John D'Amato
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John D'Amato

Franklin, Tennessee, United States | INDIE

Franklin, Tennessee, United States | INDIE
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"Guitar Player Magazine"

John D'Amato Nashville, Tennessee,
"Double Stop Me"
I'm almost too exhausted to write this review after being pulled hither and yon by D'Amato's relentless breakneck licks. He just keeps spewing out wilder and wilder phrases until you succumb to giddy delight or vertigo. It's totally
fun and technically impressive, but John-have some mercy!
myspace.com.johndamato/7 - Michael Molenda


"Guitars Plus Usa"

"John D'Amato tore up the stage with some rockin blues" - Summer Namm 2008


"Guitar Jam Daily"

John D'Amato and Eric Gales were both pushing these guitars to the limit with amazing blues playing. Look forward to a full review of the new St. Blues model as soon as they hit the market.

- Guitar Jam Daily


"Guitars Plus Usa"

"John D'Amato tore up the stage with some rockin blues" - Summer Namm 2008


"Saint Blues Web site"

“St. Blues put on a rockin' special event last Saturday night at the Bourbon Street Boogie & Blues Club during Summer NAMM, Nashville. John D'Amato and Eric Gales were killer (along with special guests)! Thanks for a night of great company, drinks and, above all, kickin' guitar playin'.” - Saint Blues Web Site


"Saint Blues Web site"

“St. Blues put on a rockin' special event last Saturday night at the Bourbon Street Boogie & Blues Club during Summer NAMM, Nashville. John D'Amato and Eric Gales were killer (along with special guests)! Thanks for a night of great company, drinks and, above all, kickin' guitar playin'.” - Saint Blues Web Site


"John D'Amato and his band knocked it out of the park."

Soul of The Blues Festival 08/09
"John D'Amato and his band knocked it out of the park at our Soul of the Blues
Festival as the centerpiece of our Saturday night lineup, rocking Greenwich Village
with a blast of super-charged blues. Happy to have them back any time!"

- Jon Sobel Promoter, Soul Of The Blues


"The Fast and Furious.....Once Again"

"I felt compelled to feature John D'Amato on my blog again since his new CD, 'Ain't No Big Deal', is now available for sale on his website, cdbaby, amazon and on iTunes

John is both a very talented songwriter and musician and has
a God-given talent for the blues.

Give this CD a listen when you get a chance...you'll be glad you did. On the
scale of one to ten...I'd give it a 'crank it up'!!! - DONNA DOTSON/ I've Got The Blues Blog


"John D'Amato and his band knocked it out of the park."

Soul of The Blues Festival 08/09
"John D'Amato and his band knocked it out of the park at our Soul of the Blues
Festival as the centerpiece of our Saturday night lineup, rocking Greenwich Village
with a blast of super-charged blues. Happy to have them back any time!"

- Jon Sobel Promoter, Soul Of The Blues


"John D'Amato "Ain't No Big Deal""

"The speed is Alvin Lee, the bent is Stevie Ray, the Chicago dirty white boy voicing is Kim Simmonds, but the notes are all his. Tell me the last time you heard that. None of the comparatives I've cited will quite convey the
captivating artistry: lazily melancholic here, torrid as hell there, but always one
step ahead of the pack." - http://www.acousticmusic.com


"John D'Amato "Ain't No Big Deal""

Ain't No Big Deal
"John D'Amato can sing the Blues up a storm. He is also a
damn fine picker. John's playing is very reminiscent of
Stevie Ray Vaughan. There is also a lot of Jeff Beck about
his playing with his complete mastery of the fret board. John is based in
Nashville and is certainly one of Music City's hidden treasures." - http://countrymusicfactsandnews.com/IndexJazzBluesReviews2.html


"John D'Amato "Ain't No Big Deal""

"The speed is Alvin Lee, the bent is Stevie Ray, the Chicago dirty white boy voicing is Kim Simmonds, but the notes are all his. Tell me the last time you heard that. None of the comparatives I've cited will quite convey the
captivating artistry: lazily melancholic here, torrid as hell there, but always one
step ahead of the pack." - http://www.acousticmusic.com


"Ain’t No Big Deal"

Let's face it, John D’Amato is full of blues and nostalgic looks at his childhood.
His expression of reality and pride is unlike anyone else's.
"Ain't No Big Deal" is a remarkable trip. - John Shelton Ivany / National News Bureau


"Ain’t No Big Deal"

Let's face it, John D’Amato is full of blues and nostalgic looks at his childhood.
His expression of reality and pride is unlike anyone else's.
"Ain't No Big Deal" is a remarkable trip. - John Shelton Ivany / National News Bureau


"John D'Amato "Ain't No Big Deal""

As blues lore goes, many a blues man was born with the blues. However, few can testify to that, and one of those few is blues man John D'Amato. You see, due to a congenital heart defect which caused a lack of breath at birth, John was actually born blue. He spent his childhood paying his dues. And now, with the grace of God and some wonderful medical help, John's doing something he's earned the right to do, and that's play the blues.

