Beth Hart

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.chichester.co.uk/whats-on/music/beth-hart-brings-raw-and-powerful-blues-rock-sound-to-the-brook-in-southampton-1-3200792|work=Chichester Observer|title=Beth Hart brings raw and powerful blues-rock sound to The Brook in Southampton|date=October 31, 2011|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810105204/https://www.chichester.co.uk/whats-on/music/beth-hart-brings-raw-and-powerful-blues-rock-sound-to-the-brook-in-southampton-1-3200792|archive-date=August 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Wilcock |first1=Don |title=Featured Interview – Beth Hart |url=http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/featured-interview-beth-hart/ |access-date=August 9, 2018 |date=March 4, 2016}}

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.{{cite web |title=Beth Hart Biography |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/classical/Beth-Hart/bio |website=Broadway World |publisher=Wisdom Digital Media |access-date=August 8, 2018}}

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,{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p175043|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography: Beth Hart |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 26, 2010 |author=Ankeny, Jason}} Immortal, was released in 1996 through Atlantic, scanning 13,000 copies{{cite book |title=Billboard |date=July 3, 1999 |publisher=Billboard Magazine |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_jAgEAAAAMBAJ/page/n14 15] |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_jAgEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=August 9, 2018}} 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,{{cite book |title=Billboard Magazine |date=May 25, 1996 |publisher=Billboard |page=22 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 |access-date=August 9, 2018}} the Beth Hart Band disbanded due to infighting.{{cite book |title=Billboard Magazine |date=October 2, 1999 |publisher=Billboard |page=108 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA108 |access-date=August 9, 2018}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Greenblatt |first1=Mike |title=For Beth Hart, success is sweeter the second time around |url=http://www.goldminemag.com/articles/for-beth-hart-is-better-the-second-time-around |access-date=August 9, 2018 |publisher=F+W Media |date=September 26, 2013}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/beverly-hills-90210/doc-martin-27715/cast/ |title=Beverly Hills 90210 - Season 10, Episode 17: Doc Martin |work=TV.com |access-date=January 6, 2015 |archive-date=July 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729115651/http://www.tv.com/shows/beverly-hills-90210/doc-martin-27715/cast/ |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Houk |first1=Steve |title=Beth Hart: Surviving to Sing |date=February 25, 2015 |url=https://www.bethhart.com/beth-hart-surviving-to-sing/ |publisher=Mid Life Rocker |access-date=August 9, 2018 |quote="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."}} 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.{{cite web |title=Beth Hart - Leave the Light On |url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/beth-hart-leave-light-sme |publisher=IFPI Denmark |access-date=August 9, 2018}} "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.{{cite web |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/beth-hart-live-at-paradiso |title=Beth Hart Live At Paradiso |work=Slant |date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=October 24, 2016 |author=Keefe, Jonathan}} 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,{{cite web |title=BETH HART - 37 DAYS (ALBUM) |url=https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=Beth+Hart&titel=37+Days&cat=a |website=Danish Charts |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=August 9, 2018}} and additionally reached a Gold certification in the country.{{cite web |title=Gold and Platinum in August |url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/guld-og-platin-i-august |publisher=IFPI Denmark |access-date=August 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117070449/http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content%2Fguld-og-platin-i-august |archive-date=January 17, 2015 |url-status=dead }} The record was her last on a major label (Universal), though it solidified her European commercial success.

