Joe Bonamassa was born in Utica, New York. His father a guitar player and dealer, there was always a guitar laying about somewhere in the Bonamassa home. Young Joe began playing at age four. By the time he was 12 the young virtuoso was a force to be reckoned with. So much so that at only 12 Joe Bonamassa opened for the great blues man himself B.B. King. At King's request Joe performed at B.B.'s eightieth birthday celebration. Bonamassa appeared on his first album while still in his tens. In 2000 he went solo and his music has continually found its place at the top of the Billboard Blues Charts.

As if we weren't already duely impressed with his playing ability Joe Bonamassa features his singing voice on many of the tracks on "Sloe Gin'; a voice that is perfectly suited for singing the blues. Bonamassa demonstrates with his playing and vocal abilities that one does not have to live the blues to perform or master it.

Many of the 14 tracks that appear on "Sloe Gin" are not just blues but rock and roll blues; but Bonamassa shows his softer side on "Around the Bend" and "Richmond". The final track "India" reflects the style of music heard in that country.