Jimmy D. Lane Biography "Son of the Blues" At the age of 47, Jimmy D. Lane has already led quite a full life. The musicians he knows makes for an impressive resume. He has worked with Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Jim Keltner, Keith Richards, B.B. King, Van Morrison, Jonny Lang, Gary Moore, Double Trouble, Taj Mahal, Stephen Stilles, Jeff Healy, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Lowell Fulson, and Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Pinetop Perkins, Johnny ‘Big Moose’ Walker, Johnnie Johnson, Kim Wilson, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Harry Hypolite, George ‘Wild Child’ Butler, David ‘HoneyBoy’ Edwards, Weepin’ Willie Robinson, Little Hatch, Nancy Bryan, Willie Kent, Henry Gray, Lazy Lester and Eomot RaSun. He has also worked with venerable blues greats such as Sam Lay, Hubert Sumlin, Carey Bell, Dave Meyers and his father, the legendary Jimmy Rogers. Born July 4th, 1965 in Chicago, he grew up in a household where he became acquainted with a veritable who's who of Chicago bluesmen. Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Mabon, 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. "I feel blessed and fortunate, to have known all those cats, and I do not take it for granted." 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 going to discover it," Lane recalls. Shortly after that, Lane received a Gibson Acoustic from John Wayne. The Duke gave it to Shakey Jake, who was Wayne's driver, to give to Lane. "I would try to play along to a Bobby Blue Bland album" Lane states. He also wanted to join in with his dad and all those old cats that stopped by to "drink, tell lies and jam." Lane, however, would not get serious on the guitar until much later. Lane got discouraged from playing after the Gibson got smashed, and didn't play for a while. In 1983, Lane had a life changing experience. "I was laying on the bed with the headset on, trying to figure out what to do with my life, and that song, "Hey Joe" (the Hendrix version) came on the radio and I heard that song like I've never heard it before". At that time, 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. By 1987 Lane was good. He became lead guitarist of the Jimmy Rogers Band as well as forming his own band, Jimmy D. Lane and The Hurricanes and later Blue Train Running. Lane toured extensively with his dad's band while juggling his own solo career. In 1993, The Jimmy Rogers Band toured Europe, where they made a stop to perform at the BBC. In '94 they performed at the W. C. Handy Awards and in '95 they appeared on the Conan O'Brien show, as well as the Chicago Blues Festival. Jimmy made his solo recording debut in 1995. The self titled disc on Blue Seal Records features 12 fine originals and one of his dad's tunes. In 1993, however, he would meet the people who would put his recording career into high gear. During the sessions for Bluebird for Analogue Productions, with the Jimmy Rogers Band, he met Producer John Koenig and head of Acoustic Sounds, Chad Kassem. Koenig saw the Jimmy D. Lane band at B. B. King's Club in Universal City and was floored. Koenig and Kassem got together and Jimmy recorded Long Gone for Analogue Productions in 1995, at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, which was released in 1997. His second recording, Long Gone, showcases Jimmy’s guitar virtuosity on originals like "Whiskey," "Oh What A Feeling" and the title cut. The Hendrix/Vaughn influence can be heard in his searing guitar solos but listen and you will hear his feet are firmly rooted in the blues. His versions of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" and Jimmy Rogers "I'm in Love" show his deep love for, and respect of blue tradition. 