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,{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/slash/id362046305 |website=iTunes Store |access-date=March 23, 2010 |title=Slash by Slash|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118205328/https://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/slash/id362046305 |archive-date=January 18, 2014 }} and additionally collaborated with rapper Born on his single "It Hurts", released in February 2012.{{cite web |title=It Hurts (feat. Beth Hart) - Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/it-hurts-feat-beth-hart/507271135?i=507271136 |website=iTunes | date=February 25, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2018}} 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,{{cite news |title=The Drop: Beth Hart |url=https://www.grammymuseum.org/events/detail/the-drop-beth-hart |access-date=August 9, 2018 |agency=The Grammys |publisher=The Grammy Organization |date=June 3, 2015 |quote=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. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029204811/https://www.grammymuseum.org/events/detail/the-drop-beth-hart |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://cameratravel.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/beth-hart/ |title=Don't Explain Gold |website=Living By Camera |access-date=July 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924204427/http://cameratravel.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/beth-hart/ |archive-date=September 24, 2014 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/blues-albums/2013-06-22 |title=Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart |magazine=Billboard |date=June 22, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2016}} 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, Hart and 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.blues.org/blues-music-awards/2016-blues-music-awards/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206134129/http://www.blues.org/blues-music-awards/2016-blues-music-awards/ |title=2016 Blues Music Awards {{!}} 37th Blues Music Award Nominees |website=The Blues Foundation |date=December 15, 2015 |archive-date=February 6, 2016 |access-date=April 19, 2016}} 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{{snd}}London, UK{{snd}}Antwerp, Belgium{{snd}}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.{{cite news |last1=Bylok-Collard |first1=Avrille |title=Jeff Beck Announces 2014 Bluesfest Sideshow |url=http://www.beat.com.au/music/jeff-beck-announces-2014-bluesfest-sideshow |access-date=August 9, 2018 |agency=Beat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042012/http://www.beat.com.au/music/jeff-beck-announces-2014-bluesfest-sideshow |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

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. Nevertheless, the lead single "Mechanical Heart" charted at number 1 in the "iTunes Blues" song list,{{cite web |url=http://www.bethhart.com/mechanical-heart-1-on-itunes/ |title="Mechanical Heart" #1 on iTunes |website=Beth Hart |date=June 3, 2015 |access-date=July 6, 2017}} 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,{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/officialbethhart/posts/1249001558449740 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/131954583487782/1249001558449740 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Beth Hart - Posts - January 29, 2016 |website=Facebook |date=January 29, 2016 |access-date=July 6, 2017}}{{cbignore}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/documentary-unity-set-for-aug-12-release-with-100-star-narrators-1201477200/ |title=Documentary 'Unity' Set for Aug. 12 Release with 100 Star Narrators |work=Variety |access-date=May 1, 2015 |date=April 22, 2015 |author=Dave McNary}}

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).{{cite web |url=http://www.bluebirdreviews.com/albums/740-beth-hart-fire-on-the-floor.html |title=Beth Hart - Fire On The Floor |work=Bluebird Reviews |date=October 20, 2016 |access-date=October 24, 2016 |author=Pilato, Giovanni}} 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, Hart and Bonamassa released Black Coffee, again produced by Kevin Shirley.{{cite web |url=http://bluesrockreview.com/2017/12/hartbonamassa-announce-black-coffee.html |title=Hart/Bonamassa announce "Black Coffee" |work=Blues Rock Review |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=January 12, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/joe-bonamassa-beth-hart-black-coffee-new-album |title=Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa Announce New Album, 'Black Coffee' |work=Guitar World |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=January 12, 2018 |author=Maxwell, Jackson}} The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart,{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/beth-hart/chart-history/blu/ |title=Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart |magazine=Billboard |date=February 10, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2018}} and also in the Dutch album top 100.{{cite web |url= https://www.entertainmentbusiness.nl/nieuws/2018-W05/hart-helpt-bonamassa-aan-eerste-plaats-album-top-100 |title=Hart helpt Bonamassa aan eerste plaats in album top 100 |work=Album Top 100 |language=nl |date=February 2, 2018 |access-date=February 2, 2018}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/watch-beth-hart-perform-good-as-it-gets-at-the-royal-albert-hall |title=Watch Beth Hart perform Good As It Gets at the Royal Albert Hall |work=Classic Rock |date=October 3, 2018 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |author=Munro, Scott}}

Hart released her ninth solo studio album, War in My Mind, on September 27, 2019, through Provogue/Mascot Label Group.{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/beth-hart-is-back-with-new-album-war-in-my-mind-listen-to-the-title-track |title=Beth Hart is back with new album War In My Mind - listen to the title track |work=Louder |date=July 19, 2019 |access-date=July 20, 2019 |author=Munro, Scott}} 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|date=September 2020|reason=Last sentences presents information without supporting documentation, making it original research}}

