22 Years of Andy Lee Lang®

1985
Andy, who had ten years of classical piano instruction as a boy, founds his first band, the Rock'n Roll Rats. The 4-strong Austrian "boy band" does its first round of gigs: in various soccer clubs and at a commercial school. Their fee: food and drink, their programme: golden oldies and rock'n roll hits. The next 3 years are filled with many rehearsals, few concerts and constant imitations of the big idol Jerry Lee Lewis.

1988
A new band (with a line-up of 5) forms around Andy Lee Lang®. "Papa's Tapas", the trendy Vienna night-spot, becomes home and setting of wild success to them; they attract their first loyal fans, sessions with big Austrian names such as Jazz Gitti, Al Edwards, the Untouchables, Mandy from the Bambis, Karl Ratzer and Carl Peyer are major attractions. First appearances on radio and TV ("Ohne Maulkorb", "Die 50er kommen").

1990
The band does some reshuffling (now comprising 5 men and 1 woman). The first CD is released: "Back to Rock'n Roll" a combination of R&R classics and original compositions. The track "Boogie Woogie Woman" is recorded on a few samplers and sells 25,000 the most successful original composition. Then the band hits a major pothole as their manager absconds with the takings a sad end to the "Andy Lee Lang® Rockin' Show".

1991
A painful new start with a 6-strong band "The Nighthawks". The second CD, "Rockin' Piano Man" is produced. "Texas Train", an original composition, receives airplay in several US states. Appearances with Rocco Granata, Percy Sledge and Big Jay McNeely.

1992
Jerry Lee Lewis plays the Austria Center Vienna with Andy Lee Lang® as the opening act. Because of the film "Great Balls of Fire" many young visitors mistake Andy for Jerry Lee and enthusiastically swarm the stage. Whilst the performance of the "Killer" is not so convincing, everybody raves about Andy Lee Lang® . Chuck Berry takes Andy along on his European tour and is so enthusiastic about the Austrian that he plays four-handed piano with him.

1993
The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) produces a 50-minute "Andy Lee Lang® Special". Chuck Berry announces that he will only do another European tour if that "crazy Austrian" is available. Andy plays the tour. Jerry Lee Lewis falls ill during the double-feature concerts. Andy plays Zurich (with legendary Elvis guitarist James Burton) and the Vienna Stadthalle instead of Jerry Lee Lewis: the first headlines appear (Andy Lee instead of Jerry Lee). In Austria, his reputation has become rock-solid. In his concerts in Morocco, Germany, France, Switzerland, Slovakia and the US (Los Angeles and Las Vegas) he is billed as "the Austrian ambassador of Rock'n Roll". With the release of the third CD, "Back in Town", Andy has ultimately outgrown the shadow of Jerry Lee Lewis and has found a voice of his own.

1994
Appearances with Bill Haley's Original Comets, Wanda Jackson, Carl Perkins, and Fats Domino provide international experiences. At the Ö3 (Austrian pop radio channel) Golden Oldies Night, Andy is the only Austrian playing among the likes of Smokie, Mungo Jerry and the Rubettes in Wels and at the Vienna Stadthalle in front of an audience of 22,000. He releases his Christmas CD "Rockin' Christmas" and the title song, one of Andy's original compositions, makes the playlist in several Scandinavian countries. In his "Viva Las Vegas" show Andy once again proves that he is a five-star entertainer.

1995
He forms a new band. Andy Lee Lang® and "The Spirit®" are born becoming Europe's hottest R&R show band. The "sax players' pyramid", the "flying keyboard" and, of course, the pianoman himself a real scorcher at all live shows. A live CD and a video mark their 10-year stage anniversary. The "Rockin' Christmas" double feature with Jerry Lee Lews at the Vienna Stadthalle, an appearance at the Jazzfest Vienna with Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, and the live CD "That's Entertainment" nicely round off this successful year. Andy's composition "Louisiana Mardi Gras" features on a Nashville sampler, and he receives the "Award of Recognition" and "The Gold Record of Achievement" as best non-American newcomer.

