Joe Bonamassa

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Joe Bonamassa on Glory Road

There aren't many guitarists who can claim to have opened for B.B. King, especially not at 12-years-old like Joe Bonamassa. Yet, Bonamassa isn't your average guitar player. At the age of seven, he was considered a prodigy, playing music some aspiring guitarists take years to learn. "The kid's potential is unbelievable. He hasn't even begun to scratch the surface. He's one of a kind," said B.B. King after he heard Bonamassa play for the first time.

As an adult, his career began to take off in the early 90's with a band called Bloodlines, a rock-blues group with the son of legendary jazz musician, Miles Davis and Robby Krieger's son. Bonamassa's solo career began in 2000 with accolades. Named Guitar Player's "Best Blues Guitarist" in '07 and '08, this blues-rock star is the real deal.

In fact, you won't find gossip rags debating about the "real" meaning of his lyrics. Bonamassa is straight forward about his inspirations. "I've come to the conclusion that experience makes for better art," he said about a recent relationship. "I had more to say, and it's the first time I've personally opened up the book on my life."

Like the complex riffs on his guitar, Bonamassa's depth of character has led him to other hobbies like working as a DJ for Planet Rock Radio in the U.K. and promoting blues music in schools across the U.S. for the Blues Foundation's Blues in the Schools program. And, despite this laundry list of activities, he still finds time to rock, crafting hypnotic songs you'll want to hear again.

—Christa Fletcher