Beth Hart
Beth Hart | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 24, 1972 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Singer of "LA Song (Out of This Town)"; collaborations with Joe Bonamassa |
Beth Hart (born January 24, 1972) is a musician hailing from Los Angeles, California. She rose to fame with her 1999 hit single "LA Song (Out of This Town)" from her sophomore album Screamin' for My Supper. This track reached number one in New Zealand and secured a spot within the top five on the US Adult Contemporary chart, as well as entering the top ten of the Billboard Adult Top 40 rankings.
Hart has worked extensively with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, beginning with their 2011 album Don't Explain. Their partnership continued with the Grammy-nominated Seesaw released in 2013 and Live in Amsterdam in 2014, which reached number one on the Billboard Blues Album Chart—a list she has topped six times throughout her career. Their most recent joint project is the 2018 record Black Coffee. Additionally, Hart achieved two chart-topping singles in Denmark, "As Good as It Gets" and "Learning to Live", and received double platinum certification for her album Leave the Light On.
In 2022, she released A Tribute to Led Zeppelin, an album featuring renditions of songs originally by Led Zeppelin.
Early life and education
Raised in Los Angeles, Hart began her musical journey at four years old, initially studying piano with a focus on classical composers such as Bach and Beethoven. Over time, her influences expanded to include artists like Etta James, Otis Redding, and Led Zeppelin.
In interviews, Hart has shared personal struggles during her youth, including coping with her father's absence and the death of her sister from complications related to AIDS when Hart was 22 years old.
She attended Los Angeles' High School for the Performing Arts, concentrating on vocals and cello. Motivated by a peer, she began performing at open mic events held in the Belly Room at the Comedy Store.
Early career (1987–1998)
Starting at age 15, Hart performed in Hollywood venues and formed the group Beth Hart and the Ocean of Souls alongside bassist Tal Herzberg and guitarist Jimmy Khoury. They recorded tracks in 1993, including "Am I the One," which later appeared on her debut official release, Immortal. The Beth Hart Band's first official album, Immortal, was issued in 1996 by Atlantic Records, selling approximately 13,000 copies and featuring the single "God Bless You". Following a tour that included an appearance at Lollapalooza in 1996, internal disagreements led to the band's dissolution.
Hart won the Female Vocalist title on Star Search in 1993; however, this victory did not immediately result in a recording contract. She spent her prize money before eventually signing with Atlantic Records.
Breakthrough period (1999–2009)
Her second solo effort, Screamin' for My Supper released in 1999, contained the New Zealand chart-topping single "LA Song (Out of This Town)" which also entered the US Adult Contemporary Top 10. During this time, she also performed in the off-Broadway production Love, Janis.
After parting ways with Atlantic Records, Hart signed with Koch Records and released Leave the Light On in 2003. This album marked her breakthrough across Europe. The single "Learning to Live" reached number one on Denmark’s charts and contributed to the album achieving double platinum status there. Additionally, this track was used as the theme song for NBC’s show Losing It with Jillian. In that year, she also provided backing vocals on Deep Purple's track "Haunted" from their album Bananas.
In 2005, Hart released her first live album and DVD titled Live at Paradiso, recorded during a performance in Amsterdam featuring original compositions along with a cover of a Led Zeppelin song. She further appeared on Toots Thielemans' 2006 release One More For the Road.
Her fourth studio album, 37 Days, launched in 2007 under Universal Music, debuted at number one in Denmark—her first release to achieve this distinction—and earned Gold certification. This record reinforced her success within European markets and was her final project with a major label.
Solo projects and collaborations with Joe Bonamassa (2010–2014)
Beth Hart's fifth solo studio effort, My California (2010), marked her debut release under the Provogue Records label. The album’s title track was featured in the closing scene of season six of Californication. On August 23, 2012, the song "Take It Easy on Me" from this album appeared in the BBC drama Waterloo Road. That same day saw the US release of both the album and the EP Introducing Beth Hart.
During this timeframe, Hart collaborated with Slash on the track "Mother Maria" from his 2010 self-titled solo album, Slash, and partnered with rapper Born on the 2012 single "It Hurts". Following her 2006 tour with Jeff Beck, she reunited with him in December 2012 at the Kennedy Center Honors, where they performed "I'd Rather Go Blind" as a tribute to Buddy Guy, receiving a standing ovation from President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. This event led to another collaboration with Buddy Guy on "What You Gonna Do About Me" for his album Rhythm & Blues.
In 2011, Hart joined forces with blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa to produce their initial collaborative album, Don't Explain, which featured interpretations of blues and soul classics. The record climbed to number 3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and achieved gold certification in the Netherlands. Additionally, she lent her vocals to "No Love on the Street" on Bonamassa’s Dust Bowl, released that same year.
Hart’s 2013 solo album, Bang Bang Boom Boom, became one of her most commercially successful releases, charting across more than ten countries and reaching number 3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. Produced by Kevin Shirley, who also produced Don't Explain, it later saw a US release.
The duo followed up with their second joint studio effort, Seesaw, also produced by Shirley in 2013. This album peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Top Independent Album Chart and represented Hart’s highest ranking on the Billboard 200, breaking into the Top 50. In 2014, she earned a Grammy nomination for Seesaw along with a nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist at the Blues Music Awards.
Their second live album and DVD, Live in Amsterdam, was recorded during a five-show European mini-tour at Amsterdam’s Royal Carré Theatre, which also included performances in Bergen, London, and Antwerp.