1996
The year of live concerts (240 shows), many in tandem with international stars. A fan club is founded in Germany (fans include soccer players Franz Wohlfahrt, Andreas Herzog and Toni Polster). On BFBS David Simmons plays Andy's CDs in "Rock Ola", his longstanding programme with world-wide transmission. The US showers the following awards on Andy: "Key of Success", "World Lifetime Achievement Award" and "The Platinum Record for Exceptional Performance".

1997
The Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (a theatre group), offer Andy his greatest challenge so far: musical direction and lead in the musical "Elvis Forever". A new venture - and praise pours in. The "Elvis Forever" CD is released and the ORF broadcasts a portrait of Andy Lee Lang® in a weekly culture programme. Andy receives the US awards "Men's Inner Circle of Achievement", "International Sash of Academia", and "Order of International Ambassadors", officially becoming the international "Ambassador of Rock'n Roll".
The CD "Duets" appears on the market. Duets with various Rock'n Roll stars (among them Wanda Jackson, Bill Ramsey, Frankie Ford, Charlie Gracie, Bill Haleys Original Comets) make the CD a special treat. At the end of this successful year Andy Lee Lang® presents his show "Rockin' Christmas 97" in the big hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus and - together with Wanda Jackson - at the Arena Nova in Wr. Neustadt.

1998
The CD "Rock'n Roll Party" is released. Andy Lee Lang® presents an "Oldies" programme at one of the new private radio stations. At the "Donauinselfest" in Vienna there is a common appearance with the legendary "Coasters". The audience is sent into raptures. Studio recordings with Buddy Knox, DJ Fontana and The Coasters prepare the CD "Duets -Vol II". Andy's concerts in Spain, Portugal, France and Finland are a triumphant success. TV stations at home and abroad invite Andy Lee Lang as their studio guest to various programmes. The tour "American Christmas 1998" takes place in full houses all December. Austria's most successful Christmas production carries away thousands of listeners.

1999
A new project is born: "The Rocking Three". Andy Lee Lang®, Mat Schuh and Dennis Jale create a new variety of Rock'n Roll entertainment. Three different Rock'n Rollers perfectly complementing each other. At the biggest German media event, the Presse-Ball in Munich, Andy Lee Lang® & The Spirit® enthuse even Hugo Strasser, the leader of the big band, who mumbled "It's been centuries that I've seen such a good show and such a musically perfect band." In the musical "Little Shop of Horror" Andy Lee Lang gives his voice to the carnivore "Audrey Two" - and sings in German for the first time. Appearances in Egypt, Holland, Italy and Croatia add to his international popularity. Andy Lee Lang® is awarded with the American "Millenium Medal of Honor". The tenth CD, fervently desired by his fans, "Greatest Live Hits" is published. In Sardinia, on the occasion of Gerhard Berger's birthday party, who has airlifted Andy Lee Lang® & The Spirit® on his private jet specially for that purpose, there is a legendary event: Ex-Beatle Georg Harrison, guest of the party, gets so enthusiastic after some songs that, on the spur of the moment, he "joins" Andy Lee Lang® & The Spirit® and they have a three-hour session together. In November the second Christmas CD "American Christmas" is presented. Then Andy Lee Lang® takes off for the Far east to give his first concert on Chinese soil in Shanghai and subsequently goes to Sweden to start the tour "American Christmas 1999".

