Beth Hart (born January 24, 1972)[1] is an American musician from Los Angeles, California. She rose to fame with the release of her 1999 single "LA Song (Out of This Town)" from her second album Screamin' for My Supper. The single was a number one hit in New Zealand, as well as reaching the top 5 of the US Adult Contemporary and Top 10 on the BillboardAdult Top 40 charts.
Hart has had several well received collaborations with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, beginning in 2011 with Don't Explain, followed with the Grammy-nominated Seesaw (2013) and Live in Amsterdam (2014), the latter of which topped the Billboard Blues Album Chart, a chart that she has topped six times. Her latest work with Bonamassa was the 2018 album Black Coffee. Hart has had two number 1 singles in Denmark, "As Good as It Gets" and "Learning to Live", as well a double platinum-selling album, Leave the Light On.
Hart was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. As a 4-year-old, she began to play piano. At first, she concentrated on classical works by Bach and Beethoven, but as she grew older, she also began to play pieces by artists such as Etta James, Otis Redding and Led Zeppelin.[2]
Regarding her childhood in an interview with Don Wilcock, Hart stated, "When I was a kid, my dad left me in a bad way, and what fucked me up the most was that he would be in the lives of my other sisters and brothers, but he wouldn't be in mine." At the age of 22, Hart lost her sister from complications of AIDS.[3]
Career
1987–1998: Career beginnings
Hart entered Los Angeles' High School for the Performing Arts in 10th grade as a vocal and cello major. At the prompting of a classmate, she soon began singing during open mic nights in the Belly Room of the Comedy Store.[4]
Hart started playing clubs in Hollywood at the age of 15, and eventually enlisted bassist Tal Herzberg and guitarist Jimmy Khoury for Beth Hart and the Ocean of Souls, which was recorded in 1993. It includes "Am I the One" (which later appeared on her first official record Immortal) and a pop-rock cover of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". The first released album with the Beth Hart Band,[5]Immortal, was released in 1996 through Atlantic, scanning 13,000 copies[6] and featured the single "God Bless You". It also included "Am I the One", a fan favorite that ended up on her first DVD that was released in 2005. After touring the record, including at Lollapalooza in 1996,[7] the Beth Hart Band disbanded due to infighting.[8]
In 1993, Hart appeared on Ed McMahon's Star Search, ultimately winning the Female Vocalist competition. Hart has stated that winning the show did not land her a record deal due to the stigma associated with performing on the show, and that she had burned through the prize money she received by the time she struck a deal with Atlantic Records.[9]
1999–2009: Commercial breakthrough
Hart's second solo album, Screamin' for My Supper was released in 1999, and featured "LA Song (Out of This Town)", a No. 1 hit in New Zealand, as well as a Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart hit in the US. The song also aired during Episode 17 of the 10th and final season of Beverly Hills, 90210.[10] At the same time, Hart was singing the lead role in Love, Janis, an off-Broadway musical based on Joplin's letters home to her mother.
Hart's follow-up album, Leave the Light On, was released in 2003 via Koch Records, after being dropped by Atlantic presumably due to Hart's drug addiction.[11] While still successful in New Zealand, the album saw her breakthrough in the European market, with the single "Learning to Live" reaching number 1 in Denmark, while the album achieved a 2× Platinum certification.[12] "Learning to Live" was also used as the theme song to Losing It with Jillian on NBC. In 2003, she became the first and only musician to feature as backing vocalist for a Deep Purple song ("Haunted", released on the Bananas album).
Two years later in 2005, Hart released her first live album, Live at Paradiso, which was recorded at a former church in Amsterdam, and released both as a CD and a DVD. It featured a variety of Hart's self written songs and a cover of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin.[13] Hart appears on Toots Thielemans' album One More For the Road on the track "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues", which was released in 2006.
Hart's fourth solo studio album 37 Days was released in Europe in July 2007, and eventually as a DVD as well. The album debuted at No. 1 in Denmark and spent two weeks at the top, her first album to top a national chart,[14] and additionally reached a Gold certification in the country.[15] The record was her last on a major label (Universal), though it solidified her European commercial success.
