Biography
Who is k.d. lang?
Early life and education
k.d. lang: Born Kathryn Dawn Lang on November 2, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, she grew up as the youngest child in her family. Her parents were Audrey Bebee and Adam Frederick Lang. When she was nine months old, her family relocated to Consort, Alberta, where she spent her childhood years on the Canadian prairies. Her father owned a drugstore and left the family when she was twelve years old.
After completing her secondary school education, she attended Red Deer College. During her time there, she developed a deep fascination with the life and music of Patsy Cline. This experience inspired her to pursue a professional career as a singer. Following her graduation in 1982, she moved to Edmonton to further develop her musical aspirations.
Rise to musical fame
Her professional career gained momentum after she answered a classified advertisement in the Edmonton Journal looking for a singer for a country-swing band. She subsequently formed a Patsy Cline tribute band called the Reclines in 1983 alongside manager Larry Wanagas. The group performed frequently at Edmonton's Sidetrack Cafe and released their debut album, A Truly Western Experience, in 1984, which brought her national attention across Canada.
She quickly established a unique personal style often referred to as cowboy punk. Her early recordings earned positive reviews and a 1985 Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. In 1987, she released the critically acclaimed album Angel with a Lariat, produced by Dave Edmunds. Her 1989 album Absolute Torch And Twang featured the single Full Moon Full of Love and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
Career highlights and mainstream success
Her career reached new heights when Roy Orbison selected her to record a duet of his standard song Crying. This collaboration won a Grammy Award in 1989. In 1992, she released the album Ingénue, which featured adult-oriented pop songs and moved away from traditional country influences. The record included her most popular song, Constant Craving, which brought her multi-million sales and widespread critical acclaim.
Throughout her career, she has contributed music to various film soundtracks, including Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She also performed at the closing ceremony of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In 1997, she released Drag, an album of cover tunes themed around cigarette smoking.
Activism and personal beliefs
Outside of her recording career, she has maintained a strong active role in various social and political causes. She is heavily involved as an animal rights advocate, an LGBTQ rights campaigner, and a supporter of Tibetan human rights. Also, she practices as a tantric practitioner within the old school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Birthday and age
k.d. lang was born on November 2, 1961, which makes k.d. 64 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. k.d. shares the date with 28 other famous people.
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