2000
Another year, another challenge: The "Metropol" in Vienna engages Andy Lee Lang® for the musical Be-Bop A Lulatsch '59. Based on an idea of Günter Brödl, inventor of Dr. Kurt Ostbahn, a musical is produced about Rock'n Roll, career and intrigue. Beside Andy Lee Lang the cast includes Günther MOkesch, Mad Schuh, Alexandra Hilverth, Pia Baresch and others. And, as a matter of course, The Spirit for musical accompaniment. More than 25000 ardent spectators were audience to the 59 shows. On the occasion of the "Donauinselfest" in Vienna (Europe's greatest open-air event presenting 15 stages) Any Lee Lang & The Spirit gave two concerts. At the Star Club Stage the American superstars The Drifters and Billy Swan spontaneously asked Andy Lee Lang to join for a session. In August Andy Lee Lang was invited by Billy Swan to Memphis-Tennessee for the Elvis-Memorial-Day. In performances with the original Elvis musicians DJ Fontana and Scotty Moore as well as with Billy Swan Andy Lee Lang sent everyone to raptures - the audience, the co-musicians and the producers. This visit forged the bonds to America even stronger. In autumn Andy Lee Lang celebrated his 15th stage anniversary in a completely packed "Theater an der Wien" in Vienna, having Freddie Bell from Las Vegas as a star guest. A great triumph for Andy Lee Lang & The Spirit. After six weeks in Australia followed other highlights such as the sold out municipal threatre of Baden as well as the American Christmas Tour 2000 (highlights: sellouts at Arena Nova, Wr. Neustadt, and "Raimundtheater", Vienna). And though you wouldn't think it possible, the 1996 performances were outstripped, and the year 2000 became the year of the most performances for Andy Lee Lang & the Spirit. Moreover, Andy was awarded by Cambridge with the "2000 Outstanding Musicians of the 20th Century - Performing and Songwriting", thus being, beside Falco and Jo Zawinul, one of the three Austrians awarded.

2001
The band "The Spirit®" has entered the New Year with a new line-up. Outstanding new musicians with an unbelievable commitment to their sound have been grouped around Andy Lee Lang®. The first major gig of the year was held in the venerable halls of the Bruckner Haus Concert Hall in Linz; Austria - and it was a huge success. Andy was invited to Germany to perform for the German television celebration of the 66th birthday of music and entertainment star Udo Jürgens. Many more invitations abroad followed. For example to New Orleans and the Legends Festival in the Zephyr Stadium.
Andy Lee Lang® presented his 12th CD "Together", in a sold out Ronacher Variety Theatre in Vienna at the beginning of April - it is a disc of duets he recorded with such Rock´n Roll legends as Peter Kraus, Billy Swan, The Drifters, Linda Gail Lewis, The Coasters and many others. The disc is a masterpiece and a landmark in his career as the press and the critics already reported and the media turned out in force as never before at the disc presentation in the Nikodemus Club. Highest critical praise for the CD also flowed in from abroad.
The summer was marked by numerous live appearances. Gigs at the A-1-Ring, in Cologne, Regensburg, Munich and elsewhere took Andy Lee Lang® & The Spirit® from one end of Germany to the other.
In autumn a newly designed homepage proved just how popular and how very much in demand Andy Lee Lang® is, recording an incredible 155,000 visits per month.
In Advent came the Christmas Tour 2001. Andy Lee Lang® & The Spirit set out on tour for the ninth time with "Rockin' Christmas - The Original". Despite a number of imitators, it is and remains the best Christmas show in Austria and fired the enthusiasm of an audience of 11,000 in the brief Advent period. Guests in three double concerts of the series this year were: the American vocal group The Drifters featuring Bobby Hendricks. The Christmas Show was spot lighted as a major arts report in Austrian TV late night news.
Numerous radio and TV show appearances rounded off a highly successful year. Andy Lee Lang® & The Spirit® were among other venues star guests in the Folk Music Grand-Prix, in Swiss television, in Slovak TV and 3 times in the hugely popular Austrian ORF TV "Licht ins Dunkel" programme, one of these was naturally in the viewer rating hit, the Licht ins Dunkel gala performance.
The year 2001 also brought in a host of prestigious new awards:
Andy Lee Lang® was awarded the "American Order Of Excellence" for his contribution to music and the award "International Personality Of The Year 200l" came from Cambridge for his album "Together" while at the same time being taken into the IBC Online Hall Of Fame.

