James D. Lane

Jimmy D. Lane (born 4 July 1965) is a blues guitarist.

Biography

Lane was born on 4 July 1965 in Chicago, to the musician Jimmy Rogers and his wife Dorothy. In his childhood, he got to know many older bluesmen who worked with his father, including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Mabon, Little Walter and Albert King. Lane would say years later, "I feel blessed and fortunate to have known all those cats and I do not take it for granted."

At the age of 40, 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 Healey, 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 such 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 many famous 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.

Upon returning home from the military in 1983, he 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 became lead guitarist of the Jimmy Rogers Band as well as leader of his own band, Jimmy D. Lane and The Hurricanes and later Blue Train Running. Lane toured extensively with his father's band while managing 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/Vaughan influence can be heard in his searing guitar solos, but 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 respect for blues 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 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 to be the title of his third release, but he 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 onboard to give Jimmy the nudge he needs to clear the launching pad. It's Time.

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 competent blues singer, songwriter and guitarist with a deep respect for "all those original cats who were there".

Notes

Jimmy hosted a blues hour on 92.7 The Zoo in his home town of Salina, Kansas, for two years. He is also noted as being the only official Jimi Hendrix impersonator backed by the Hendrix estate.Jimmy was Married on August 24th 2007 in Selina Kansas to Beverly Anne Butler Lane of Langley British Columbia Canada. They now have Five children, Alisia, Rachel, Danika, Sebastian and Alex, and two Grandchildren Maddison and Owen and live in the Vancouver British Columbia Area.

Musical style

Lane's music has been likened to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Corey Stevens, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Johnny Lang, and Jeff Healey.

Discography

* "Legacy" (1997)
* "Long Gone" (1997)
* "It's Time" (with Double Trouble) 2004

Jimmy Rogers - Blues, Blues, Blues Atlantic Records Corp. 1999Jimmy Rogers - Blue BirdJimmy Rogers / Big Moose WalkerBlues Masters At The Crossroads – APO, 1998-2002 (24/96 DVD) Jimmie Lee Robinson – All My LifeJimmie Lee Robinson - Remember MeRock With Me Baby (with Little Hatch)Nancy Bryan - Neon AngelWild Child Butler – D2DHarry "Big Daddy" Hypolite - Louisiana Country BoyEomot RaSun - Three Days Walkin'Weepin' Willie - At Last On TimeHoneyboy Edwards - Shake 'Em On DownWild Child Butler - Sho' 'NuffHenry Gray – D2DHubert Sumlin - I Know YouPinetop Perkins - Pinetop PerkinsHenry Townsend - My StoryLazy Lester - Lazy Lester D2DB.B. King in Montreux Switzerland 1999