In 2021, Hart began teasing new music by hiding hints in her Spotify canvas videos.{{cite web |title=Beth Hart on Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/officialbethhart/posts/5252222944794228 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/131954583487782/5252222944794228 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|via=Facebook |access-date=15 November 2021}}{{cbignore}} 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,{{cite web |last=Austin |first=Jen |title=Listen To The First Single From Beth Hart's Led Zeppelin Tribute LP |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/beth-hart-led-zeppelin-tribute/ |work=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=November 15, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2021}} debuting at No. 1 in the Netherlands and became her highest charting solo album in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=beth+hart&cat=a |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204223203/http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=beth+hart&cat=a |url-status=dead |archivedate=2016-02-04 |title=Dutch Charts |website=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=2015-03-10}}

Hart is known for her "visceral", "gritty", "soaring" and "dynamic" contralto vocals. Hart also plays piano, guitar, cello, bass guitar and percussion.{{cite web |url=http://womeninrock.com/beth-hart-rocks-the-birchmere/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025215845/http://womeninrock.com/beth-hart-rocks-the-birchmere/ |title=Beth Hart rocks the Birchmere |work=Women in Rock |date=October 26, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=October 26, 2014}}

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?"{{cite news |last1=Bosso |first1=Joe |title=Interview: Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart on their new album, Don't Explain |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-joe-bonamassa-and-beth-hart-on-their-new-album-dont-explain-511797 |access-date=August 9, 2018 |agency=Music Radar |date=November 7, 2011}}

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."{{cite magazine |last1=Lipshutz |first1=Jason |title=Gimme Five: Miley Cyrus' Favorite Female Singers (Video) |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/1568795/gimme-five-miley-cyrus-favorite-female-singers-video |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Billboard Magazine |access-date=7 October 2021}}

Hart resides in the Silver Lake District of Los Angeles and has been married to her road manager Scott Guetzkow since March 15, 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.rockfreaks.net/interviews/315 |title=Beth Hart |date=July 24, 2014 |access-date=January 25, 2023}} David Wolff has been her manager since 1994.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ott-beth-hart-park-west-1115-20191114-wazgpecafjdgncw3a65fglas4m-story.htmlncw3a65fglas4m-story.html |title= Beth Hart is living the bliss of a life that contains everything in a blizzard of extremes from no label to a Grammy nomination|work= Chicago Tribune|date= November 14, 2019 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |author=Dickinson, Chrissie}} Hart has struggled with drug addiction and bipolar disorder,{{cite web |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2012/01/beth_hart_talks_redemption_add.php |title=Beth Hart Talks Redemption, Addiction and Star Search |work=Dallas Observer |date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=June 26, 2012 |author=Dearmore, Kelly |quote=But the visions of gold records were clouded by addiction and recklessness. Having used drugs in one form or another since her teenage years |archive-date=April 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409220652/http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2012/01/beth_hart_talks_redemption_add.php |url-status=dead }} but has been sober for a number of years finding religion and practicing transcendental meditation.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/singer-songwriter-beth-hart-to-play-at-the-space-at-westbury-1.13072538 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414034724/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/singer-songwriter-beth-hart-to-play-at-the-space-at-westbury-1.13072538 |archivedate=2021-04-14 |title=Singer-songwriter Beth Hart to play at The Space at Westbury |work=Newsday |date=February 7, 2017 |access-date=February 7, 2017 |author=Criblez, David J.}}

At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, Hart received a nomination for Best Blues Album with Seesaw, ultimately losing to Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite's Get Up!. Hart has been nominated at the Blues Music Awards for six consecutive years, ultimately winning the "Instrumentalist - Vocals" category in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://blues.org/2018-blues-music-award-nominees-announced/ |title=2018 Blues Music Awards Nominees and Winners |website=Blues.about.com |date=January 9, 2018 |access-date=January 9, 2018}}

{{main|Beth Hart 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 with Joe Bonamassa (2011)
• Bang Bang Boom Boom (2012)
• Seesaw with Joe Bonamassa (2013)
• Better Than Home (2015)
• Fire on the Floor (2016)
• Black Coffee with Joe Bonamassa (2018)
• War in My Mind (2019)
• A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (2022)
• You Still Got Me (2024)

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Beth Hart}}

• {{Official website|http://www.bethhart.com/}}

{{Beth Hart}}

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Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:American women singer-songwriters

Category:American rock songwriters

Category:American women rock singers

Category:MNRK Music Group artists

Category:American torch singers

Category:American blues singers

Category:American contraltos

Category:American soul singers

Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters

Category:21st-century American women singers

Category:Provogue Records artists