2002
A year of new shows and new projects.
Andy Lee Lang’s Las Vegas Tribute presents hits by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones and Engelbert, accompanied for the first time by the 17-strong Marco Zarello Big Band.
To mark the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, Andy Lee Lang puts on a new show called The Elvis Presley Story, a musical revue about the world’s greatest musical legend. Stories and anecdotes offer fascinating glimpses of the King’s life onstage and offstage.
His latest trip to America gives Andy Lee Lang a new idea for a CD production. As in an US TV programme, fans get an opportunity to request music titles. A selection is made of the most interesting of the 300+ suggestions sent in, and recorded in three fully-booked live concerts.
The latest album, Live By Request, comes out in November. The 13th CD by Andy Lee Lang, this is likewise a hit with a national and international public.
December sees the 10th Rockin’ Christmas – The Original event. Andy Lee Lang brings over the legendary Motown Marvelettes to Austria for two double concerts. With a total of 16 performances, Andy Lee Lang and The Spirit prove that Rockin’ Christmas – The Original is justly considered Austria’s most successful Christmas show.
This is the year Andy Lee Lang sets a new audience record. At a festival in Germany his show attracts an audience of over 11,000.
Because of its success (all eight performances sold out), the Elvis Presley Story is repeated in February 2003.
The anniversary event 10 Years of Rockin´ Christmas – The Original breaks all records to date, attracting an audience of over 15,000 to 16 concerts over three weeks.
This year, Andy Lee Lang and The Spirit attract a total audience of over 88,000 to their performances.
Andy Lee Lang is also a welcome guest on all radio and TV stations. Countless interviews and live recordings are broadcast, including an entire Rockin’ Christmas concert transmitted by Lower Austrian Radio. On Herzlichst Hansi Hinterseer – Traumschiff Ahoi, Andy Lee Lang shows off his mettle as a thespian.
With 16 international awards already to his credit, Andy Lee Lang notches up another five awards for his musical achievements: 2001 Noble Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Contributions to Worldwide Humanity, Lifetime Achievement Award (Cambridge), Order of Biographical Excellence, Legacy of Honor and American Medal Of Honor, He is also co-opted by the London Diplomatic Academy as a Member of the Academic Council.

2003
The year begins with a re-opening of the successful “The Elvis Presley Story“ show and 5 more sold-out performances.
The musical highlight following on from numerous concerts was the Vienna Danube Island Festival with an audience of over 90,000. Other open-air events follow, for example in Linz (estimated 20,000 audience), The Best of Music Festival in Germany (with a 15,000 audience), showing the popularity of the “Ambassador of Rock’n’Roll“.
“ The Elvis Presley Story“ also marks the recording start for the first Andy Lee Lang DVD. All the Andy Lee Lang shows are recorded in a co-production with DORO.
Behind the scenes glimpses of the artist skiing, traveling in the USA and the like are included as an extra.
This versatile artist once again receives new awards in the course of the year.
British music journalists pick him as “International Musician of the Year 2003 – Rock’n’Roll“, he is declared a Music & Entertainment “Living Legend“ in Cambridge and honored for the first time in Austria with the award of the “Schreiberhausmünze”. The Christmas mail brings him 3 further new awards:
“ The International Peace Prize“, “The 100 Most Intriguing People of 2003“ and “International Ambassador Of Goodwill 2003“.
Andy Lee Lang has moreover long been a hugely popular guest on many different TV and radio shows. He reveals his talent as a chef in the star cook series “Fresh Cooked is Half the Battle” and he accompanies Peter Kraus through Vienna in “A Star and his City” or tells Nadia Mader about his private Christmas celebrations in “Close-up”.
Andy Lee Lang also makes his first moves to literary immortality, writing about his childhood and his dreams in the book “Proud of Lower Austria”.
The official end to the year is the now traditional Rockin Christmas Show, on tour as an international act this year with “Danny and The Juniors“. Sold-out concert halls with wildly enthusiastic fans prove that “Rockin Christmas –the original“ has lost none of its fascination in its 11th consecutive year.
Rehearsals for the latest Andy Lee Lang show begin immediately after the Christmas holidays.
“ Viva Las Vegas“ has its premiere in January.