2010–2014: Independent career, collaborations with Joe Bonamassa
Her fifth solo studio album My California was released in 2010, and was her first on Provogue Records. Hart delivered music for the final scene of the last episode of season 6 of Californication, with the title song of the record. On August 23, 2012, her song "Take It Easy on Me" from My California was used in the first episode of the eighth series of the BBC TV drama Waterloo Road. On July 31, 2012, the album was released in the United States. On the same date, she released an EP titled Introducing Beth Hart.
During this time, Hart collaborated with Slash on "Mother Maria", released on the iTunes version of Slash's 2010 solo album, Slash,[16] and additionally collaborated with rapper Born on his single "It Hurts", released in February 2012.[17] Following her tour with Jeff Beck in 2006 through the United States, she appeared with him again in December 2012, at the Kennedy Center Opera House, along with a group of blues/rock musicians, performing "I'd Rather Go Blind" in tribute to Buddy Guy, who received a 2012 Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture. The performance received a standing ovation from President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama,[18] and led to the collaboration with Buddy Guy, where he recorded the song "What You Gonna Do About Me" with Hart for his album Rhythm & Blues.
In 2011, Hart collaborated with blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa on their first co-release Don't Explain, an album of blues and soul classics. The album reached number 3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and also went gold in the Netherlands.[19] She additionally provided vocals for the track "No Love on the Street" on Bonamassa's Dust Bowl, which was released the same year.
The following year, Hart's release Bang Bang Boom Boom became one of her biggest commercial successes, appearing on the charts of at least 10 countries, as well as becoming her first to chart on the Billboard Blues Album Chart, climbing to Number 3.[20] She worked with producer Kevin Shirley, whom she collaborated with for the first time on the album Don't Explain. The album was released the following year in the United States.
In 2013, Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa released Seesaw, again produced by Kevin Shirley. The album rose to number 8 on the Billboard Top Independent Album Chart. In 2014 Hart was nominated for a Grammy Award for Seesaw and was also nominated for a Blues Music Award in the category Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist.[21] The album additionally holds her highest peak position on the Billboard 200, reaching the Top 50.
Hart's second live album/DVD, Live in Amsterdam, was also recorded in Amsterdam, this time at the Royal Carré Theatre. Hart and Bonamassa went on a mini European tour of five shows (Bergen, Norway–London, UK–Antwerp, Belgium–Amsterdam, Netherlands), of which two were at the Carré Theatre.
In 2014, she performed once again with Jeff Beck, this time during his Australian tour as a supporting act, in addition to joining him on stage during his set.[22]
2015–2019: Better Than Home, Fire on the Floor, Black Coffee, and War in My Mind
Hart's seventh solo studio album Better Than Home, was released on April 13, 2015, in Europe and on the following day in the US. The recording process was "painful" for Hart: the album was produced by Michael Stevens, whose cancer diagnosis pressured Hart into completing the recording of the album in just five days. In addition to this, she entered a psych ward twice while making the album.[3] Nevertheless, the lead single "Mechanical Heart" charted at number 1 in the "iTunes Blues" song list,[23] and the album entered the album charts in the Netherlands at number 1. In the US the album entered both the Billboard Blues Charts and iTunes Blues Charts at number 1. The album also charted in other countries: number 11 in Germany and 33 in the UK. On January 29, 2016, Hart and Jeff Beck released the single "Tell Her You Belong To Me" worldwide on iTunes,[24] after performing the song live on Jools' Annual Hootenanny in 2015/2016 on BBC Two. They also performed "Nutbush City Limits" on the show as well. At the end of 2015, Mojo magazine ranked the album as the fourth best blues album of the year, while Hart appeared as one of the narrators for the documentary film Unity.[25]
Hart released her eighth studio album, Fire on the Floor, on October 14, 2016, in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. For the rest of the world it was released on February 3, 2017, to coincide with her tour. Hart wrote all songs herself, except for "Let's Get Together" (with Rune Westberg) and "Fat Man" (with Glen Burtnik).[26] The title track was released first followed by "Love Is a Lie", which is the official first single off the album.
