Jonny Lang

Jon Gordon Langseth Jr. (born January 29, 1981), known as Jonny Lang, is an American blues, gospel, and rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist.[1] He has five albums that charted on the top 50 of the Billboard 200 chart and has won a Grammy Award for Turn Around.

Jonny Lang
Lang performing at Ottawa Bluesfest in 2007
Background information
Birth nameJon Gordon Langseth Jr.
Born (1981-01-29) January 29, 1981
Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
GenresBlues, gospel, rock
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1995–present
LabelsA&M, Concord International, Interscope
Websitewww.jonnylang.com

Biography

Jonny Lang is of Norwegian descent and was born in Fargo, North Dakota, United States.[1] He started playing the guitar at the age of 12. He got his start playing guitar for his friends on the Vallagers' porch at their lake place. He would play everything from modern hits to the classics, even performing an astounding rendition of Jimi Hendrix's take on the National Anthem. Soon after his father took him to see the Bad Medicine Blues Band, one of the few blues bands in Fargo, Lang started taking guitar lessons from Ted Larsen, the band's guitar player. Several months after Lang began, he joined the band, which was then renamed Kid Jonny Lang & The Big Bang. Two years later A&M Records, then home of Janet Jackson and Soundgarden, was invited to come see him at a live performance at Bunkers Bar in Minneapolis, and he was signed to the label becoming the latest in a trend of young blues guitarists that then included Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Derek Trucks.[1] The band moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and independently released the album Smokin' when Lang was 14. He was signed to A&M Records in 1996.[1] He released the critically acclaimed multi-platinum Lie to Me on January 28, 1997.[1] 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 2006 album, the gospel-influenced Turn Around, won him his first Grammy Award.[2]

In his earliest performing years, Lang always performed barefoot on stage, because "it feels good" and once in tribute to Luther Allison, a friend who had recently died. He has since given up that practice, after several near-accidents and electric shocks.

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 that included President and Mrs. Clinton.[3] Earlier that year he was selected by the newly elected Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura to perform at his Inaugural Ball. 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 also appears regularly as a part of the Experience Hendrix Tour along with many other well-known guitarists to pay tribute to the deceased guitar legend.

Musical equipment

Jonny Lang, since the beginning with The Big Bang, has slung a 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline made by the Fender Custom Shop, as well as a 1958 reissue custom shop Gibson Les Paul in more recent years as his sound and style have grown and flourished. His original Custom Shop Tele - with a black flamed maple top, flamed maple neck, pearl signature inlay and his trademark pinup girl character on the aft body was stolen some years ago. He has added a couple more custom thinline teles-all carrying the basic aesthetic motif, but with varying colors from a burnt orange/amber to a deep violet throughout the years since. The 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline is a semi-hollow spruce body, maple top, and a maple neck and fretboard. He has not, however, sported the pearl "Jonny Lang" signature inlay since his original custom tele, but still stays true to his WWII-style pinup girl aftbody artwork. Jonny's Telecasters have three Bill Lawrence Pickups (500L Neck, 500XL Bridge) with a 5-way pickup switch and a coil-tap for accessing a single-coil tone. On his pedalboard for his 2014 tour were the Analog Man King of Tone, a Whirlwind The Bomb boost, a Visual Sound V2 Route 808, a Fulltone Ultimate Octave, a JAM Pedals Tube Dreamer, and a Boss AW-3 Dynamic Wah. On this tour he played his Custom Shop Tele and the 1958 reissue Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul through a pair of modified Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb amps.[4] Jonny also used an arbiter Fuzz Face and an Electro Harmonix POG for The Experience Hendrix tour. Lang has also used Audiotech Guitar Products ABC Selector CCM on his 2005 acoustic tour.

The Fender Telecaster featured on the cover of Lie to Me is in fact not a Telecaster at all, but an original Fender Esquire. Upon filming the music video for the title track "Lie to Me" which took place in a San Francisco music store, the owner of the store suggested Lang play the Esquire in the video. Lang fell in love with the guitar and it was purchased and given to him as a gift. He continues to use it, but not as often as his Custom Shop Telecaster and Signature Series Les Paul.[4]

Band personnel

From 1993 to 1996, Lang's backing band was The Big Bang. This group consisted of three founding members of the Bad Medicine Blues Band: Ted "Lightnin' Boy" Larsen on guitar, his brother Michael Rey Larsen on drums, and Jeff Hayenga on bass. Keyboardist Bruce McCabe joined The Big Bang in 1995 after Lang and this young band from Fargo impressed him with their set opening for McCabe's band at the time, The Hoopsnakes.

