Shawn Lane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shawn Lane
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 21, 1963 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 2003 (aged 40) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Instrumental rock, jazz fusion, world fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, keyboard, bass |
| Years active | 1977–2003 |
| Labels | Warner Bros., Eye Reckon |
| Associated acts | Jonas Hellborg/Jeff Sipe, Black Oak Arkansas, Savage Innocence, D.D.T., The Willys, The Streets |
Shawn Lane (born March 21, 1963 – died September 26, 2003) was an amazing American musician. He was known for playing the guitar incredibly fast. Shawn released several albums and worked with many famous musicians. Some of these included Ringo Starr, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson. He also played with Jonas Hellborg and the Johansson brothers.
Contents
Shawn Lane's Early Life and Music
Shawn Lane was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He started playing piano with his sisters when he was eight years old. He didn't start playing guitar seriously until he was ten. By age 12 or 13, he began practicing a lot.
When he was just fourteen, Shawn became the lead guitarist for the band Black Oak Arkansas (BOA). He toured with them for four years. They opened shows for big bands like REO Speedwagon and Ted Nugent. In 1979, Shawn also played in a band called The Streets. They made demo recordings and almost got a record deal.
At fifteen, Shawn saw Allan Holdsworth play guitar with the band U.K.. This inspired him to create his own unique guitar style. Shawn also played in other bands, like Savage Innocence and The Willys. He started playing a style of music called jazz fusion.
Shawn Lane's Adult Years and Piano Skills
From age eighteen to twenty-six, Shawn spent his time studying and creating music. He also played a lot of piano. In 1983, he became a father to his daughter, Ashley. Much of the music on his first album, Powers of Ten, was written on his piano at home.
Shawn quickly became very skilled at playing the keyboard too. He was inspired by famous pianists like Franz Liszt and Art Tatum. His demo tapes caught the attention of Warner Bros. Records. Shawn signed a recording contract with them.
For his first album, Shawn wrote all the songs and played all the instruments himself, except for one cover song. The album sold well and won several awards. In 1992, Guitar Player magazine called him "Best New Talent." Keyboard Magazine ranked him second in the "Best Keyboard Player" category.
After his album came out, Shawn formed a band called The Powers of Ten. They opened shows for Robben Ford on his U.S. tour. Shawn also played at Guitar Player Magazine's 25th anniversary concert. He performed alongside other guitar legends like Steve Morse and Ry Cooder.
Shawn released two more solo albums after his first one. These were Powers of Ten; Live! in 1993 and The Tri-Tone Fascination in 1999.
Shawn Lane's Musical Collaborations
In 1994, Shawn met bassist Jonas Hellborg. They played together with drummer Jeff Sipe in a group called Hellborg, Lane, Sipe. Shawn also taught music at schools in Europe. He wrote articles for Young Guitar Magazine in Japan and Guitar for the Practicing Musician.
In 1995, Shawn, Jonas Hellborg, and drummer Anders Johansson performed with Chinese pop singer Wei Wei. They even opened for her at concerts in China. Shawn played the guitar solo on the song "Bang a Drum" in 1998. This song featured Jon Bon Jovi and Chris LeDoux.
Later, Shawn and Jonas Hellborg formed a band that blended Eastern and Western music. They played with Indian musicians V. Selvaganesh and V. Umamahesh. Shawn's last concert was in North Carolina on May 31, 2003.
After Shawn's passing, a special concert was held in his memory. The Shawn Lane Memorial Concert took place on August 28, 2005, in Memphis, Tennessee. Many musicians came to celebrate his life and music.
Shawn Lane's Influences
Shawn Lane was inspired by many artists. A very important one was the Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Khan was famous for his singing style called Qawwali. Shawn loved how Khan's voice and instruments blended together.
Shawn also loved art and often visited museums when he was traveling. His favorite painter was Johannes Vermeer.
Shawn Lane's Health and Passing
Shawn Lane had a skin condition called psoriasis his whole life. After age twelve, he also developed psoriatic arthritis. This caused stiffness in his joints. After the year 2000, it started to affect his ability to play guitar.
Shawn had used medicine called hydrocortisone for many years to treat his psoriasis. This medicine caused him to gain weight, which put more stress on his joints. Over time, using cortisone led to a condition called Cushing's syndrome. He tried to stop taking cortisone, but then his psoriasis would get worse, causing him a lot of pain.
In 2003, Shawn started having trouble breathing. He was told he would need to use medical oxygen for the rest of his life. Shawn Lane passed away in a hospital in Memphis on September 26, 2003. He died from lung-related illnesses. He was buried at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis.
Shawn Lane's Legacy
Even though Shawn Lane might not be a household name, many famous guitar players look up to him. Guitar experts like Paul Gilbert called Shawn "the most terrifying guy of all time" because of his amazing guitar skills.
In 2008, Guitar World magazine wrote about Shawn. They said that few guitarists could play faster than he could. They also mentioned how his special guitar techniques, like arpeggio sweeps and precision-picked lines, produced notes faster than most people could even understand.
Discography
Solo albums
- 1992: Powers of Ten (Warner Bros.)
- 1999: The Tri-Tone Fascination (Eye Reckon)
- 2001: Powers of Ten; Live! (Eye Reckon)
Instructional video
- Shawn Lane – Power Licks – REH837, 1993, (VHS)
- Shawn Lane – Power Solos – REH838, 1993, (VHS)
With Jonas Hellborg
- 1995: Abstract Logic (Bardo)
- 1996: Temporal Analogues of Paradise (Bardo)
- 1997: Time Is the Enemy (Bardo)
- 2000: Good People in Times of Evil (Bardo)
Other appearances
- 1990: Highwayman 2 – The Highwaymen
- 1991: Centrifugal Funk with Frank Gambale Brett Garsed
- 1998: One Road Man, Chris LeDoux
Images for kids
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Shawn Lane playing his guitar.
See also
In Spanish: Shawn Lane para niños
