Jimmy D. Lane

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. King in Montreux Switzerland 1999
Experience Hendrix DVD 2008
Jimmy D. Lane “Legacy” featuring Jimmy Rogers, Hubert Sumlin and Sam Lay
Jimmy D. Lane “Long Gone” featuring Jim Keltner on Drums
Jimmy D. Lane Calgary Herald
Jimmy D. Lane The Age in Australia
Jimmy D. Lane Live Radio Interview at ABC Radio in
Australia
Jimmy D. Lane in Australia
Jimmy D. Lane In Durban South Africa
Jimmy D. Lane MTV
Jimmy D. Lane In St. John, Newfoundland
Jimmy D. Lane, Jimmie Vaughan, Lazy Lester and Kim Wilson
Jimmy Rogers “Blues Blues Blues” featuring Jimmy D. Lane, Eric Clapton,
Keith Richards, Jeff Healy and Jimmy Page on guitars
BLUES BLUES BLUES was originally meant as a comeback album for Jimmy
Rogers, but his untimely death during the recording sessions turned it into an
all-star tribute to his legacy.
Jimmy Rogers was very much a musician's musician -- the kind of guitarist
that earned accolades from contemporaries and successors alike -- yet one
who never wins a wide, mainstream audience. Blues Blues Blues was
designed as the album that would find Rogers a larger audience, and as such,
it has all the bells and whistles of a big-deal blues album. It has the classics
("Trouble No More," "Bright Lights, Big City," "Sweet Home Chicago," "Don't
Start Me to Talkin'"), remakes of Rogers standards ("Ludella," "That's All
Right"), cult covers (Muddy Waters' "Blow Wind Blow," which kicks off the
album on just the right note) and an astounding number of guest
appearances, including cameos from (get ready): Jimmy Page and Robert
Plant, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, Lowell Fulson, Johnnie Johnson, Eric
Clapton, Taj Mahal, Ted Harvey, Carey Bell, Stephen Stills, and Jeff Healey.
That's a lot of star power -- too much, as a matter of fact -- since they
occasionally overwhelm Rogers himself. And it has to be said that Rogers'
playing simply isn't as dynamic or overpowering as it once was. Nevertheless,
when it's judged alongside other contemporary electric blues albums, Blues
Blues Blues holds up very well. Like its peers, such as John Lee Hooker's Point
Blank recordings, the record is slick and well-crafted -- it may be blues-lite,
but it's highly enjoyable. And it's likely that it would have broken Rogers'
career wide open, if he had lived to see its release. Knowing that makes Blues
Blues Blues a little bittersweet. Yes, it's enjoyable, but it would have been
great to hear Rogers really tear it up on his final record. ~ Stephen Thomas
Erlewine
Includes liner notes by John Koenig.
Live Recording
The Jimmy Rogers All-Stars: Jimmy Rogers, Jeff Healey, Eric Clapton, Lowell
Fulson, Stephen Stills (vocals, guitar); Taj Mahal (vocals, harmonica); Mick
Jagger, Robert Plant (vocals); Jimmy D. Lane, Keith Richards, John Koenig,
Jimmy Page (guitar); Kim Wilson, Carey Bell (harmonica); Johnnie Johnson
(piano); Freddie Crawford (bass); Ted Harvey (drums).
Personnel: Jimmy Rogers (vocals, guitar); Eric Clapton, Jeff Healey, Lowell
Fulson (vocals, guitar); Taj Mahal (vocals, harmonica); Mick Jagger, Robert
Plant, Stephen Stills (vocals); Jimmy D. Lane, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards
(guitar); Kim Wilson, Carey Bell (harmonica); Johnnie Johnson (piano); Ted
Harvey (drums).
Recording information: Ocean Way Recording; Pearl Sound, Detroit MI.
Photographer: William Claxton.Rolling Stone (2/18/99, p.60) - "A richly
deserved salute to one of Chicago blues' late, great undervalued sidemen..."
Q (6/99, p.110) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...Rogers belts out his growling vocals
with the energy of a teenager"
Mojo (Publisher) (4/99, p.110) - "...perfect crystalisations of Chicago band
blues..."
Buddy Guy, Jimmy D. Lane and Jimmy Rogers