Biography

Contact: Rick Lang
rick@ricklangmusic.com
Tel. 603-944-2934
www.ricklangmusic.com

Publicity: Claire Ratliff, Laughing Penguin Publicity
info@penguinpublicity.com
www.penguinpublicity.com


"NH Songwriter Rick Lang releases 2 Song Boston Marathon tribute"

Back when the Boston Marathon celebrated its 100th anniversary, award winning songwriter Rick Lang wrote two songs to commemorate this historic event: "Running For The Glory" and "Heartbreak Hill". He subsequently recorded both with his very talented music friends Bob Dick, Dave Dick, Roger Williams and Karen Lincoln. The songs received some local radio Airplay that year, and "Running For The Glory" was featured in a music video, appearing in a live broadcast on a major TV network the day of the event.
Fast forward 23 years later, Rick decided to re-release updated versions of the two songs with the hope of getting airplay in conjunction with this year's running of The Boston Marathon.

"An area songwriter, I have been writing, performing and recording my original music for over 30 years to this point. I write about things that resonate with me, and hope will resonate with others as well. Born and raised in New England, over time I gained an interest in The Boston Marathon and its storied history. I spent an entire summer researching and writing these songs. It is my hope that "Running For The Glory" and "Heartbreak Hill" be played each and every year in conjunction with the running of The Boston Marathon". - Rick Lang




Rick Lang Bio

A native of New Hampshire, award-winning songwriter Rick Lang has become well known in the Bluegrass community and beyond. His songs have been covered by some of the most renowned artists in Bluegrass music, Southern Gospel and even the Jazz world. Over 80 song cuts to his credit, the number keeps growing each year.
Rick has released six studio albums of his own to date. Each have featured all original Rick Lang compositions.
Rick’s first Christmas release “The Season Of My Heart” (2003), was voted one of the top twenty-five albums of the year by the National Folk Radio survey.
“Look To The Light”, an all Gospel CD released in 2010 on Rural Rhythm Christian (RRC) was nominated for a GMA (Gospel Music
Association) Dove Award as well as an IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Gospel Recorded Event Of The Year.
In 2012 Rick recorded and released the Christmas single “Little Did They Know” on the Rural Rhythm Records Label…. featuring Jana Mougin on vocals.
Rick’s 2nd Christmas/Seasonal album, “That’s What I Love About Christmas” was released on Oct 7, 2014 on his RLM Music label.
Unlike his previous Holiday recording, this one has a heavy jazz influence, some of the songs having the feel of some of the classic
Christmas songs of the ’30s and ’40s. The title cut, written by Rick and Stephen Mougin, was awarded 2015 Holiday Song Of The Year by the IMEA (International Music & Entertainment Association) at their annual awards show at the Marietta Performing Arts Center, Marietta GA Saturday Oct 24, 2015.
In March 2018, Rick’s new concept album “The Undertow” was launched. Living near the NH coastline all his life, it is not surprising that several of Rick’s original songs have ocean themes & settings. He picked a dozen of them to record on this most unique concept album. The story lines in the songs are all based on, or inspired by, real life stories, personal experiences, and places Rick has frequented since childhood. The fabric of the ocean interweaves seamlessly throughout the verses and choruses from beginning to end. Performing with Rick on “The Undertow” are several of the area musicians he has performed with, recorded with, and written with over the course of the last thirty years. The end result is a masterfully produced, heart- warming one-of-a-kind music release guaranteed to captivate the listener.
“We have been fortunate enough to follow Rick's artistic journey through his last several projects. Rick is a master songwriter and storyteller who simply has a remarkable gift of his craft. His songs stir the soul and unlock simple truths. The way all great songwriters do. His projects are always beautifully recorded and arranged, typically, bringing in the musician's musicians to take his songs soaring to another level. On his new project, 'The Undertow', Rick has released a folk roots masterwork. It's a concept album of songs connected to the ocean & sea that are woven together like a fine tapestry. The inspiration comes from Rick's own life's experience, family ancestry, and real-life stories but its message is universal. Like when the young boy holds up the shell to his ear in the heart tugging acoustic track "Treasures in the Sand". Like the ocean, the songs can be vast and mysterious like "Keep the Lights Burning Abby" or "Shipwreck of Love" or the more intimate and familiar like the bluegrass flavored "Massachusetts Turnpike". The fun is discovering all the little threads that are interwoven throughout the entire project that can only be discovered by each repeated listen.”

Bryan Klausing
Acoustic Rainbow - Poetman Records


In the spring of 2018 Rick established a songwriting scholarship at East Tennessee State University for students attending the Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Program. The 1st scholarship was awarded to Alexis Hamilton-Mele in December 2018. An endowment fund was established, to ensure that a scholarship will be awarded to an ETSU student each and every year.
In November of 2018 Rick released his 2nd All Gospel Release “Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout” on the Billy Blue Records Label. The stellar lineup of Bluegrass, Country, and Gospel stars lending their talents to deliver Lang's original songs includes Dave Adkins, High Road, Marty Raybon, The Whites, Claire Lynch, Bradley Walker, Cox Family, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Larry Cordle, and Salley. Reviews have been pouring in, praising this stellar new Gospel release:
“This incomparable collaboration of exquisite songwriting and top talent has resulted in a masterfully arranged, heart-warming and one-of-a-kind collection … all from the pen of prolific writer, Rick Lang.”
- Reviewer Broadway World

“Rick Lang’s songwriting here is simply breathtaking, and the performers who give themselves over to his work do so with a respectful integrity that is really something to marvel at.”
- Reviewer IMAAI





In addition to a busy songwriting schedule, Rick does some freelance writing for Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, conducts songwriting workshops in the New England area, and still actively performs on occasion. Rick is an alumnus of the IBMA Leadership Bluegrass program (class of 2012), currently chairs the IBMA Songwriter committee and is a mentor in the IBMA Songwriter Mentor Program.
Rick and his wife Wendy have two daughters, three granddaughters, and currently reside in Kingston New Hampshire