Deciding to step forward to go back, Lange makes his debut as the front man with the Lonely Knights and he's clearly having a blast in the spotlight at last. He has assembled a critically acclaimed band with the soulfully braying saxes of Ed Vizard and Dan Benson, guitarist Grady Pinkerton laying down a solid groove and rounded out by the outstanding drummer Michael Christian and piano thumper Jack Paine.
Larry Lange and his Lonely Knights: Bio
The Band
Larry Lange - Lead Vocals, Bass
Playing with Paul Ray and the Cobras, Stevie Vaughan, Angela Strehli, and Doug Sahm, exceptional bass player Larry Lange, a legend from Austin, helped make Austin become the “Live Music Capitol of the World”. Touring the world with Delbert McClinton and sharing the stage with Willie Nelson, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis and countless others, Larry takes to the Knight-leading role like he was born to it. Why this music? Larry grew up in Victoria, Texas during a time when regional hits were being played on the local radio stations. Musicians from San Antonio, Texas to Lafayette, Louisiana were trading and playing each others songs. Sunny Ozuna, Joe Berry, Warren Storm, Huey Meaux , the Crazy Cajun – these and many more had early influence on Larry Lange. Songs from his roots – the reason he ever picked up a guitar.
Jackson Paine - Keyboards
Grady Pinkerton - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Michael Christian - Drums, Vocals
The Horns
Michael Prillaman - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jesse Botello - Tenor and Alto Saxaphone
Special Guest Stars
Joanna Ramirez - Lead Vocals
Singer and songwriter Joanna Ramirez has been performing in Austin, Texas since
1999. She released a blend of soulful rhythm and blues in a debut CD entitled "Satisfy
Me" produced by Mark Hallman (Ani DiFranco, Sister 7, Davíd Garza) in June 2001.
Joanna's vocal style possesses a depth and range enabling her to deliver songs from
a variety of genres, with an undeniably commanding stage presence.
Born and raised in Dallas, Joanna is carrying on the family music tradition started by
her maternal grandfather, a mariachi singer and guitar player. He made a lasting
impression on her when she saw him perform as a young girl in New Orleans, singing
directly to her in a big, booming voice, which did not require a microphone. At that
moment, she learned of the power of the human voice and its ability to move people.
All of Joanna's uncles and her father, Joe Ramirez, performed in North Texas playing
a wide range of music, from R&B to pop to traditional Mexican folk songs. Growing up
with music all around her, Joanna's musical tastes ranged from The Beatles to Stevie
Wonder to funk. With the discovery of Stevie Ray Vaughan and other artists of the
80s blues revival, such as Robert Cray and Bonnie Raitt, Joanna realized her musical
influences came together in blues. Her energies shifted to singing, and she began
developing her voice and writing songs while actively pursuing opportunities to
perform.
Joanna formed the Denison-based Soul Providers in 1993, then moved to Austin in 1998,
creating the band then called Shake 'em on Down a year later with keyboards and saxophone
player Jack Paine and guitarist J.P. Lilliston, adding bassist Jeff Hayes and drummer
Scott French. Joanna penned seven of the songs on the album, "Satisfy Me" and collaborated
with the band on music arrangements. Longtime local blues keeper Walter Higgs is featured
on harmonica on the album's title track. Satisfy Me takes the listener on a journey through
life and relationships and the struggle between losing control and getting it back
again. Joanna conveys many moods with her voice transitioning gracefully between playful
and broken-hearted to sensual and even vengeful. "For me, music starts with the heart,"
says Joanna. "If I don't feel it, I can't sing it. All of these songs are very special to me.
Every time I sing them, I do what comes naturally to me, and I give it all I've got."
After years of performing with a full band, Joanna is also now featuring her vocal abilities
in solo acoustic settings. With a batch of new original songs, and covering blues, americana
and soul, Joanna is happily stretching into styles of music, which have always influenced
and inspired her. She has also collaborated with Austin guitarists Harry Bodine, Al Monti,
and Will Indian, who has performed for many years with The Nortons and is now with country
artist James Hand. Joanna has appeared as percussionist with Mary Welch y Los Curanderos and
provided lead vocals for Kim Session's band, Kim and Her Blues Girls.
Joanna is currently a featured vocalist with Larry Lange and His Lonely Knights,
and appears on Larry's first cd release "Crazy Crazy Baby", "Live At Evangeline Cafe" and is
featured on the new album entitled "San Antonio Serenade".
"I see myself as a vehicle for the music. I was given a gift, but I don't own it. I'm just
sharing it with others, trying to touch them through music. If I move someone, I feel I've
done my job."
Singer and songwriter Joanna Ramirez has been performing in Austin, Texas since 1999. She released a blend of soulful rhythm and blues in a debut CD entitled "Satisfy Me" produced by Mark Hallman (Ani DiFranco, Sister 7, Davíd Garza) in June 2001.
Joanna's vocal style possesses a depth and range enabling her to deliver songs from a variety of genres, with an undeniably commanding stage presence.
Born and raised in Dallas, Joanna is carrying on the family music tradition started by her maternal grandfather, a mariachi singer and guitar player. He made a lasting impression on her when she saw him perform as a young girl in New Orleans, singing directly to her in a big, booming voice, which did not require a microphone. At that moment, she learned of the power of the human voice and its ability to move people.
After years of performing with a full band, Joanna is also now featuring her vocal abilitiesin solo acoustic settings. With a batch of new original songs, and covering blues, americanaand soul, Joanna is happily stretching into styles of music, which have always influenced and inspired her.
She has also collaborated with Austin guitarists Harry Bodine, Al Monti,and Will Indian, who has performed for many years with The Nortons and is now with countryartist James Hand. Joanna has appeared as percussionist with Mary Welch y Los Curanderos andprovided lead vocals for Kim Session's band, Kim and Her Blues Girls.
Joanna is currently a featured vocalist with Larry Lange and His Lonely Knights,and appears on Larry's first cd release "Crazy Crazy Baby", "Live At Evangeline Cafe" and isfeatured on the new album entitled "San Antonio Serenade".
"I see myself as a vehicle for the music. I was given a gift, but I don't own it. I'm justsharing it with others, trying to touch them through music. If I move someone, I feel I've done my job."