Toronto, ON (February 12, 2013) – The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is pleased to announce k.d. lang as the 2013 inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In a career spanning over 25 years, the Edmonton native has re-written the rules of country and pop music, garnering eight JUNO Awards and four Grammy Awards in the process. Refusing to be categorized, lang has established herself as one of the most innovative, groundbreaking artists in Canadian music history. On Sunday, April 21, 2013, lang will be honoured at the 42nd Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast on CTV from the Brandt Centre in Regina, SK.
“A gift to music, k.d. lang’s voice is an instrument unto itself — uniquely beautiful and haunting,” said Melanie Berry, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards. “I join millions of Canadians and music fans around the world in congratulating one of our most accomplished singer-songwriters of all time.”
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“To be included in the lineage of Canadian artists who have formed my musical DNA and who remain my mentors, is beyond humbling,” said k.d. lang. “I am deeply honoured to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.”
Innovation, experimentation and a talent for subverting genre have marked lang’s career. She first appeared on Canada’s national radar with her 1984 indie album, A TRULY WESTERN EXPERIENCE. In 1985, the JUNO Awards honoured lang as Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year — and they couldn’t have been more right. Having attracted Nashville’s attention, lang released her U.S. major label debut, ANGEL WITH A LARIAT, in 1987 and followed that up with 1988’s SHADOWLAND.
[quote]“To be included in the lineage of Canadian artists who have formed my musical DNA and who remain my mentors, is beyond humbling”[/quote]With a punk-rock fashion aesthetic, and early musical influences that included classic country and rockabilly, Lang helped define the meaning of the term alt-country. The 1999 album, ABSOLUTE TORCH AND TWANG, garnered lang her first Grammy Award and larger mainstream recognition. She followed it up by switching musical hats from country to a fiery brand of adult contemporary for her 1992 album, INGENUE, which featured the hit CONSTANT CRAVING and went platinum in Canada.
After a largely instrumental soundtrack for the film EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES, lang released an experimental pop album, ALL YOU CAN EAT, in 1995. INVINCIBLE SUMMER (2000), further demonstrates her range and playfulness, delving into bossa nova and electronic soundscapes. lang’s most-recent album in 2011 was a return to her roots, the country-tinged SING IT LOUD.
Throughout her career, lang has revealed an undeniable talent as a musical interpreter. On DRAG (1997), Lang covered songs from the likes of Jane Siberry and Steve Miller. In 2005, HYMNS OF THE 49TH PARALLEL, delivered lang’s compelling take on fellow Canadian songwriters, including her stunning, stripped-down version of Leonard Cohen’s HALLELUJAH. Lang famously sang the hit to a standing ovation at The 2005 JUNO Awards in Winnipeg, as well as at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Over her career, lang has teamed up with many fellow musical legends, including Bonnie Raitt, Tony Bennett and Elton John. Her famous duet with Roy Orbison on his classic song, CRYING, won a Grammy Award in 1988. Lang received the Order of Canada in 1997 and was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2008.
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was established in 1978 and recognizes Canadian artists that have attained commercial success while having a positive impact on the Canadian music scene here at home and around the world. Lang will join the ranks of Canadian music icons including Anne Murray, Bruce Cockburn, Daniel Lanois, Hank Snow, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Oscar Petersen, Shania Twain and Blue Rodeo in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
