main facts on K.D.Lang

Early years

Lang was born on November 2, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, to Audrey and Fred Lang. The family moved to Consort, Alberta, when she was nine months old, and there she grew up with her two sisters and one brother on the Canadian prairie.

When she attended Red Deer College, Lang became drawn to country music. Soon, she became fascinated with the life and music of Patsy Cline and ultimately determined to pursue a career as a professional singer. Lang formed a Patsy Cline tribute band called the Reclines in 1983, and they recorded a debut album, Friday Dance Promenade. Also in 1983, she presented a performance art piece, a seven-hour re-enactment of the transplantation of an artificial heart for Barney Clark, a retired American dentist. A Truly Western Experience was released in 1984 and received strong reviews and led to national attention in Canada.

Singing at country and western venues in Canada, Lang made several recordings that received good reviews and earned a 1985 Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. She accepted the award wearing a wedding dress and made numerous tongue-in-cheek promises about what she would and would not do in the future, thus fulfilling the title of "Most Promising." She has won eight Juno Awards.

In 1986, she signed a contract with an American record producer in Nashville, Tennessee, and received critical acclaim for her 1987 album, Angel with a Lariat, which was produced by Dave

A k.d.lang Quote:

     "We don't know what it's like to be French.
  We don't know what it's like to be black How can we.
  Straight people don't know what it's like to be queer.
  Don't be something which you are not." "I want to be recognized
     as a professional singer, not a professional lesbian."

Some answers to your frequently asked questions!

kd stands for Kathryn Dawn and was born on November 2, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She grew up in the small Alberta town of Consort, population 700 people!

kd is 5 foot 9 inches tall and was nationally ranked in the javelin when she was a high school student. Today, she keeps fit by jogging, riding her bicycle and practicing yoga. When she works out at the gym, she gets there on her customized Harley Davidson Springer.

kd has been a vegetarian since January 13, 1981 and has not worn leather since 1991. Animal rights is one of the two causes she has chosen to support publicly.

The other is the fight against AIDS. As she said,

"Everybody knows than I am a gay."

kd's albums in chronological order are "A Truly Western Experience", "Angel With A Lariat", "Shadowland", "Absolute Torch and Twang", "ingenue", "The Soundtrack to the motion picture Even Cowgirls Get The Blues", "all you can eat", and "Drag". For more information about each recording, go the Amazon.ca or amazon.com store.

kd has recorded duets with, amongst others, Roy Orbison (`Crying'...available on his King Of Hearts album), Jane Siberry (`Calling All Angels'...available on her When I Was A Boy album), Andy Bell from Erasure (`Enough Is Enough'...available on the soundtrack to the motion picture The Coneheads), Tony Bennett (`Moonglow'...available on his MTV Unplugged album and video).

kd enjoys listening to, amongst others, Joni Mitchell, Bjork, Peggy Lee and Jane Siberry. Her favorite TV shows are Beverly Hills 90210 and Clueless.

kd does not smoke cigarettes and her favourite drink is water. The only books kd reads are the dictionary and the phone book.

kd has appeared in two films, Salmonberries and teresa's Tattoo. She also appeared in 'Eye of the Beyolder" filmed in Quebec in 1998.