Peter Lang (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Lang is an accomplished acoustic guitarist
, from the same genre, American Primitivism
, as the better-known guitarists Leo Kottke
and John Fahey
. All three artists shared the Takoma Records
label, and a joint-titled album released in 1974 features a selection of songs from each.
, Robbie Basho
, Bola Sete
and others. Peter Lang toured, and recorded for nearly ten years, developing a reputation as one of the nation's top acoustic players. In the 70's he was in good company, having recorded or performed with Ry Cooder
, John Fahey
, Jerry Garcia
, Chet Atkins
, John Hartford
, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Emmylou Harris
, Leo Kottke
, Freddie King
, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
, John Hammond
, Keith Jarrett
, Phoebe Snow
, Maria Muldaur
, The Yellowjackets, Robben Ford
, and many others.
Lang's musical career was postponed in the 1980s, to allow him to pursue a career in animation and special effects production. He took time out from this position in 1999 to pursue music once again, culminating in the release of Dharma Blues in 2002. This was followed by Guitar in 2003. Both Lycurgus and Prime Cuts were re-released in 2003 with bonus tracks.
On October 31, 2009, the following text was posted on http://langfund.org:
Steel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, from the same genre, American Primitivism
American Primitivism
American Primitivism, also known as American Primitive Guitar, is the music genre started by John Fahey in the late 1950s. Fahey composed and recorded avant-garde/neo-classical compositions using traditional country blues fingerpicking techniques, which had previously been used primarily to...
, as the better-known guitarists Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
and John Fahey
John Fahey (musician)
John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
. All three artists shared the Takoma Records
Takoma Records
Takoma Records was a small but influential record label founded by John Fahey in the late 1950s.. It was named after Fahey's hometown, the Washington, D.C. suburb of Takoma Park, Maryland.-History:...
label, and a joint-titled album released in 1974 features a selection of songs from each.
Biography
Peter Lang was discovered in 1972 by legendary guitarist John Fahey. Lang's first solo album, entitled The Thing at the Nursery Room Window, was released in 1972. Along with Lang, Fahey launched the careers of other notable artists on Takoma Records, including Kottke, George WinstonGeorge Winston
George Winston is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up mainly in Miles City, Montana as well as Mississippi and Florida. He attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and lives in Santa Cruz, California.-Background:...
, Robbie Basho
Robbie Basho
Robbie Basho was an American composer, guitarist and pianist, and one of the pioneers of the acoustic steel string guitar in America.-Biography:...
, Bola Sete
Bola Sete
Bola Sete was a Brazilian guitarist. Sete played jazz with Vince Guaraldi as well as with Dizzy Gillespie. His song "Bettina" was featured on the "Tribe Vibes" breakbeat compilation, as it had been sampled by the musical group A Tribe Called Quest.Born in Rio de Janeiro, Bola Sete's name means...
and others. Peter Lang toured, and recorded for nearly ten years, developing a reputation as one of the nation's top acoustic players. In the 70's he was in good company, having recorded or performed with Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, John Fahey
John Fahey (musician)
John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
, Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, John Hartford
John Hartford
John Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
, Freddie King
Freddie King
Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield was an American blues vocalist and harmonica player, who founded the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the early 1960s and performed at the original Woodstock Festival...
, John Hammond
John P. Hammond
John Paul Hammond is an American blues singer and guitarist. The son of record producer John H. Hammond, he is sometimes referred to as "John Hammond, Jr.".-Background:...
, Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
, Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Snow
Phoebe Snow was a fictional character created by Earnest Elmo Calkins to promote the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The advertising campaign, based on a live model, using impressionistic techniques and a fictional character, was one of the first of its kind.-The advertising...
, Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
, The Yellowjackets, Robben Ford
Robben Ford
Robben Ford is an American blues, jazz and rock guitarist.-Biography:Ford was born in Woodlake, California, United States, but raised in Ukiah, California, and began playing the saxophone at age 10, picking up the guitar at age 13...
, and many others.
Lang's musical career was postponed in the 1980s, to allow him to pursue a career in animation and special effects production. He took time out from this position in 1999 to pursue music once again, culminating in the release of Dharma Blues in 2002. This was followed by Guitar in 2003. Both Lycurgus and Prime Cuts were re-released in 2003 with bonus tracks.
