Kathryn Dawn (k. d.) Lang
Born: November 2, 1961
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta
Major Notes:
When only an infant, k.d. lang's family moved to Consort, Alberta, where she grew up.
She was encouraged to sing and from the age of five became a performer wherever she could.
Lang was successful as well in athletics but decided to concentrate on a music career.
At eighteen years old, she enrolled in the Red Deer College in order to study music.
Lang developed an interest in all kinds of music including punk.
She found a new interest in country music when she appeared in a college musical called "Country Chorale".
It was at this time that she adopted the name "k.d. lang" as a measure of her artistic personality.
She developed a sincere interest and appreciation for the singing and songs by country artist Patsy Cline.
Lang continued to work on developing her unique voice and performance attributes.
She formed her own band, the Reclines, and together with her new manager Larry Wanagas, began playing on the road.
Lang and her band recorded their first album, "A Truly Western Experience", giving her a country-punk reputation.
She continued touring and was widely accepted as a gifted artist wherever she appeared but k.d. lang was not getting deserved radio play.
While touring in New York in 1987, she was asked to record an album for Sire Records.
The album, called "Angel with a Lariat", was a good effort but again her country music image was not well received by the Nashville critics.
Nevertheless, Lang was accepted in Canada as an accomplished artist and began receiving her share of awards.
In 1985, k.d. lang received a Juno award as the Most Promising Female Vocalist and in 1988 sang at the closing of the Winter Olympics.
Lang then released albums and songs that received improved ratings in the American country circles.
She also won a Grammy Award for the Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
With the next several albums, k.d. lang worked on changing her country-styled image to that of a more popular and versatile singer.
She succeeded and is now recognized as one of music's most sophisticated world-esteemed artists.
Lang was honoured by being made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996.
For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following:
Yahoo Music
miss kathy dawn
k.d. lang Official Site
Sing365.com
Rock On the Net
Wikipedia
k. d. lang Biography
Last Updated: June 13, 2006
© Canada-Heros/Don Jones 2003