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. Also appearing on keyboards during 2003 and 2004 was Donnie La Marca, filling in for McCabe during his break from touring. 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. Guitarist Reeve Carney was the band's opening act for several shows in 2005, as well as for the 2006 and 2007 tours.

The recent band line up includes Barry Alexander[5] from Minneapolis on drums, Jim Anton from Minneapolis on bass, Akil Thompson from Nashville on rhythm guitar, Dwan Hill from Nashville on keys, Missi Hale from Los Angeles on background vocals.

Lang's current band line up is Barry Alexander on drums, Jim Anton on bass, Tyrus Sass on keyboards and Zane Carney on rhythm guitar.[6]

Recent years

On September 17, 2013, Lang released his first studio album in seven years, Fight for My Soul.

The studio album, Signs, saw release on September 1 in Europe, and on September 8, 2017, in North America.

Personal life

Family

Lang married former Kids Incorporated cast member Haylie Johnson on June 8, 2001, making him the brother-in-law of actress Ashley Johnson. Lang and his wife share the same birthday, although she is one year older. They live in Los Angeles and have five children: son Raimy Lee and daughter Saylor Monroe (fraternal twins), daughter Rennix Belle, daughter Lilou Jaymes, and son Tevi Flynn.[7]

Lang has two older sisters, Stephanie and Heidi Jo. He also has one younger sister, Jessica ("Jesse"), who was a contestant on season 8 of American Idol.

Conversion to Christianity

Lang became a Christian in 2000.[8][9] In an interview with Sara Groves on Christianity Today, Lang gave details about his conversion, assuring he had a supernatural experience with the Holy Ghost.[9] In his own words, he has said that he formerly "hated Christianity"[10] and "despised the things of God", but now he wants to share with others about Jesus' love.[11]

The songs "Only a Man" and "Thankful" from his album Turn Around, are about his belief in God. He has also co-written a couple of songs with Christian-music artist Steven Curtis Chapman, notably "My Love Remains".[12]

Discography

Studio albums
  • 1995 Smokin' (Kid Jonny Lang & The Big Bang)
  • 1997 Lie to Me, No. 44 (Billboard 200)
  • 1998 Wander This World, No. 28 (Billboard 200)
  • 2003 Long Time Coming, No. 17 (Billboard 200)
  • 2006 Turn Around, No. 35 (US Billboard 200), No. 1 (Billboard Christian Albums)
  • 2009 Live at the Ryman, No. 2 (Billboard Blues Albums)
  • 2013 Fight for My Soul, No. 50 (Billboard 200), No. 1 (Billboard Blues Albums), No. 2 (Billboard Christian Albums)
  • 2017 Signs, No. 153 (Billboard 200)[13]

Guest appearances

Filmography and television appearances
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References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 733. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. "Jonny Lang". Grammy.com. June 4, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  3. "Jonny Lang Plays For Clintons, Sets Dates With Jeff Beck". Mtv.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. "Rig Rundown: Jonny Lang". PremierGuitar.com. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  5. "Zildjian Artists|Barry Alexander II Artist Page". Zildjian.com. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  6. "Jonny Lang Brings Soul, Blues And Extraordinary Guitar Work To The Paramount - Long Island Weekly". Long Island Weekly. October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  7. Wiederhorn, Jon. "Jonny Lang Recalls Debilitating Demons on 'Fight For My Soul'". Musicyahoo.com. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  8. "Jonny Lang, Guitartist Johnny Lang, Blues guitarist Johnny Lang, Christian Johnny Lang". Beliefnet.com. February 17, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  9. "Jonny Lang: From the Blues Brothers to Christian brother - Jonny Lang". Crossrhythms.co.uk. July 3, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  10. Sara Groves (September 25, 2006). "'I Hated Christianity' - Sara Groves". Crosswalk.com. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  11. "Turning It Around | An Exclusive Interview With Jonny Lang". NewReleaseToday.com. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  12. "::: BREATHEcast.com ::: Christian Artist Database, Bios, News, Albums, Concert Dates. - Jonny Lang Interview!". October 29, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  13. "Jonny Lang - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  14. "Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"". Reuters. March 27, 2009.
  15. "NBC Video Rewind". NBC. April 16, 2009. Archived from the original on March 24, 2009.
  16. Joe Bosso. "Ask MusicRadar: submit your questions for Eric Johnson | Guitar News". MusicRadar. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  17. "The Drew Carey Show - Episode Guide". TV.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
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