Kelly Lang performance at The Listening Room on Thursday July 15th, 2010.
Article from EXAMINER.COM
Those in the know in Music City recognize Kelly Lang as not just a singer/songwriter, but more accurately a singer's songwriter. WIth a personal and professional background the stuff legends are made of, Lang possesses an inherent country vibe that you just can't fake.
Kelly doesn't just sing country music, she was weened on it. Her father, the late Velton Lang was Conway Twitty's road manager for more than twenty-five years.
At the young age of 15, Lang recorded her first Billboard chart single, Lady, Lady. That lead to a recurring gig performing on Ralph Emery's morning show. Coincidentally, a teenaged Lorrie Morgan also got her start as Emery's girl singer. On the subject of her friendship with Morgan and her time on Emery's show, Kelly remembered, "I knew of Lorrie from the Ralph Emery Show, but met her through other music stuff. I actually took her place on the show. We have a lot in common, and are still very close to Ralph."
Kelly's decision to pursue a career in country music seemed the obvious choice, as she explained, "I think it was! I use to sit on the side of Conway's stage as a little girl, and felt the excitement of the music beat through my heart! I have never wanted anything else so badly!"
Around the same time she was performing on The Ralph Emery Show, Kelly competed on TV's national talent competition, Star Search. For those younger readers, Star Search basically laid the ground work for such shows as American Idol, X Factor and America's Got Talent. Kelly modestly indicated, "I would be too chicken to try out for Idol!!! Now that is really intimidating!!! As for any advice she might have for young singers pursuing a career in music today, "Just to enjoy the ride, and find a way to really stand out while being authentic to yourself."
Following her appearances on Star Search, Kelly was once again surrounded by legendary figures as she frequently shared the stage with superstar country artist like Brenda Lee, George Jones, Ricky Skaggs and a fella named T. G. Sheppard. Side Note: Pay attention, this guy's name keeps cropping up.
Just when Music City seemed hers for the taking, Lang fell in love, married and all but dropped out of the music scene while raising her two girls, Payton and Kennedy.
Notice I said, all but dropped out. Even though Kelly wasn't actively pursuing her solo career during this time, her creative energy took another form, that of songwriting. Like all great songwriters, Kelly began finding inspiration everywhere. "I have my ears open for unusual ways of saying things all the time. I like to paint a picture with words," she revealed.
In the years that followed, her marriage came to an end, she raised her young daughters as a single mother, and became quite a prolific songwriter in the process. She returned to the studio and recorded her debut studio album for Destiny Row Records. In a bit of foreshadowing, her future husband, T.G. Sheppard also signed to Destiny. Kelly's appropriately titled debut cd, It's About Time was become the talk of Nashville thanks to its debut single, Goodbye Darlin'. As the song title would suggest, it was a lyrical tribute to country music legend Conway Twitty, whose 1970 #1 hit Hello Darlin' became his signature song. "Yes, I knew I loved Conway, and I am always so proud to have known him. So glad others feel the same. Funny thing, I wrote that song on the side of the highway on a napkin with a lipliner, and recorded it the next day! I wrote it in 15 minutes," recalled Kelly.
It may started with lipliner on a napkin, but Lang's Goodbye Darlin' didn't end there, it, as it created buzz for her debut cd release. It was then that the unthinkable happened, Kelly was diagnosed with cancer. Given the fact that her career and life had already been brimming with ups and downs, those closest to the singer weren't surprised at all when she didn't let her diagnosis stand in the way of her living her life and pursuing her music. In fact, she even made an appearance during the 2005 CMA Music Fest while still undergoing radiation treatments.
While other might have thrown themselves a pity party, Kelly refused to focus on the negative and once again immursed herself in her artistry. Seemingly oblivious to her own inspirational demeanor, Kelly simply stated, "Singing and writing is what kept me alive. It is my air. I did a concert the day after I was diagnosed."
