Joe Bonamassa

Biography

Joseph Leonard Bonamassa ( BAH-nə-MAH-sə; born May 8, 1977) is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He started his career at age twelve, when he opened for B.B. King.

Since 2000, Bonamassa has released seventeen solo studio albums via his independent record label J&R Adventures. As of his latest studio album, Breakthrough (2025), he holds the record for most No. 1 blues albums with 29 (a total of 30 including the collaborative B.B. King's Blues Summit 100 in 2026). Bonamassa has played alongside many notable blues and rock artists, and has received five nominations for Grammy Awards. Among guitarists, he is known for his extensive collection of vintage guitars and amplifiers.

In 2011, Bonamassa started the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation. In 2020, he created Keeping the Blues Alive Records, an independent record label that promotes and supports the talent of blues musicians. Notable artists include Dion, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Joanna Connor, and Larry McCray. Bonamassa produces and collaborates on many of the projects.

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