Joe Bonamassa has added another No. 1 to his blues chart record with The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork, a live album honoring Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher.
Billboard’s chart update places the project at the top of the Blues Albums chart, extending Bonamassa’s long run as one of the format’s most consistent performers. The release captures shows recorded in Cork, Ireland, a city closely tied to Gallagher’s life and musical legacy.
The album centers on Gallagher’s songs rather than Bonamassa’s own catalog. That choice gives the project a clear purpose: to celebrate a guitarist who helped shape generations of blues and rock players, including Bonamassa himself.
Recorded in front of Irish audiences, The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork also carries a local weight. Gallagher remains a major cultural figure in Cork, and the tribute connects his music with a modern blues artist who has often spoken about his influence.
For Bonamassa, the No. 1 debut is both a chart achievement and a public salute to one of his earliest inspirations.
