 Born in Fargo, N.D. in 1981, Jonny Lang (then known by his given name, Jon Langseth) played saxophone in his junior high band. At age 12 he saw his first blues/rock band, Bad Medicine. Impressed by the band's lead guitarist, Ted Larsen, Lang asked for and received a guitar for his 13th birthday. He began taking lessons from Larsen. Lang's progress was quick; within months he was fronting Larsen's band. The band, renamed Kid Jonny Lang and the Big Bang, moved to Minneapolis to pay their dues, playing three or four shows a week. They released an independent album, Smokin', that ended up selling 25,000 copies without national distribution. Smokin' attracted the attention of A&M Records, and Lang found himself with a major-label recording contract before he could get a drivers' license. Lang's first album for A&M, Lie to Me, was released on the eve of his 16th birthday. The video for the single of the same name caught on at both MTV and VH-1, exposing the photogenic Lang to a vast mainstream audience. Also helping to promote Lie to Me was Lang's constant touring, including opening slots for Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, and Lang's idol B.B. King. The album eventually topped a million in sales. Though Lang's brand of blues was rejected by some staunch blues purists, the elder statesmen of the blues were highly supportive. King has invited Lang on stage to jam, as have blues greats Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks and Buddy Guy. Lang's second album, Wander the World, was released in November 1998. Andrew Fraker
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