"It's the wind over the ocean. It's the secrets in the sand.
It's all trying to tell me something.
So I'm listening."
"Life is Calling"
~ Lyrics by Beth Hart
Beth Hart came into the world on January 24th and grew up in Los Angeles, California. At the tender age of 4, she was playing piano and at age 18, won 13 episodes in a row on Star Search, where she went on to win the show's final competition. Years later, she is performing and making blues records with guitarist Joe Bonamassa and appearing worldwide in legendary line-ups, including Jeff Beck.
She guides us on her life journey with a soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, Beth paints the setting with her intense powerful sound. All musical tapestries spun to heal the pained soul.
With a unique, raw voice, Beth can croon ballads, yet belt out rock numbers with true grit and tenacity. Beth Hart, like the greats: Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Janis Joplin, reaches deep. She pulls out everything and makes instant impact, not with her heart, but with her soul.
"Music is what life sounds like." ~ Eric Olson
Beth Hart is no shrinking violet. Her mesmerizing voice has ferocity, backed by artistically creative musicianship. She is here and now - a striking presence and a mighty force to be reckoned with. Beth's indomitable spirit gives no quarter and she expects none back.
"Music is an outburst of the soul." ~ Frederick Delius
Her band includes lead guitarist, Jon Nichols, bassist, Tom Lilly, and drummer, Todd Wolf.
The Music:
In 1993, she recorded her first album, Beth Hart and the Ocean of Souls. Beth released her next album, Immortal with the Beth Hart Band in 1996.
Her subsequent album, Screamin' for My Supper, came out on Atlantic records in 1999. It featured the top 5 Adult Contemporary chart hit, "LA Song (Out of This Town)." Beth was also singing the lead role in the off-Broadway musical, "Love, Janis," a play based on Janis Joplin's letters home to her mother.
In 2003, Leave the Light On, was released and in 2005 Beth released Live at Paradiso. July, 2007 found Beth releasing 37 Days in Europe July 2007. During this time, Beth performed a song with Slash, called "Mother Maria."
In 2011, Beth worked with blues guitar legend, Joe Bonamassa; first providing vocals for the track, "No Love On The Street" on his album Dust Bowl, then collaborating on an entire album of blues classics entitled, Don't Explain , which was released on September 2011. We loved this record so much, that we reviewed it twice on this website:
Click on the photos to read our reviews of Beth and Joe.
The following 5 songs are being re-released to fans in North America. They were originally released on two different albums: 37 Days and My California. Interestingly, in 37 Days, the album title refers to how long it took to record the album. For My California, Beth's Danish producer, Rune Westberg, wanted her not to rely on her impressive voice, but to make the songs powerfully emotional and that is exactly what she did. My California is openly poignant and emotes Beth's hard-won battles as well as her losses.
Introducing: Beth Hart
Good As It Gets
From the album 37 Days, the music is upbeat and Beth gets into the groove and sings this song for all its worth.
My California
From the self titled album, My California, with lyrics by Beth Hart. I read that this song was written for her husband/manager, Scott. From the lyrics to the music, it's hauntingly beautiful.
"I have made you suffer, left you waiting in the rain
While I was chasing demons in the deserts of my pain
You know me better than the poison in my veins
So my love remember, when God forgets my name."
Sister Heroine
This is the 7th track from My California, with lyrics by Beth Hart. "Sister Heroine," is a sensitive, honest and moving tribute to her older sister who died of heroin abuse. It is an extremely powerful and sad ballad filled with much emotion, reflecting the pain, struggle and closure of losing someone. Beth honored the memory of her sister beautifully in the way she does best – with song. NOTE: Slash, former guitarist of Guns N' Roses, guest performs on the track.
"...So forgive me for my weakness
I guess my faith is a little stoned
The angles cried on a Friday
The day that God walked you home."
Soul Shine
From 37 Days, this track is a cover of the song, "Soulshine", originally written by the Allman Brothers guitarist, Warren Haynes. While the Allman Brother's version is fantastic, I prefer Beth's style, the way she imbues her own brand of soul fire and sound; Beth took a well known song and made it her own.
Easy
From 37 Days, a song that starts off easy, but holds no punches as it gets moving, with strong vocals offering telling lyrics.
To learn more about this incredible artist, click the links below:
~Beth Hart~
http://www.facebook.com/officialbethhart
For more articles from S.A. Hussey, go to her writer's blog here.