At this point in our conversation that I asked Kelly what others might perceive as an odd question, but if you've lived through any type of diversity, medical or otherwise, you'll understand the question. I simply asked her share with me the best part of having gone through her cancer scare. Without batting an eye, Kelly very matter-of-factly said, "I am much more confident in myself. I have much more sympathy for others, and I don't take ANYTHING for granted. I am so glad that bad things happened early in my life, so I can live more of a quality life in my future. I found out how much I need others. I use to never let others help me do things, but then I realized that it takes away their blessings." She added. "I have learned that NO is a complete sentence....you name it, I have learned it! WHAT AN EDUCATION!"
With her cancer firmly behind her, Kelly released Jagged Edges, a seventeen track project on which she wrote six tracks and co-wrote the rest with longtime friend Lorrie Morgan. Speaking of longtime friends, in 2007, Kelly married T. G. Sheppard.
In recent years, Kelly has continued to write, most notably collaborating again with Morgan on her I Walk Alone cd, as well as T. G.'s recent duet project Partners In Rhyme with the likes of still more music legends including: Crystal Gayle, Englebert Humperdinck, The Oak Ridge Boys and more.
Earlier this year, a March 17 Listening Room appearance marked Kelly's long-awaited return to the stage after a two-year absence. Again with complete honestly, Kelly said, "I am ashamed that I have not sung in the last 2 years. I felt that I didn't have anything that anyone would care to hear....now I just want to sing because I love it. Hopefully others will as well."
In addition to tonight's Listening Room performance, Kelly wrote a song for singer/painter William Lee Golden, a member of the aforementioned legendary Oak Ridge Boys. Kelly penned the song I Go Back for Golden to coincide with his recent Tennessee State Museum gallery opening.
Speaking of art, Kelly herself is also an accomplished painter, proving if you've got creativity coursing through your veins, there's no limit to the ways it manifests itself. To view Kelly's artwork, http://www.kellylang.net/.
Kelly's fans can also expect new music from the Lang, as she plans on returning to the studio in the fall.
For more on Kelly Lang, visit www.kellylang.net
Article from EXAMINER.COM
Those in the know in Music City recognize Kelly Lang as not just a singer/songwriter, but more accurately a singer's songwriter. WIth a personal and professional background the stuff legends are made of, Lang possesses an inherent country vibe that you just can't fake.
Kelly doesn't just sing country music, she was weened on it. Her father, the late Velton Lang was Conway Twitty's road manager for more than twenty-five years.
At the young age of 15, Lang recorded her first Billboard chart single, Lady, Lady. That lead to a recurring gig performing on Ralph Emery's morning show. Coincidentally, a teenaged Lorrie Morgan also got her start as Emery's girl singer. On the subject of her friendship with Morgan and her time on Emery's show, Kelly remembered, "I knew of Lorrie from the Ralph Emery Show, but met her through other music stuff. I actually took her place on the show. We have a lot in common, and are still very close to Ralph."
Kelly's decision to pursue a career in country music seemed the obvious choice, as she explained, "I think it was! I use to sit on the side of Conway's stage as a little girl, and felt the excitement of the music beat through my heart! I have never wanted anything else so badly!"
Around the same time she was performing on The Ralph Emery Show, Kelly competed on TV's national talent competition, Star Search. For those younger readers, Star Search basically laid the ground work for such shows as American Idol, X Factor and America's Got Talent. Kelly modestly indicated, "I would be too chicken to try out for Idol!!! Now that is really intimidating!!! As for any advice she might have for young singers pursuing a career in music today, "Just to enjoy the ride, and find a way to really stand out while being authentic to yourself."
Following her appearances on Star Search, Kelly was once again surrounded by legendary figures as she frequently shared the stage with superstar country artist like Brenda Lee, George Jones, Ricky Skaggs and a fella named T. G. Sheppard. Side Note: Pay attention, this guy's name keeps cropping up.
Just when Music City seemed hers for the taking, Lang fell in love, married and all but dropped out of the music scene while raising her two girls, Payton and Kennedy.
