approached to work with Joe, I already knew he
was an awesome talent, but I also knew I'd want to do something a little
different from a straight blues album. There are a lot of very good blues
players performing copycat versions of classics. I wanted more of a rock sound,
and I wanted Joe to showcase his depth and versatility; his vocals as well as
his incredible guitar playing."
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