On January 26, 2018, Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa released Black Coffee, again produced by Kevin Shirley.[27][28] The album debuted at number 1 on the US Blues Chart,[29] and also in the Dutch album top 100.[30]
On November 30, 2018, Hart released a live concert recording, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, as a video release and a live album on Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group. The recordings were captured in May 2018 when she performed at the Royal Albert Hall.[31]
Hart released her ninth solo studio album, War in My Mind, on September 27, 2019, through Provogue/Mascot Label Group.[32] The album became her highest-charting solo album in a number of European markets, including the UK where it reached the Top 20, as well as Germany, where it hit the Top 10.[citation needed]
2020–2022: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin
In 2021, Hart began teasing new music by hiding hints in her Spotify canvas videos.[33] On November 12, she announced her tenth solo studio album, A Tribute to Led Zeppelin, alongside the first single, a cover of "Good Times Bad Times." The album was released on February 25, 2022,[34] debuting at No. 1 in the Netherlands and became her highest charting solo album in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.[35]
Artistry
Hart is known for her "visceral", "gritty", "soaring" and "dynamic" contralto vocals.[2][18] Hart also plays piano, guitar, cello, bass guitar and percussion.[36]
Describing his collaborator's performance at Blue Balls Festival in Switzerland, Joe Bonamassa told Music Radar: "I was totally knocked out by Beth. Here's this lady who's acting like I'm the cool one, and meanwhile I'm thinking, Man, she's got it all. She's the new Janis Joplin, Tina Turner - the real deal, you know?"[37]
American pop singer Miley Cyrus lists Hart amongst her favorite singers of all time. In 2013, she told Billboard, "she's got one of the best voices, I feel like, of all time."[38]
Personal life
Hart resides in the Silver Lake District of Los Angeles and has been married to her road manager Scott Guetzkow since March 15, 2001.[39] David Wolff has been her manager since 1994.[40] Hart has struggled with drug addiction and bipolar disorder,[41] but has been sober for a number of years finding religion and practicing transcendental meditation.[42]
Joseph Leonard Bonamassa 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 fifteen solo albums through his independent record label J&R Adventures, of which eleven have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues chart.
"I'd Rather Go Blind" is a blues song written by Ellington Jordan with co-writing credits to Billy Foster and Etta James. It was first recorded by Etta James in 1967, released the same year, and has subsequently become regarded as a blues and soul classic.
Gina Sicilia is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Her album, Heard the Lie, peaked in the Top 10 on Billboard charts blues music charts in September, 2018 as well as Sunset Avenue peaking at #15 in September, 2016. She was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist in 2008 and has shared the stage with such artists as Beth Hart, Joan Osborne, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Bonamassa, Shemekia Copeland, and Johnny Winter amongst others.
A New Day Yesterday is the debut studio album by American blues rock musician Joe Bonamassa. Recorded at Pyramid Recording Studios in Ithaca, New York, it was produced by Tom Dowd and released on October 24, 2000 by independent record label Okeh in tandem with Epic Records and 550 Music. The album registered at number 9 on the US Billboard Top Blues Albums chart and spawned the singles "Miss You, Hate You" in 2001 and "Colour and Shape" in 2002.
So, It's Like That is the second studio album by American blues-rock musician Joe Bonamassa. Recorded largely at Harddrive Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California and Blue Iron Gate Studio in Santa Monica, California, it was primarily produced by Clif Magness, with additional production by Dave Bassett, Matt Chiaravalle and Richard Feldman. The album was released on August 13, 2002 by Medalist Entertainment and topped the US Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.
Sloe Gin is the sixth studio album by American blues rock musician Joe Bonamassa. Produced by Kevin Shirley, it was released on August 21, 2007 by J&R Adventures and topped the US Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. The title of the album is a reference to the song of the same name by English musician Tim Curry from his 1978 debut album Read My Lips.
Black Country Communion is an English-American hard rock band based in Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2009, the band is a supergroup composed of bassist and lead vocalist Glenn Hughes, guitarist and second vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham, and keyboardist Derek Sherinian.
Joanne Shaw Taylor is an English singer and guitarist. She was discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics at the age of 16.
Don't Explain is a 2011 cover album recorded by American singer Beth Hart and blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa.
The discography of Joe Bonamassa, an American blues rock musician, consists of 16 studio albums, 20 live albums, three collaboration albums, 30 singles, 15 video albums, 13 music videos and 54 other appearances. After growing up in Utica, New York, Bonamassa began his career as a member of the band Bloodline, before beginning his solo career in 2000 with the release of A New Day Yesterday. The album reached number 9 on the US Billboard Blues Albums chart. The guitarist continued to see success in the blues genre, topping the chart with 2002's So, It's Like That and 2006's You & Me, before making his debut on the Billboard 200 in 2007 with Sloe Gin, which reached number 184. Bonamassa's albums have continued to increase in chart success over the years, with The Ballad of John Henry reaching number 103 on the Billboard 200, Black Rock, Dust Bowl and Driving Towards the Daylight reaching the Top 40, and Different Shades of Blue and Blues of Desperation reaching the Top 20. Several of the musician's video albums have also topped the Billboard Music Video Sales chart.
