Thought I would share the original of the fireworks photo I submitted yesterday...loses a little of it punch without the solid black, in my humble opinion...
OK, HOW THE HELL HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS GUY????
JOE BONAMASSA!!!
JOE BONAMASSA!!!
Our good friend LeeLee brought him to our attention within the last week. After seeing the video she posted, I began doing some research on him and when I began to read his bio on his website, I just began shaking my head...
HOW THE HELL HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS GUY????
His pedigree is in a musical world that I live in...this is from his website:
Blues-rock guitar virtuoso, vocalist and songwriter Joe Bonamassa kicked off 2007 with the honor of being named Best Blues Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine’s readership in their annual Reader’s Choice Awards. The year continues with the release of SLOE GIN, Bonamassa’s seventh solo album, and fourth on his own J&R Adventures label. A mix of heavy blues, big rock and textured acoustic tracks that Joe says was in part inspired by Rod Stewart’s legendary 1969 debut solo LP, it reunites him with producer Kevin Shirley (Joe Satriani, Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin).
Born in Utica, NY on May 8, 1977 – the day that would have been blues icon Robert Johnson’s 66th birthday – the now L.A.-based Joe Bonamassa’s own musical experience began with playing guitar at age four on a short-scale Chiquita given to him by his father, a guitar dealer and player himself.
By the time he was seven, he’d stepped up to a full-scale model and was uncannily mastering Stevie Ray Vaughan licks. At ten, he was gigging at venues in upstate New York, where he came to the legendary B.B. King’s attention. After initially hearing Bonamassa play, King – who personally asked Joe to open for his landmark 2005 80th birthday celebration tour – said, “This kid's potential is unbelievable. He hasn't even begun to scratch the surface. He's one of a kind.”
By the time he was twelve, Joe was touring with King, which led to opening slots for many other stars including Buddy Guy, Foreigner, George Thorogood, Robert Cray, Stephen Stills, Joe Cocker and Gregg Allman. Storied producer Phil Ramone once said of him, “prodigies come few and far between. I saw him take an audience apart.”
Bonamassa’s journeyman touring has built an audience of fans as legion and generation-spanning as his famed collaborators, and his live shows – over 150 a year – are breathtaking in their intensity. Beatles promoter Sam Leach compared the first time he saw Joe to his initial glimpse of the Fab Four at the Cavern Club – “I got that same feeling of excitement…Joe is the premiere Blues/Rock artist on the planet.”
Joe’s recording career launched in the early ’90s when he met Berry Oakley, Jr., son of the Allman Brothers Band bassist, and they formed Bloodlines, also featuring Robby Krieger’s son Waylon and Miles Davis’ son Erin. They released a self-titled CD praised for its hard-charging fusion of blues, funk, boogie and roadhouse rock.
The full range of Bonamassa’s talents, though, came into sharper relief after the group disbanded. His virtuoso playing finally had the room it needed, and his strength as an expressive singer emerged. “I started belting things out and found this voice I never knew I had,” he says. “I’d play around with emulating some of my favorite singers, Paul Rodgers, Gregg Allman, Rod Stewart. Ultimately, it’s allowed me a freedom as an artist I hadn’t felt before.”
HOW THE HELL HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS GUY????
Well, thanks to LeeLee I now have...and I am telling all y'all about him (except for those of you who will write that you knew about him all along and ask if I am living on a distant planet that is).
HOW THE HELL HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS GUY????
His pedigree is in a musical world that I live in...this is from his website:
Blues-rock guitar virtuoso, vocalist and songwriter Joe Bonamassa kicked off 2007 with the honor of being named Best Blues Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine’s readership in their annual Reader’s Choice Awards. The year continues with the release of SLOE GIN, Bonamassa’s seventh solo album, and fourth on his own J&R Adventures label. A mix of heavy blues, big rock and textured acoustic tracks that Joe says was in part inspired by Rod Stewart’s legendary 1969 debut solo LP, it reunites him with producer Kevin Shirley (Joe Satriani, Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin).
Born in Utica, NY on May 8, 1977 – the day that would have been blues icon Robert Johnson’s 66th birthday – the now L.A.-based Joe Bonamassa’s own musical experience began with playing guitar at age four on a short-scale Chiquita given to him by his father, a guitar dealer and player himself.
By the time he was seven, he’d stepped up to a full-scale model and was uncannily mastering Stevie Ray Vaughan licks. At ten, he was gigging at venues in upstate New York, where he came to the legendary B.B. King’s attention. After initially hearing Bonamassa play, King – who personally asked Joe to open for his landmark 2005 80th birthday celebration tour – said, “This kid's potential is unbelievable. He hasn't even begun to scratch the surface. He's one of a kind.”
By the time he was twelve, Joe was touring with King, which led to opening slots for many other stars including Buddy Guy, Foreigner, George Thorogood, Robert Cray, Stephen Stills, Joe Cocker and Gregg Allman. Storied producer Phil Ramone once said of him, “prodigies come few and far between. I saw him take an audience apart.”