Notice I said, all but dropped out. Even though Kelly wasn't actively pursuing her solo career during this time, her creative energy took another form, that of songwriting. Like all great songwriters, Kelly began finding inspiration everywhere. "I have my ears open for unusual ways of saying things all the time. I like to paint a picture with words," she revealed.
In the years that followed, her marriage came to an end, she raised her young daughters as a single mother, and became quite a prolific songwriter in the process. She returned to the studio and recorded her debut studio album for Destiny Row Records. In a bit of foreshadowing, her future husband, T.G. Sheppard also signed to Destiny. Kelly's appropriately titled debut cd, It's About Time was become the talk of Nashville thanks to its debut single, Goodbye Darlin'. As the song title would suggest, it was a lyrical tribute to country music legend Conway Twitty, whose 1970 #1 hit Hello Darlin' became his signature song. "Yes, I knew I loved Conway, and I am always so proud to have known him. So glad others feel the same. Funny thing, I wrote that song on the side of the highway on a napkin with a lipliner, and recorded it the next day! I wrote it in 15 minutes," recalled Kelly.
It may started with lipliner on a napkin, but Lang's Goodbye Darlin' didn't end there, it, as it created buzz for her debut cd release. It was then that the unthinkable happened, Kelly was diagnosed with cancer. Given the fact that her career and life had already been brimming with ups and downs, those closest to the singer weren't surprised at all when she didn't let her diagnosis stand in the way of her living her life and pursuing her music. In fact, she even made an appearance during the 2005 CMA Music Fest while still undergoing radiation treatments.
While other might have thrown themselves a pity party, Kelly refused to focus on the negative and once again immursed herself in her artistry. Seemingly oblivious to her own inspirational demeanor, Kelly simply stated, "Singing and writing is what kept me alive. It is my air. I did a concert the day after I was diagnosed."
At this point in our conversation that I asked Kelly what others might perceive as an odd question, but if you've lived through any type of diversity, medical or otherwise, you'll understand the question. I simply asked her share with me the best part of having gone through her cancer scare. Without batting an eye, Kelly very matter-of-factly said, "I am much more confident in myself. I have much more sympathy for others, and I don't take ANYTHING for granted. I am so glad that bad things happened early in my life, so I can live more of a quality life in my future. I found out how much I need others. I use to never let others help me do things, but then I realized that it takes away their blessings." She added. "I have learned that NO is a complete sentence....you name it, I have learned it! WHAT AN EDUCATION!"
With her cancer firmly behind her, Kelly released Jagged Edges, a seventeen track project on which she wrote six tracks and co-wrote the rest with longtime friend Lorrie Morgan. Speaking of longtime friends, in 2007, Kelly married T. G. Sheppard.
In recent years, Kelly has continued to write, most notably collaborating again with Morgan on her I Walk Alone cd, as well as T. G.'s recent duet project Partners In Rhyme with the likes of still more music legends including: Crystal Gayle, Englebert Humperdinck, The Oak Ridge Boys and more.
Earlier this year, a March 17 Listening Room appearance marked Kelly's long-awaited return to the stage after a two-year absence. Again with complete honestly, Kelly said, "I am ashamed that I have not sung in the last 2 years. I felt that I didn't have anything that anyone would care to hear....now I just want to sing because I love it. Hopefully others will as well."
In addition to tonight's Listening Room performance, Kelly wrote a song for singer/painter William Lee Golden, a member of the aforementioned legendary Oak Ridge Boys. Kelly penned the song I Go Back for Golden to coincide with his recent Tennessee State Museum gallery opening.
Speaking of art, Kelly herself is also an accomplished painter, proving if you've got creativity coursing through your veins, there's no limit to the ways it manifests itself. To view Kelly's artwork, http://www.kellylang.net/.
Kelly's fans can also expect new music from the Lang, as she plans on returning to the studio in the fall.
For more on Kelly Lang, visit www.kellylang.net
© Moments By Moser Photography * Bev Moser
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