Joe Bonamassa

Blues-rock superstar Joe Bonamassa is one of the most celebrated performing musicians of today. A three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist, Joe recently achieved his 25th No. 1 album on the Billboard Blues Chart with the studio album Time Clocks. He’s only in his mid-40’s and has already become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalogue of music which includes over 40 albums to date between studio and live recordings, as well as collaborative albums with his various side projects.

A prolific writer who is always on the hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons, Bonamassa has a limitless work ethic whether it’s in a studio, on the road, or working with other artists to spur new music. In recent years, he has been producing an immense number of albums for his exciting independent label KTBA Records. He’s been featured in several publications from Esquire, WSJ and Parade to Rolling Stone and American Songwriter. Bonamassa has also been featured on the covers of Guitar World, Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, Guitarist, and Classic Rock magazines. His non-profit, Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, has reached 74,000 students and aims at supporting music in schools as well as helping musicians in need.
The New York state native opened for B.B. King when he was only 12 years old and has since played alongside such artists as Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, John Lee Hooker, Warren Haynes, Steve Winwood, Peter Frampton and Buddy Guy, among others. B.B. King might not have guessed it at the time, but that 12-year-old whiz kid would go on to become an industry powerhouse. Building on their 30-year partnership, Bonamassa and his manager, Roy Weisman, created their own record label, management, marketing, and concert promotion company called J&R Adventures almost two decades ago. Together, the two mavericks devised a 360-degree independent business model that has survived and thrived during one of the music industry’s most uncertain eras.
Cited by Guitar World as “arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa is known for taking risks and venturing into uncharted territory throughout his wide-ranging career. An enthusiastic live performer, his shows are one of the biggest parts of his career. Pollstar listed him as having one of the highest-grossing ticket sales in the world. His tours have sold out iconic venues across the globe, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO, The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, Radio City Music Hall in NYC and Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. He’s typically on the road about 200 days out of the year, and when he’s not on stage, he’s fully committed to crafting the most intricate, diversified new music to share with his audiences and fans.
Bonamassa’s latest studio album Time Clocks was released in 2021, marking his most raw, rocking album yet and featuring his unmatched vocals and playing skills. The album rediscovers Joe at a newfound peak with heartfelt songwriting and an unparalleled Blues Rock prowess. Bonamassa hit the studio with longtime collaborators Kevin Shirley as producer and manager/business partner Roy Weisman as executive producer. Time Clocks was recorded in New York City at Germano Studios/The Hit Factory and mixed by Bob Clearmountain (Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Toto, Bon Jovi).
In 2020, Bonamassa released, Royal Tea, his first solo studio album in 2 years. Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, the album earned him his third GRAMMY nomination. “This whole adventure,” admits Joe, “was a bucket-list thing for me.” The album reconnected the guitar-slinging kid who stumbled across the best of British blues music in his dad’s vinyl collection, with the player he is today. The album’s cast of homegrown notables includes former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden, ex-Cream lyricist Pete Brown and national-treasure piano man Jools Holland. During quarantine, Bonamassa delivered a groundbreaking live performance from the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, where he played Royal Tea in its entirety to over tens of thousands of people across the globe and recorded it for a DVD set.
In December 2020, Paramount Home Entertainment released an incredible documentary on Bonamassa’s life, aptly titled GUITAR MAN. Featuring behind the scenes interviews and live concert footage showcasing some of the biggest names in music, fans can enjoy the exhilarating soundtrack of his phenomenal life. Filled with an abundance of music, live concert footage, and interviews with music industry legends, GUITAR MAN chronicles a musician growing in his craft, traveling the globe, collaborating with top artists from across the world of music, and ascending to the heights of inevitable success. The film delivers a deeply personal inside look into Bonamassa’s life like never before.
Joe also hosts the podcast series “Live From Nerdville”, where he has interviewed a wide array of guests ranging from renowned musicians, industry leaders and legendary entertainers. Past guests include Billy Gibbons, Paul Stanley, Nita Strauss, Brad Paisley, John Mayall, Alice Cooper, and featured Peter Frampton as the 50th episode featured guest. The show is broadcasted and promoted on all of Joe’s social media platforms to his more than 5 million fans as well as on all podcasting platforms.
Joe also runs a non-profit organization called Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, whose mission is to promote and sustain music education and blues music by funding scholarships and providing music education resources to schools in need. To date, the non-profit has funded schools and teachers with over $1 Million and has positively impacted 74,000 students in all 50 states. Bonamassa hosts a bi-annual music festival cruise which benefits the foundation. The “Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea” cruises have become a favorite among his fans and music lovers alike. The foundation’s newest initiative, Fueling Musicians Program was started by Joe during the pandemic and aims to help touring musicians get their careers back on track. To date, they’ve raised over $560,000 and distributed money to over 300 artists.

Joe Bonamassa and his long-time manager, Roy Weisman, put their decades of expertise to use with their new venture, Keeping the Blues Alive (KTBA) Records. The independent record label is an offshoot of Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, and 10% of all profits from KTBA Records are donated to the foundation. KTBA Records has proven to be a driving force in the music industry, taking on talented artists and propelling them into the spotlight. The label has released albums for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Dion, Chicago blues queen Joanna Connor, blues rock sensation Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Rust Belt blues legend Larry McCray. Each album has received worldwide critical acclaim as well as top positions on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. This is only the beginning for KTBA Records. With its roster of talented musicians and success in the industry, the label has many new projects on the horizon.

KTBA Records represents Bonamassa’s continuing efforts over the last 25 years in support the artistic community and reflects the philosophy of paying it forward just as so many did for him in the hope of paving the way for musicians for years to come.