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Smokestack Lightnin' Home Page -- The Blues Profile Page
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Jonny Lang (born Jon Gordon Langseth, Jr., January 29, 1981 in Fargo, North Dakota) is a Grammy Award-winning American blues, gospel, and rock singer, song writer and recording artist. Lang's music is notable both for his unusual voice, which has been compared to that of a 40 year old blues veteran, and for his guitar solos. His solo patterns have especially been noted for the constant use of wide vibratos.
The band moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and independently released the album Smokin when Lang was 15. Lang was signed to A&M Records in 1996. He released the critically acclaimed multi-platinum Lie to Me on January 28, 1997. The next album, Wander This World, was released on October 20, 1998 and earned a Grammy nomination. This was followed by the more soulful Long Time Coming on October 14, 2003. Lang also made a cover of Edgar Winter's "Dying to Live." Lang's newest album, the gospel-influenced Turn Around, was released in 2006, and most recently won Lang his first Grammy Award. In more than ten years on the road, Lang has toured with the Rolling
Stones,Buddy Guy, Aerosmith, B.B. King, Blues Traveler, Jeff Beck, and
Sting. In 1999, he was invited to play for a White House audience
including President and Mrs. Clinton. Lang also makes a cameo appearance
in the film Blues Brothers 2000 as a janitor. In 2004 Eric Clapton asked
Lang to play at the Crossroads Guitar Festival to raise money for the
Crossroads Centre Antigua. Lang's younger sister, Jesse Langseth, is
also a singer and was eliminated in the "Wild Card" round in the 8th
season of American Idol From 1996 to 2004, Lang's backing band included Paul Diethelm on guitar, Bruce McCabe on keyboards, Doug Nelson on bass and Billy Thommes on drums. Nelson was killed in a traffic accident in 2000 and was replaced by Billy Franze. Franze was in turn replaced by Jim Anton in 2003. Saxophone player David Eiland was added in 2000, providing Lang with a foil for extended instrumental jams. In 2005, Lang replaced the entire lineup, except for Anton, and embarked on an acoustic tour. He performed with Wendy Alane Wright at the 2000 pre-Grammy party. New guitarist Reeve Carney was also the Lang band's opening act for several shows in 2005 and as well as the 2006 and 2007 tours. The new band also includes organist and Houston, Texas native Charles Jones, plus drummer Barry Alexander and organist Bill Brown from Minneapolis.
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