Bonamassa’s journeyman touring has built an audience of fans as legion and generation-spanning as his famed collaborators, and his live shows – over 150 a year – are breathtaking in their intensity. Beatles promoter Sam Leach compared the first time he saw Joe to his initial glimpse of the Fab Four at the Cavern Club – “I got that same feeling of excitement…Joe is the premiere Blues/Rock artist on the planet.”
Joe’s recording career launched in the early ’90s when he met Berry Oakley, Jr., son of the Allman Brothers Band bassist, and they formed Bloodlines, also featuring Robby Krieger’s son Waylon and Miles Davis’ son Erin. They released a self-titled CD praised for its hard-charging fusion of blues, funk, boogie and roadhouse rock.
The full range of Bonamassa’s talents, though, came into sharper relief after the group disbanded. His virtuoso playing finally had the room it needed, and his strength as an expressive singer emerged. “I started belting things out and found this voice I never knew I had,” he says. “I’d play around with emulating some of my favorite singers, Paul Rodgers, Gregg Allman, Rod Stewart. Ultimately, it’s allowed me a freedom as an artist I hadn’t felt before.”
HOW THE HELL HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS GUY????
Well, thanks to LeeLee I now have...and I am telling all y'all about him (except for those of you who will write that you knew about him all along and ask if I am living on a distant planet that is).
This is from an instructional CD...a quick listen to some tasty licks:
And one of the songs I bought at the iTunes store...but since you can not upload those files to lifelogger I went out and grabbed this on the net...
From his newest album SLOE GIN, this is entitled "Black Night"
From his newest album SLOE GIN, this is entitled "Black Night"
Joe Bonamassa - Guitar
Anton Fig - Drums
Rick Melick - Keyboards
Carmine Rojas - Bass
Seriously, his drummer's last name is Fig. How can you respect a drummer with the last name of Fig? Cheers Vin!!
thanks for the "new"guy~~i haven't heard of him either~~nice
I haven't heard of him either. But what a pedigree. And what a sound! Wow!
I think this proves that there is just so much music out there. Some of it is crap, and some of it is magic. And there's a lot in between. It's just tough to keep up with all of it.
Thanks to LeeLee for sharing this guy with you, and thank you for passing it on.
How have *I* not heard of this guy? Thanks for the introduction!
Incredible stuff.
I may be at the record store later today looking for this album. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Vinny,
I SAID THE SAME THING..how have I not heard of this guy???
I already downloaded a ton of tunes...this guy can wail. I love nothing more than a great guitarist...oh it makes me crazy. Joe certainly fits the bill.
I looked with high hopes for a live performance within a 100 mile range this summer...but to no avail. Hopefully he'll get down here.
I am honored to have brought him to you. I knew you'd appreciate his talents as much as I do.
great post..spreadin' the musical word!!
HUGS!!
He sure can, belt it out!
Reminds me of the Allman Bro.
Very cool tunes...another wondering why I hadn't heard of this guy!! I do like the enhance pic better, too. Great job on that~
Margaret
MATT: He is also the drummer for David Letterman
CHARLENE: I was amazed when I heard him
TRAVIS: So very true...I just could not understand how I had not heard of him with so many connections to people I listen to all the time
DANA: My pleasure dear
DRILLERAA: Check his website...he has his own company, so you might not find him in stores
LEELEE: THANK YOU...a great artist and I and all of the guests on The Couch thank you
MICKEY-T: A lot of connections to the Allmans...
MARGARET: Glad you enjoyed..
Yay..I love getting the word out about great music..
Glad everyone seems to agree!!
HUGS!
leelee
Add me to the list of HOW THE HELL?!?
He is amazing. I gotta get his stuff and introduce him to my dad.
Yo dude, this guy is good.
nope, never heard of him. but for me that's really no surprise! ha ha
smiles bee
xoxoxoxoxoxxo
I'll have to check the music out later - just wanted to say I see why you touched up the picture! Can't believe they'd leave lights on during fireworks...
I thought the same thing. How come I haven't heard of him? But then I remember my fellow WTIT DJ Rock Rolling's best friend plays with James Taylor, toured with CS&N and has played with almost every major band either in concert or on their album. His name if Jeffrey Pevar. Same thing?
LEELEE: YAY FOR YOU!
STARR: phew...I was worried I was going to get barraged with "What are you crazy how can you not know him" comments
SARGE: Dude..I know! I am amazed
BEE: LOL well now you do
TUG: lol yeah well I don't understand either
BUD: YUP same thing... never heard of Jeffrey either..
sparks of insanity, eh??
I've not been in comments lately - you've been tweaking!
Joe Bonamassa, huh? I will have to check him out.
You win Vin! Hey that rhymes lol!
You are #1 in Creative Photography this week!
TOPCHAMP: Just a tad...LOL
RWA: Please do my friend...
ROGER: WOW..thank you Sir..
I'm digging this guy!