Jimmy D. Lane
At the tender age of 37, Jimmy D. Lane has already led quite a full time. The musicians he knows makes for an impressive resume. He has worked with Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Jim Keltner. He has also worked with venerable blues greats such as Sam Lay, Hubert Sumlin, Carey Bell, Dave Meyers and of course, his father, the legendary and unfortunately late Jimmy Rogers. Born July 4th, 1962 in Chicago, he grew up in an household where he became acquainted with a veritable who’s who of Chicago bluesmen. Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Mason, Little Walter and Albert King, to name a few, would all stop by the house to visit the „old man". Coming from this environment has instilled in Lane the deepest respect for elder statesmen of the Blues. At the age of eight he began playing his dad’s guitar, which he wasn’t supposed to do. „I would break a string and put it back in the case like he wasn’t gouing to discover it," Lane recalls. Shortly after that Lane received a Gibson Acoustic from John Wayne. Lane however would not get serious on the guitar until much later... Upon returning home from his military service in Beirut in 1983, he had a life changing experience. After listening to the Jimi Hendrix version of „Hey Joe" (he heard that song like he never heard it before) Jimmy knew exactly what to do. He took his last $ 59 to a pawnshop, bought a Harmony guitar and learned „Hey Joe" by ear. For the next four years he worked construction and roofing jobs, but would spend every other waking moment playing guitar. He would play along to Blues as well as AC/DC and Journey records.
Jimmy made his solo recording debut in 1995 on Blue Seal Records. Also in ’95 he recorded „Long Gone" for Analogue Productions at Ocean Way Studios in Ls Angeles. This one was released in 1997. „Long Gone" features ace drummer Jim Keltner and longtime bassist for Rogers and Lane Freddy Crawford. This album is representative of Lane’s live sets, as he tours as a three piece. Lane can stretch out on his own, but is equally at home in a support mode as can be heard by comparing his playing on „Long Gone" and „Bluebird", an album he recorded with hisa father for Analogue Productions in 1993. Lane plays on and co-produced Hubert Sumlin’s „I Know You", also on Analogue, where as he states You can hear Hubert’s guitar, not some guy with his amp cranked up." In fact it was Hubert Sumlin who gave Jimmy his first Strat in 1986. His second solo album, „Legacy", was released in May ’98, features guest appearances of blues greats Sam Lay on drums, Carey Bell on harmonica and Hubert Sumlin on guitar. It also features the last recordings of Jimmy Rogers, who played on „One Room Country Shack" and „Another Mule Kickin In My Stall". Jimmy is proud of all his work with his dad, but this one touches him deeply. „I take great shelter in the fact that the last time my dad picked up his guitar was to help me out on my project!" Lane’s music is on the rocking side, but is tempered with just the right amount of blues tradition. Jimi Hendrix may have moved him to buy a guitar, but Hendrix is just one influence. Lane is a passionate blues-singer, songwriter and guitarist with a deep respect for „all those old cats who were there"! Listen to Lane and know - it’s all good! Latest album: Legacy (Analogue Production Originals) |
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