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 to Bluebird. Lane plays on and co-produced Hubert Sumlin's I Know You, also on Analogue Productions, 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. Off stage, Lane's positive outlook on life is reflected in one of his favorite phrases "It's all good." This was originally the title of his third release, but changed it to Legacy in honor of his father's memory and the rich blues heritage he grew up with. Legacy, released in May '98, features guest appearances of blues greats Sam Lay on drums, Carey Bell on harp and 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 pride in the fact that the last time my dad picked up a guitar was to help me out on my project." Jimmy's fourth release,It's Time, could just as well have been titled It's Overdue. It's long been time for one of today's most powerful and expressive musicians to break the chains of relative commercial obscurity. Time to seize the reins of blues leadership, just as his father, Jimmy Rogers, did in the 1940s. Masters Eddie Kramer (engineer for Hendrix, Zeppelin, Woodstock etc.), Chris "Whipper" Layton and Tommy Shannon (of Double Trouble) and Mike Finnigan (organ in the bands of Etta James, Taj Mahal and CSN&Y) are all on board to give Jimmy the nudge he needs to clear the launching pad. Most recently, Jimmy D. Lane has been included on his father's (Jimmy Rogers) Mississippi Blues Trail Historical Landmark in Ruleville, Mississippi. He has two songs on the "Experience Hendrix" DVD...released in 2008. He performed with Mike McCreedy, Double Trouble and Hubert Sumlin, on the project. Jimmy's song "Tears Without A Shoulder" was featured in an episode of "In Plain Sight" (The Trojan Horst). Lane's music is on the rocking side, but is tempered with just the right amount of blues tradition. As Lane states "you can have too much water and too much fire, but with the right amount of both, you can boil an egg." 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 Jimmy D. Lane Official Website Jimmy D. Lane Press Links JIMMY D. LANE (Instruments are Guitar, Bass, Drums and Lead Vocal) BANDS: Jimmy D. Lane and The Hurricane - Performed 1986-89 Blue Earth Band: Formed 1989 - present. Jimmy Rogers Band: Lead from 1988 until Mr. Rogers’ death in 1997 TOURS: National and international: USA, Norway, Sweden, England, Scotland, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, South America, Russia, Czech Republic, etc… RECORDED WITH: Jimmy Rogers, B.B. King, Van Morrison, Jonny Lang, Gary Moore, Kim Wilson, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Johnny ‘Big Moose’ Walker, Johnnie Johnson, Dave Myers, Kim Wilson, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Jim Keltner, Stephen Stilles, Jeff Healy, Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton, Double Trouble, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Harry Hypolite, George ‘Wild Child’ Butler, Lowell Fulson, Carey Bell, Sam Lay, David ‘HoneyBoy’ Edwards, Weepin’ Willie Robinson, Little Hatch, Nancy Bryan, Jimmie Lee Robinson, Willie Kent, Henry Gray, Lazy Lester, Eomot RaSun, Snooky Pryor, and others… MAIN INFLUENCES: Jimmy Rogers, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Robert Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Dave and Louis Myers, Earl Hooker, Sunnyland Slim, Albert King, Freddie King, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmie Lee Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan PERFORMANCES INCLUDE: TELEVISION: The Conan O’Brien Show Feb. 1995. Austin Music Network MUTV in Chicago (live performance video for public access TV). Brazilian TV performance with Jimmy Rogers Band. CNN – News spotlight on Blue Heaven Studio In Plain Sight 2008- (Reruns) (Cable Television Series Episode “The Trojan Horst”) Jimmy’s song “Tears Without A Shoulder” is played 10 minutes into the episode RADIO INTERVIEWS: WLUP – Chicago WBEZ – Chicago NPR - National SPECIAL: Performance for Hillary Rodham Clinton – Chicago, 1998 RELEASES: “Sir Real” – Blue Seal, 1995 “Long Gone” – APO, 1997 “Legacy” – APO, 1998 “It’s Time” – APO, 2004 APPEARS ON: Jimmy Rogers - Blues, Blues, Blues Atlantic Records Corp. 1999 Jimmy Rogers - Blue Bird Jimmy Rogers / Big Moose Walker Blues Masters At The Crossroads – APO, 1998-2002 (24/96 DVD) Jimmie Lee Robinson – All My Life Jimmie Lee Robinson - Remember Me Rock With Me Baby (with Little Hatch) Nancy Bryan - Neon Angel Wild Child Butler – D2D Harry "Big Daddy" Hypolite - Louisiana Country Boy Eomot RaSun - Three Days Walkin' Weepin' Willie - At Last On Time Honeyboy Edwards - Shake 'Em On Down Wild Child Butler - Sho' 'Nuff Henry Gray – D2D Hubert Sumlin - I Know You Pinetop Perkins - Pinetop Perkins Henry Townsend - My Story Lazy Lester - Lazy Lester (D2D) B.B.