On his debut release - "Ain't No Big Deal" - John D'Amato, on electric guitar and vocals, is joined by: Lauren Cook D'Amato on background vocals; Kim Shrum on acoustic guitar, background vocals & keyboards; Dennis Taylor on saxophone; Keith Kenyon on bass; Ray Gonzales and Nick Lauritano on drums; and Jay Vern on keyboards.

Knowing about his early life's problems, I can't help wondering if John D"Amato picked this song for his opening track as a way of letting people know he really has his "Mojo Working".....and man is it working. Granted, this song's been done by everyone, but I don't recall anyone ever doing it quite this fast. Ray's lightening fast rhythm lead has everyone in super high gear and there are several blistering guitar leads culminated by a ninety second accelerated romp to end the track. This one's hot stuff.

At one point during that last track I thought I may have been listening to some of the discs best guitar work - I was wrong! Not thinking it possible, John actually takes it up a few notches on "Got No Shame". At this moment I'm in an absolute state of awe. Keith and Ray help this one out with some solid, and at times a bit funky, rhythm. Another smoker.

The first of several originals is titled "What's Up?" Of course the guitar riffs are as intense as ever, but this track had me focused more on John's vocal talents. A nice pitch and just the right amount of rasp, combine for a natural voice for singing the blues. More great rhythm with some extra help from Jay on piano.

"Black Orpheus" is nearly six minutes of perfect instrumental work. With Keith and Jay adding tremendous rhythm on bass and organ, Ray is at discs' best with the percussion. And John....he's being the usual guitar God I've come to know him as. This one rated several replays.

Now I'm sure there are many bar bands around the world that have butchered this song, but I seem to like it by anyone I ever hear do it. I think this particular version of "Folsom Prison" would even have Johnny smiling.

"Double Stop Me". The musicians reading this will understand what I mean, the rest of you will just have to hear it. On this instrumental, John D'Amato gives new meaning to the term "double stop". Let me just say it's double stopping on steroids and leave it at that. I can understand this one being less than three minutes - I was out of breath just listening.

Other tracks on "Ain't No Big Deal" include: "Stormy Monday", "Walk With Me", "Lift Me Up", and "Ain't No Big Deal".

If you haven't done so yet, you need to stop reading right now and get over to www.bluezzman.com. And instead of suggesting you pick up the disc while you're there, I'm going to do something a bit more stringent.....I'm going to insist you do so. Don't worry about it, you'll be thanking me later. BTW, please tell that Bluezzman this Blewzzman says "thanks, and great job".
- PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO


"John D’Amato - Guitarist Extraordinaire"

John D’Amato started playing guitar at age 10 and was the first contemporary guitarist accepted into an experimental performing arts high school at the Educational Center for The Arts at age 15. D’Amato 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, and G.E. Smith, Saturday Night Live’s band leader and Hall and Oates’ guitarist.



D’Amato joined a regional country band named “Kim Clark & High Sierra” who shared the bill with many National country artists such as: Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, and Asleep at the Wheel. 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. D’Amato has performed with B.B. King, Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix’s Bassist), Shrapnel recording artist Eric Gales, Lofton Creek recording artist Will Peppers, and blues legend Joe Louis Walker.

Tell us about the first time you knew you wanted to play the guitar.

I was about 5 years old. My sister had a guitar that my dad bought her and she never used it. I had a little white plastic guitar with plastic strings that was shaped like a Les Paul (though I didn't know who or what a Les Paul was at the time). I would hit that thing like I knew what I was doing and sing at the top of my lungs (no wonder why my Dad and Mom were always telling me to shut up). When my sister would go out I would sneak into her room and pick up her guitar and try to play it. It wasn't until several years later that I learned you were supposed to press the strings to the fret board to make different sounds not just strum an open guitar. It was so much fun playing that thing I was hooked.

