Biography

Born With The Blues

You might say that John D'Amato was born with the blues. John was born blue due to a lack of oxygen caused by a congenital heart defect that was correct at the age of 9. This led John down a different path than most children, one of seemingly endless Doctor visits, medical tests, lonely hospital stays and painful medical procedures all of which were to determine if they could correct John's problem before it killed him. Fortunately through the grace of God and a doctor at Yale University a surgical procedure was developed that saved John's life.



Building The Blues Style

John started playing guitar at age 10 and at the age of 15 was the first contemporary guitarist accepted into an experimental performing arts high school at the Educational Center for The Arts. John quickly became one of the most in demand guitarists on the local music scene in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut and frequently performed on the same bill as the not yet famous, Michael Bolton, Christine Ohlman, and G.E. Smith, Saturday Night Live’s band leader and Hall and Oates’ guitarist.

In 2001 D’Amato relocated to Nashville to pursue his production, songwriting and performing goals and has produced, co-wrote and contributed guitar work on four independent artist’s CD’s.



New Generation OF Blues Men
Since the release of his 2010 debut CD “Ain’t No Big Deal”, John D’Amato’s guitar prowess and soulful vocals, has landed him on stage with many notable musicians: B.B. King, Billy Cox, Eric Gales and Joe Louis Walker, who was so impressed with John’s abilities he asked John to perform with him on his new Alligator Records Release “HellFire”, produced by Grammy Award Winning Producer, Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy and B.B. King).
John is one of the new generation of hard rockin’ blues men with elements of the styles of music that have influenced John: T Bone Walker, Buddy Guy, Joe Louis Walker, B.B. King, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and a host of other genres of music. John has an ability to bring a song to the next level with his incendiary yet tasteful solos combined with his unique vocal style make his music a cut above the rest.
John’s debut CD “Ain’t No Big Deal” climbed to #9 on the “Airplay Direct Blues Charts” in November of 2011, and to #45 on the “Roots Music Report National Blues Charts” within three weeks of its release. “Real Blues Magazine” added it to its list of “The Top 100 Blues CDs” and “Ain’t No Big Deal” continues to receive extensive airplay worldwide. Ian McHugh of “Blues Is The Truth” on UKJazzRadio has described John’s music as “Spectacularly Frenetic”. Michael Molenda of “Guitar Player Magazine” said “He [John] just keeps spewing out wilder and wilder phrases until you succumb to giddy delight or vertigo”. Mark Tucker of F.A.M.E. Magazine stated “[John’s music is] inventive and original yet true to the genre”. All these qoutes add up to one thing. Jaw Dropping, Show Stopping blues guitar and vocals that will please any blues fan anywhere.




“Ain’t No Big Deal”

John’s Debut CD “Ain’t No Big Deal” was released to radio on October 15th, 2010 and within three weeks has climbed onto the Roots Music Report National Blues Charts at #41.



Performance Resume

John’s will be touring Amsterdam, The Uk and other
European countries in October of 2012. John and his band have performed at numerous festivals and blues clubs throughout the U.S. Some of them are: The Soul Of The Blues Festival, Greenwich Village NY; Hot August Blues Festival, KY; Pig In The Grove Festival, TN

Benefit for Jennifier, Greenville, SC; B.B.King’s Nashville,TN; Toad’s Place New Haven, CT; Brackin’s Blues Bar Maryville, TN; Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar Nashville, TN; Nashville Convention Center, Nashville TN; Los Angeles Convention Center, CA; Doc’s Music Hall, Muncie IN. In addition to performing with his own band John has shared the stage with B.B. King, Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix’s Bassist), Shrapnel recording artist Eric Gales, blues legend Joe Louis Walker, Mac Arnold (Muddy Water’s Bassist), Jason Ricci (2009 Blues Music Award Winner for Harmonica), Delbert McClinton and James Nixon.



John is definitely one of the new up and coming blues artists . His ability to bring a song to the next level with his soulful vocals and incendiary guitar playing will surly secure a place for him in the New Generation of Blues Men.





John endorses Saint Blues Guitars, Dean Markley Strings and Rivera Amplifiers. Check out John in the Sound Lab on Saint Blues web site demoing all their guitars.