Jonny Lang. The Next One?  by Steven Pesant

With a fiery bolt of lightning a
new blues hero has hit the big stage Recently signed to a four -album recording contract with A&M, 16 year old Jonny Lang provides a fresh voice and awe-inspiring attack on the classic blues of yesteryear. Not only does Lang rip into the emotion of the music on the guitar, he delivers raw, soulful vocals with confidence. Lang's "barn burning" debut Lie to Me features 55 minutes of charged musical intensity that rivals blues artists 30 years his elder. Tackling Sonny Boy Williamson's classic "Good Morning Little School Girl" is only the tip of the iceberg. Hailing from the frozen plains of Fargo, North Dakota, Lang has reason to sing the blues. Lang picked up the guitar after marveling at the guitar prowess of Ted Larson of the Bad Medicine Blues Band during his first real rock concert at the age of 12.Within a few months and a few lessons from teacher Ted Larson, Lang quickly took over from Larson in the Bad Medicine Blues Band. Renamed Kid Jonny Lang and the Big Bang, the band sold a staggering 25,000 copies of their regional debut, Smokin'. With his remarkable strength and poise, Lang's stage presence is the perfect fit in the blues genre, Rather than upstaging the music and his supporting band or bantering with the audience, Lang relaxes and plays the blues with his supporters -- something he credits to the legendary BB King. Despite his youthfulness, Lang's voice is incredibly well focused and provides the casual grit one would expect to hear in the blues. Playing down his youth, Lang says "I'll gladly take criticism about my playing, but not because of my age." Exciting both critics and fans alike, the North Dakota native's followers have a jones for his impressive string bending and deep vocals. "I've never been shy about doing what I do, or afraid to express myself in public," claims Lang. This undying expression and interest has led Lang to memorable gigs with Buddy Guy, Luther Allison and Lonnie Brooks. Lang's not your ordinary teenager. Rather than playing video games all day, Lang carefully studies the chords, writes the music and plays the blues. Not too many kids can say they had a record at the top of the charts by the time they were 16. Lang's debut smash Lie to Me topped Billboard's Blues Chart on April 30, 1997 and continues to stand strong.