Joe Bonamassa opened for B.B. King at 12
The blues rock guitarist was born in New Hartford and grew up in Utica. He holds the record for No. 1 blues albums.
By Tom Brezinski
Joe Bonamassa was born in New Hartford on May 8, 1977, and grew up in Utica.
He started early. At 12 he opened for B.B. King. Since 2000 he has put out seventeen solo studio albums through his own independent label, J&R Adventures. As of his 2025 album “Breakthrough,” he holds the record for the most No. 1 blues albums, with 29.
He has played with many of the best-known names in blues and rock and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. Among guitar players he is also known for his collection of vintage guitars and amplifiers.
Bonamassa started the nonprofit Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation in 2011, and in 2020 he launched Keeping the Blues Alive Records, a label that puts out work by other blues musicians.