Eddie Lang recorded duets with guitarists Lonnie Johnson and Carl Kress and jazz violinist Joe Venuti, and played rhythm guitar in the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and was the favoured accompanist of Bing Crosby.
18 Facts About Eddie Lang
2.
The son of an Italian-American instrument maker, Lang was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up with violinist Joe Venuti.
3.
Eddie Lang performed on violin in 1917 and became a member of a trio.
4.
Eddie Lang recorded one of the first solos in 1924 on "Deep 2nd Street Blues".
5.
Eddie Lang recorded with blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson under the name Blind Willie Dunn to hide his race and as a tribute to blues guitarist Blind Lemon Jefferson.
6.
Eddie Lang worked with Frankie Trumbauer, Hoagy Carmichael, Annette Hanshaw, Red Nichols, Jack Pettis, Bessie Smith, and Clarence Williams.
7.
Whiteman was impressed by his ability to learn songs quickly, though Eddie Lang had little education and could not read music.
8.
Eddie Lang's guitarist was Snoozer Quinn, but for the second session he invited Lang.
9.
When Crosby toured soon after, Eddie Lang sat on a stool next to him to share the microphone.
10.
Eddie Lang became a regular in Crosby's orchestra in 1932, the same year he appeared in the movie The Big Broadcast.
11.
Eddie Lang suffered from occasional laryngitis, chronic sore throat, and digestion problems.
12.
Eddie Lang is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.
13.
Eddie Lang, along with New Orleans born Lonnie Johnson, were among the first single-string guitar soloists.
14.
Eddie Lang played the melody on one string while adding occasional chords.
15.
Eddie Lang demonstrated that the guitar could be an instrument for accompaniment like the piano.
16.
Eddie Lang was so influential that, according to George Van Eps, banjo players had no choice but to switch to guitar.
17.
In 1977, Eddie Lang's recording of "Singin' the Blues" with Frankie Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and in 2006 was placed on the US Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
18.
Eddie Lang was inducted into the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame and the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.