A major-label record deal, gigs with B.B. King and the Rolling Stones, rave reviews for his guitar work - Jonny Lang has an impressive resume for a 22-year-old.
Lang, who plays at Common Ground tonight, began playing in his first band at the age of 12. He soon became the leader of the group, called the Bad Medicine Blues Band, which later relocated to Minneapolis.
Lang's rocked-out, modern electric blues style caught on. His band's first independent release, 1995's "Smokin'," sold over 25,000 copies, which was more than enough to start a major-label bidding war over the teen.
A&M Records won that war and signed the Casselton, N.D., native.
In 1997, his first major-label disc, "Lie to Me," released when he was 16, entered the Billboard New Artist charts at No. 1. His follow-up, "Wander This World," came out the next year.
The success of his albums has meant major touring for Lang, including some national and international stints with the Rolling Stones.
"It was cool," said Lang about sharing the stage with the Stones.
"They treated us really well. In fact, one day, they forfeited one of their soundchecks just so we could have one."
Right now, Lang is putting the finishing touches on his third CD, with the working title "A Long Time Coming." It's set to hit stores sometime in September.
"The music, as it stands with the albums that have been released as of yet, is pretty much rock/soul/blues," Lang said. "This new record is more rock, but there are a lot of different flavors in there. It goes all over the place."
Lang cites his biggest musical influences as Stevie Wonder and James Taylor. He started getting into Aerosmith when he was older, though, so it's fitting that producer Marti Frederiksen, who has worked with Aerosmith, Def Leppard and Eminem, was enlisted on Lang's new disc.
The two wrote and produced all of the songs together.
"We really hit if off," Lang said. "Marty and I would sit around with acoustic guitars and come up with a chorus and a melody for a chorus first, and then shape the song around that. Then we'd get a beat-box or a drum machine going, and start a beat out and build from there."
Look for the album's first single, which is still up in the air, to hit airwaves in August.
According to the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll, "Lang distinguishes himself by handling his own vocals. ... 'Wander This World' was as much a showcase for his voice as it was for his guitar playing."
He'll sing tonight at Common Ground. His setup will include six musicians: Lang on vocals and guitar, a pianist, a guitarist, a bass player, a drummer and a saxophonist/percussionist/guitarist.
In his free time, Lang works on volunteer projects. One of those is Camp Heartland, an outreach program for children who are affected by or afflicted with HIV or AIDS.
For several years, Lang has participated in a benefit for the camp. "I get to meet all the kids, and that's just awesome," said Lang.
That fits into his view of his music. "My hope in life is to affect people in a good way," he said. "I view what I do as just a gift from God, and I just want to be able to touch people's lives in what He's given me."