In 2014, Hart supported Jeff Beck on his Australian tour and joined him on stage during select shows.
Better Than Home, Fire on the Floor, Black Coffee & War in My Mind (2015–2019)
Hart’s seventh solo studio album, Better Than Home, was unveiled in April 2015. Produced by Michael Stevens amid his battle with cancer and Hart’s own personal challenges, it was completed within five days. Despite these difficulties, its lead single "Mechanical Heart" reached number one on the iTunes Blues chart. The album topped the Dutch charts and claimed number one positions on both Billboard and iTunes Blues Charts in the United States. It also ranked number 11 in Germany and number 33 in the UK. In January 2016, Hart teamed up again with Jeff Beck to release "Tell Her You Belong To Me" globally after performing together live on BBC Two’s Jools' Annual Hootenanny. The album was named fourth best blues album of 2015 by Mojo magazine.
Her eighth studio record, Fire on the Floor, debuted in October 2016 across Europe, followed by a broader release aligned with her tour schedule in early 2017. Hart wrote nearly all songs herself, except for a few co-written tracks with Rune Westberg and Glen Burtnik. The title track served as a precursor to the official lead single "Love Is a Lie."
On January 26, 2018, Hart reunited with Joe Bonamassa to release their third collaborative album, Black Coffee, once again produced by Kevin Shirley. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Blues Chart and topped Dutch charts as well.
In November 2018, she issued a live recording titled Live at the Royal Albert Hall, capturing her May 2018 performance at this prestigious venue under Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group.
Her ninth solo studio effort, War in My Mind, arrived in September 2019 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group. It became her highest-charting solo release in Europe to date, reaching Top 20 status in the UK and entering the Top 10 in Germany.
A Tribute to Led Zeppelin and Recent Endeavors (2020–Present)
In 2021, Hart offered subtle previews of upcoming tracks via her Spotify canvas videos. On November 12, she revealed plans for her tenth solo studio album, A Tribute to Led Zeppelin, accompanied by the release of its lead single, a rendition of "Good Times Bad Times." The full album was released on February 25, 2022, immediately reaching No. 1 on the Dutch charts and marking her highest solo rankings in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Artistry
Hart is distinguished by her powerful, raw, and expressive contralto vocal style. In addition to singing, she is proficient in piano, guitar, cello, bass guitar, and percussion instruments.
Her live performance at Switzerland's Blue Balls Festival earned praise from Joe Bonamassa, who described her as "the new Janis Joplin, Tina Turner—the genuine article." American pop artist Miley Cyrus has named Hart among her top vocal influences, lauding her voice as one of the greatest ever.
Personal life
Residing in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood, Hart has been married to Scott Guetzkow, her road manager, since 2001. Her professional career has been overseen by manager David Wolff since 1994. Despite facing challenges with substance abuse and bipolar disorder, Hart has sustained several years of sobriety, crediting her recovery to spiritual faith and transcendental meditation.
Awards and nominations
Hart received a Grammy nomination for Best Blues Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards for Seesaw. She has been recognized with nominations at the Blues Music Awards for six consecutive years and secured the "Instrumentalist - Vocals" award in 2018.
| Year | Ceremony | Award | Nominated work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Album | Don't Explain | Template:Nominated | |
| 2014 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2014 | Grammy Awards | Best Blues Album | Seesaw | Template:Nominated | |
| 2014 | Blues Blast Awards | Female Blues Artist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2015 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2016 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2016 | European Blues Awards | Best Album | Fire on the Floor | Template:Won | |
| 2017 | Blues Blast Awards | Female Blues Artist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2017 | European Blues Awards | Best Female Vocalist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2018 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2018 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Fire on the Floor | Template:Nominated | |
| 2018 | Blues Music Awards | Instrumentalist – Vocals | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2018 | Blues Blast Awards | Female Blues Artist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2018 | European Blues Awards | Best Female Vocalist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2019 | Blues Blast Awards | Best Live Recording | 'Live At Royal Albert Hall' | 'Template:Nominated' | |
| 2019 | Blues Music Awards | Instrumentalist – Vocals | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2019 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Female Artist | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2019 | Blues Music Awards | B.B King Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2020 | Blues Blast Awards | Female Blues Artist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2022 | Blues Blast Awards | Blues Rock Album | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2022 | Blues Blast Awards | Vocalist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2022 | Blues Blast Awards | Female Blues Artist | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2022 | Planet Rock Awards 2022 | Blues Power Award | A Tribute to Led Zeppelin | Template:Nominated | |
| 2023 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Female Artist | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2024 | Blues Music Awards | B.B. King Entertainer of the Year | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2025 | UK Blues Awards | International Blues Artist of the Year | Herself | Template:Won | |
| 2025 | Blues Music Awards | Contemporary Blues Female Artist | Herself | Template:Nominated | |
| 2025 | Blues Music Awards | Instrumentalist – Vocals | Herself | Template:Nominated |
Discography
- Beth Hart and the Ocean of Souls (1993)
- Immortal (1996)
- Screamin' for My Supper (1999)
- Leave the Light On (2003)
- 37 Days (2007)
- My California (2010)
- Don't Explain in collaboration with Joe Bonamassa (2011)
- Bang Bang Boom Boom (2012)
- Seesaw a joint project with Joe Bonamassa (2013)
- Better Than Home (2015)
- Fire on the Floor (2016)
- Black Coffee alongside Joe Bonamassa (2018)
- War in My Mind (2019)
- A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (2022)
- You Still Got Me (2024)