On October 31, 2009, the following text was posted on http://langfund.org:
Peter Lang, a fixture in traditional American Music for forty years, was involved in an Automobile Accident in May of 2008. He suffered neck and back injuries including nerve impingement which has affected the use of his left hand. His no fault insurance provider has refused to cover medical expenses that continue to accrue. His medical insurer will not cover his expenses as they consider them the result of the Automobile Accident. The auto insurer has taken the position that the problems are due to preexisting conditions. Unfortunately it has headed to the court system. In the meantime Lang’s expenses continue to mount. The purposes of this fund are to help defray costs until there is resolution.
To compound this problem Lang also had surgery in February of this year to have infected bone removed from his skull coupled with ear surgery following a protracted illness. In May he also underwent hip replacement surgery. Needless to say his performance schedule has been severely impacted (and may continue to be based on the continuing issues with his auto injury and the insurance issue). Whatever you might consider will be greatly appreciated by Peter and his family.
Awards
- Grammy Nomination, 1975 (Lycurgus)
- Guitar Player Magazine 1974 - Readers Poll, " Best New Guitarist" category
- Minnesota Music Awards, "Best Guitarist" 1981, 1982, 1988
Discography
- The Thing at the Nursery Room WindowThe Thing at the Nursery Room WindowThe Thing at the Nursery Room Window is the title of the debut recording by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 1973. It was reissued in 2000 with three bonus tracks.-Reception:...
, (1973) Takoma Records - LycurgusLycurgus (Peter Lang album)Lycurgus is the title of a recording by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 1975. It was nominated for a Grammy award in the Folk music category. Lycurgus was a "Top National Add-on" and "Breakout" in Billboard Magazine...
, (1975) Flying Fish - Prime CutsPrime Cuts (Peter Lang album)Prime Cuts is a live recording by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 1977. It was recorded at the Maintenance Shop at Iowa State University and The Texas Tavern at the University of Texas....
, (1977) Waterhouse Records - Back to the WallBack to the WallBack to the Wall is a recording by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 1978. It is out of print.-Side one:# "Going Down the China Road" – 3:28# "Back to the Wall" – 2:10...
, (1978) Waterhouse Records - American StockAmerican StockAmerican Stock is an album by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 1986. It is out of print. He would retire from the music business after this release before returning in 2002 with Dharma Blues....
, (1986) Aspen Records - Dharma BluesDharma BluesDharma Blues is the title of a recording by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 2002.-History:Dharma Blues was Lang's first release since his 1986 American Stock. Lang's first solo album, The Thing at the Nursery Room Window was released in 1972 on Takoma Records...
, (2002) Horus Records - GuitarGuitar (Peter Lang album)Guitar is the title of a recording by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 2003. It was recorded entirely on 12-string guitar.The title "Snaker Ray Has Come & Gone" refers to St...
, (2003) Horus Records - Live at Charlotte's WebLive at Charlotte's WebLive at Charlotte's Web is a live album by American folk and blues guitarist Peter Lang, released in 2007.This 2-CD, 1-DVD package was recorded live at the club, Charlotte's Web, in Rockford, Il.-Track listing:...
, (2007) - Testament, (2008) Horus Records
Compilations
- Leo Kottke, John Fahey & Peter LangLeo Kottke, John Fahey & Peter LangLeo Kottke/Peter Lang/John Fahey is a compilation album by American guitarists Leo Kottke, Peter Lang, and John Fahey, released in 1974.-History:...
, (1974) Takoma Records - Friends of Fahey TributeFriends of Fahey TributeFriends of Fahey Tribute is a tribute album to guitarist John Fahey released in 2006.-History:The Friends of Fahey Tribute project was produced by Tinh, a friend and student of John Fahey...
, (2006) Slackertone - The Revenge of Blind Joe Death: The John Fahey Tribute AlbumThe Revenge of Blind Joe Death: The John Fahey Tribute AlbumThe Revenge of Blind Joe Death: The John Fahey Tribute Album is a tribute CD to guitarist John Fahey released in 2006 by Takoma Records.- History :...
, (2006)