"Something's Got a Hold on Me" is a song by American singer Etta James. The song was written by James, Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods, while production was handled by Leonard and Phil Chess. It was released in 1962 as the third single from her 1962 self-titled album as a 7" vinyl disc. Musically, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" is an R&B track with elements of soul, blues and gospel. Upon its release, the single was an R&B hit, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart.
Seesaw is a cover album of soul and blues classics recorded by American singer Beth Hart and blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa in 2013. It follows up on the success of their initial collaboration for the Don't Explain cover album in 2011. Seesaw was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Blues Album of 2013.
The discography of Beth Hart, an American singer-songwriter, comprises ten studio albums, one extended play, three collaboration albums, four live albums and three video albums.
Mascot Label Group is an independently owned record label. Founded in 1989 in The Netherlands under the name Mascot Records, the company was renamed Mascot-Provogue in 1999 and since 2010 has been known as the Mascot Label Group. The company is based in the Netherlands and has offices in New York, Cologne, Stockholm, Milan, Paris and London. It was distributed by ADA and Warner Music Group until 2022; it is now digitally distributed by FUGA internationally and physically distributed by AMPED in the United States. Mascot Label Group is the parent company of the following labels: Mascot Records, Provogue Records, Music Theories Recordings, Cool Green Recordings, The Funk Garage, and The Players Club.
Different Shades of Blue is the eleventh studio album by blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. It was released on September 22, 2014.
Beacon Theatre: Live from New York is the fifth live album by the American blues rock musician Joe Bonamassa. The album was recorded across two nights on November 4 and 5, 2011 at the Beacon Theatre in New York and released by J&R Adventures on DVD on March 8, 2012, and later on CD on September 24, 2012.
Live in Amsterdam is a live album by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa. It was recorded during a live performance at the music venue Carré Theatre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A DVD version is also available. The album peaked at No. 49 in the United Kingdom and at No. 13 in the Netherlands.
Rock Candy Funk Party is an American jazz-funk band from Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 2009 by drummer Tal Bergman and guitarist Ron DeJesus, who had previously released Grooove, Vol. 1 in 2007. After adding guitarist Joe Bonamassa, bassist Mike Merritt and keyboardist Renato Neto, the band released its debut album We Want Groove in 2013, which reached number 5 on the US Billboard Jazz Albums chart and number 6 on the UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart. Percussionist Daniel Sadownick joined after the album's release, featuring on the band's first live album Rock Candy Funk Party Takes New York: Live at The Iridium in 2014.
Live at Carnegie Hall: An Acoustic Evening is the fifteenth live album and video by American blues-rock musician Joe Bonamassa. Produced by Kevin Shirley, it was released on June 23, 2017 by J&R Adventures. The album documents Bonamassa's two performances at the Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 21 and 22, 2016. It is the guitarist and vocalist's second all-acoustic live collection, following 2013's An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House.
Black Coffee is the third cover album recorded by American singer Beth Hart and blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, released on January 26, 2018 on J&R Adventures and Mascot Label Group. It follows their 2013 cover album together titled Seesaw.
↑ Houk, Steve (February 25, 2015). "Beth Hart: Surviving to Sing". Mid Life Rocker. Retrieved August 9, 2018. They said, you know what, buh bye, you're outta here, we're letting you go, you're gonna die and we're not gonna stand by. And maybe the honest to God reason is 'cuz I didn't sell enough records and they thought, [screw] this girl we've had for two records. But I think there was a bit of real compassion there, I really do.
1 2 "The Drop: Beth Hart". The Grammy Organization. The Grammys. June 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2018. Hart's Buddy Guy tribute alongside Beck at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony received a standing ovation from President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
↑ Dearmore, Kelly (January 4, 2012). "Beth Hart Talks Redemption, Addiction and Star Search". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012. But the visions of gold records were clouded by addiction and recklessness. Having used drugs in one form or another since her teenage years
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