If you could name one artist that has been influential in your life, who would it be?

The artist that has been most influential in my life is Jimi Hendrix. The first time I heard Purple Haze I was probably 9 at the time and the raw energy and feel he played with blew me away. When I listened to him play it was like there was nothing holding him back and you could feel the energy and power of music through his playing.

You recently released a CD entitled, “Ain’t No Big Deal”. Tell us about the project.

Well let's see this CD has been a long time in the making. I came to Nashville in 2001, two months before 911; I was producing and playing with a country artist that was about to be signed to Columbia Records. That deal fell through and the project dissolved so I moved on. Then I worked with several other artists in the same capacity as producer and guitarist/band leader and each time the projects fizzled. About the time the last one began to die I wrote and recorded an instrumental called "Double Stop Me". Just for the heck of it I put it on Myspace and before I knew it I was featured in Guitar Player Magazine’s D.I.Y. section.



I was also working the clubs on Broadway in Nashville and I would do a couple of my blues songs when the lead singer took a break. I kept getting such a good response from the crowd I decided to put out my own CD. The CD's title track "Ain't No Big Deal" was the last song we recorded. It was written by me and my producer C. Kim Shrum/DreamMusicStudio, in about 20 minutes. It's your typical blues/country heart broke song but is very cool. There are five original songs on the CD. Two that I wrote: "What's Up", and "Double Stop Me", and three written by me and C. Kim Shrum: "Walk With Me Lord", "Lift Me Up" and "Ain't No Big Deal". There are four covers: “Mojo Working”, “Stormy Monday”, “Got No Shame” (written by two Nashville writers) and an instrumental "Black Orpheus". Black Orpheus features a hot sax solo by Dennis Taylor who is currently with Delbert McClinton's band.



I think every song on the CD has something special about it. I have just uploaded all my "STUFF" onto CD baby's server. They tell me it will be about 6 to 8 weeks before it will be ready to buy on ITunes etc. but I have samples on my web site www.johndamato.net and you can purchase it through paypal there. You can also buy the single "What's Up" on ITunes, Amazon.com etc.

How many tootsie rolls did you eat while recording this CD?

How’d you know about that? I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me when my doctor and my wife read this.

What’s the freakiest thing you’ve had happen to you in your musical career?

Freakiest thing was when I presented "Walk With Me Lord" to my producer C. Kim Shrum. I only had the chorus and the first verse completed. He read the lyrics, got this strange look on his face, got up from his chair and found an old notebook. He opened the notebook and showed me a song he was writing about walking with God and it was the perfect 2nd verse for the song.

What would be your “dream - musicnewsnashville.com


"John D’Amato - Guitarist Extraordinaire"

John D’Amato started playing guitar at age 10 and was the first contemporary guitarist accepted into an experimental performing arts high school at the Educational Center for The Arts at age 15. D’Amato 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, and G.E. Smith, Saturday Night Live’s band leader and Hall and Oates’ guitarist.



D’Amato joined a regional country band named “Kim Clark & High Sierra” who shared the bill with many National country artists such as: Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, and Asleep at the Wheel. 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. D’Amato has performed with B.B. King, Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix’s Bassist), Shrapnel recording artist Eric Gales, Lofton Creek recording artist Will Peppers, and blues legend Joe Louis Walker.

Tell us about the first time you knew you wanted to play the guitar.

I was about 5 years old. My sister had a guitar that my dad bought her and she never used it. I had a little white plastic guitar with plastic strings that was shaped like a Les Paul (though I didn't know who or what a Les Paul was at the time). I would hit that thing like I knew what I was doing and sing at the top of my lungs (no wonder why my Dad and Mom were always telling me to shut up). When my sister would go out I would sneak into her room and pick up her guitar and try to play it. It wasn't until several years later that I learned you were supposed to press the strings to the fret board to make different sounds not just strum an open guitar. It was so much fun playing that thing I was hooked.

If you could name one artist that has been influential in your life, who would it be?

The artist that has been most influential in my life is Jimi Hendrix. The first time I heard Purple Haze I was probably 9 at the time and the raw energy and feel he played with blew me away. When I listened to him play it was like there was nothing holding him back and you could feel the energy and power of music through his playing.

You recently released a CD entitled, “Ain’t No Big Deal”. Tell us about the project.

