Jonny Lang

A blues rock prodigy who blazed on the scene in his early teens, Jonny Lang's virtuoso guitar shredding and soul-purging vocals caused a huge stir when he first emerged from his family farm in Fargo, North Dakota in the mid-1990s. Growing up listening to everything from Mariah Carey to Nirvana to gospel, Lang started playing his sister's guitar at the age of 12 and was soon out jamming with local blues band Bad Medicine and then formed his own group Kid Jonny Lang and the Big Band.

During an era when young guitar mavericks like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa were all the rage, Lang released his debut 'Smokin'' in 1995 through an independent company before an industry bidding war led to him signing a major label deal with A&M for his breakthrough album 'Lie to Me' in 1997. Released a day before his 16th birthday, the record featured a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' and Ike Turner's 'Matchbox' alongside Lang's original songs and laid down a template for his raw, heart-on-sleeve, blues raw freak-outs.

The follow-up 'Wander This World' was more of a Memphis soul stomp and he toured with BB King, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith and played at the White House for President Clinton before storming into the US top 20 for the first time with fourth album 'Long Time Coming' in 2003.

Overcoming addiction problems and converting to Christianity, Lang told of his redemption and won his first Grammy Award for the gospel and Stevie Wonder-influenced 'Turn Around' in 2006. He continued to spread his Christian beliefs on the funky 'Fight for My Soul' and with the swaggering, barroom grooves of 'Signs' in 2017.