Well let's see this CD has been a long time in the making. I came to Nashville in 2001, two months before 911; I was producing and playing with a country artist that was about to be signed to Columbia Records. That deal fell through and the project dissolved so I moved on. Then I worked with several other artists in the same capacity as producer and guitarist/band leader and each time the projects fizzled. About the time the last one began to die I wrote and recorded an instrumental called "Double Stop Me". Just for the heck of it I put it on Myspace and before I knew it I was featured in Guitar Player Magazine’s D.I.Y. section.



I was also working the clubs on Broadway in Nashville and I would do a couple of my blues songs when the lead singer took a break. I kept getting such a good response from the crowd I decided to put out my own CD. The CD's title track "Ain't No Big Deal" was the last song we recorded. It was written by me and my producer C. Kim Shrum/DreamMusicStudio, in about 20 minutes. It's your typical blues/country heart broke song but is very cool. There are five original songs on the CD. Two that I wrote: "What's Up", and "Double Stop Me", and three written by me and C. Kim Shrum: "Walk With Me Lord", "Lift Me Up" and "Ain't No Big Deal". There are four covers: “Mojo Working”, “Stormy Monday”, “Got No Shame” (written by two Nashville writers) and an instrumental "Black Orpheus". Black Orpheus features a hot sax solo by Dennis Taylor who is currently with Delbert McClinton's band.



I think every song on the CD has something special about it. I have just uploaded all my "STUFF" onto CD baby's server. They tell me it will be about 6 to 8 weeks before it will be ready to buy on ITunes etc. but I have samples on my web site www.johndamato.net and you can purchase it through paypal there. You can also buy the single "What's Up" on ITunes, Amazon.com etc.

How many tootsie rolls did you eat while recording this CD?

How’d you know about that? I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me when my doctor and my wife read this.

What’s the freakiest thing you’ve had happen to you in your musical career?

Freakiest thing was when I presented "Walk With Me Lord" to my producer C. Kim Shrum. I only had the chorus and the first verse completed. He read the lyrics, got this strange look on his face, got up from his chair and found an old notebook. He opened the notebook and showed me a song he was writing about walking with God and it was the perfect 2nd verse for the song.

What would be your “dream - musicnewsnashville.com


Discography

What's Up?-single released November 2008
Ain't No Big Deal-CD released
September 2009

Photos

Bio

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 was the first contemporary guitarist accepted into an experimental performing arts high school at the Educational Center for The Arts at age 15. D’Amato 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, 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. D’Amato has performed with B.B. King, Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix’s Bassist), Shrapnel recording artist Eric Gales.

New Generation Of Blues Men
John is one of the new generation of blues men. By combining all of his influences (T Bone Walker, Buddy Guy, John’s good friend Joe Louis Walker, B. B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and a host of other genres) John has managed to create his own brand of music that connects the passion and feel of blues with the high energy and intensity of rock-n-roll.
John D’Amato is one of those rare guitarists that have managed to combine amazing chops with amazing feel. His ability to bring a song to the next level with his passionate solos along with his unique soulful vocal style continually impress fans and festival promoters.

"Ain't No Big Deal"
John's debut CD "Ain't No Big Deal" was released to radio on October 15, 2010 and within three weeks has climbed onto the Roots Music Report National Blues Charts at #41. John is still receiving extensive national and international airplay.

Performance Resume'
John's touring schedule was deliberately kept light during 2010 to allow John to focus on the promotion of his debut release, but don't let that fool you. 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, Hardin, KY; Pig In The Grove Fest, TN; Benefit For Jennifer, 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, Los Angeles, 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 Waters Bassist); Jason Ricci (2009)
Blues Awards winner for Harmonica, Delbert McClinton and James Nick 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 solos will surly secure him a place in the New Generation of Blues Men.


John was selected as one of the top Myspace artists
by "Guitar Player Magazine"in 03/2007

John endorses St. Blues Guitars and Rivera Amplifiers and can be seen on the St blues web site demoing all their guitars.

Excerpts From Reviews Of John's Live Shows:

"This is a real guitar player right here"
Joe Louis Walker
Blues Artist
"I'm glad I got to perform with you."
Eric Gales
Blues Artist
"John you are a guitar playing machine"
Mac Arnold
Blues Artist and
Bassist for Muddy Waters.
“Amazing blues playing”
Jim Basara
"Guitar Jam Daily"
“Tearing it up”
"Guitars Plus Usa"

"John D'Amato and Eric Gales were killer (along with special guests)! Thanks for a night of great company, drinks and, above all, kickin' guitar playin'!"