2004
The new show “Viva Las Vegas“ is premiered on 23 January. Andy Lee Lang entices his audience to the gambling metropolis in this show and his outstanding entertainer qualities bring a spell binding breath of Las Vegas flair into the theater. Musically “Viva Las Vegas“ is rounded off perfectly by the 17 musicians of the Marco Zarello Big Band.
The critics are unanimous in their praise after the premiere: “The best retro show ever”. The 8500 fans at the first 17 sell-out performances confirm the critics’ view. The first Andy Lee Lang big band album “The Very Best Of Viva Las Vegas, Vol.1“ is released simultaneously with the re-opening of the show in May.
In the USA Andy Lee Lang once again really shows what he can do at the “Atlantic City's 150th Birthday Celebration” Festival. He receives recognition for his musical work from the country of origin of rock’n’roll in June.
Andy Lee Lang is accepted as the first Austrian into the “American Hall Of Fame“ on June 7, 2004.
The focus this summer is on festivals and open-air events. First, Andy will be performing in Montreux with his band, The Spirit, at the jazz festival Under The Sky, where more than 2000 festival-goers will applaud the Austrian at two concerts.
Andy Lee Lang & The Spirit are invited to Peking for the Chinese equivalent of the beloved show “Wetten dass”. The pilot for the new show will be recorded under the auspices of Thomas Gottschalk, and Andy Lee Lang will now even be bringing rock ‘n’ roll onto Chinese television.
Andy Lee Lang’s most successful productions to date will be held once again in autumn of this year: “The Elvis Presley Story” and “Viva Las Vegas” will be taking audiences by storm. At the same time Andy Lee Lang will also be releasing his 15th album: “The Very Best Of Viva Las Vegas - Vol. 2 Live”. The second part of the show can be heard on this live recording. Highlights of Viva Las Vegas will be broadcast on television in a 70 minute special.
On 4 October Andy Lee Lang will receive his first, major, national award. He is one of the youngest Austrians to receive the “Golden Symbol of Merit of the State of Vienna” - his 32nd award.
This year “It’s Christmas Time” is its 12th year running. In completely sold-out halls Andy Lee Lang & The Spirit are bringing a retrospective of 12 years of “Rockin’ Christmas - The Original”, and audiences agree this is his best Christmas show in 12 years. The highlights are two double concerts with Herb Reed and his Platters. Together with the last original member of the successful 1950s vocal group they will enthral over 3000 spectators in the Vienna Konzerthaus and Arena Nova.

2005
After filming the television show “Die Starnacht im Montafon” rehearsals began for the musical “Strangers In The Night”. Andy Lee Lang played Butler Billy, who was fired by Frank Sinatra. He meets Bob Benton (Andreas Steppan) by accident, who was fired from the Rat Pack show. The two shine together every evening in their own show at the Stardust. Entanglements and problems with ladies of the club are a given. In February after the premier the audience expressed a great deal of surprise regarding Andy Lee Lang’s acting abilities. “Have you been secretly taking acting lessons” was the most frequently asked question each evening. In the following 24 performances the audience was more enthusiastic than ever, and every evening the ensemble received standing ovations requesting encores. Due to its major success, its repeat performance was scheduled for May - all these performances were likewise completely sold out.
Andy also ventured into previously uncharted terrain with a second project. He produced “The Story Of Rock ’n’ Roll” for the youth theatre.
In this production school classes of 8 to 14-year-old kids are acquainted with rock ‘n’ roll’s various stages of development. No simple undertaking, but despite the initial scepticism Andy soon succeeded in transforming the Top 40 oriented youth into wild, screaming rock ‘n’ rollers.
For his first big band album “Viva Las Vegas Vol. 1” Andy Lee Lang was awarded the distinction of being included in the “Top 100 Musicians in England 2005” and was accepted into the “Legion Of Honor” by the United Cultural Convention this summer.
Highlight of the summer were the jazz festival in Vienna, the performance in the Burg Clam and in Germany – at the Southern Rhythm Festival in Waltenhofen among other events. Jacky, a long-time rock ‘n’ roll colleague from Switzerland, invited Andy Lee Lang & The Spirit to an anniversary concert in Bern. The exuberance of audience in Bern even stunned Andy, who one would have thought would be used to such acclaim by now.
His own production, “The Elvis Presley Story”, has been successfully performed in Krems and at the Lichtenstein Castle, among other venues, in which Andy Lee Lang toured this year with 4 different shows.
But it’s still not enough: The year 2005 had a very special focus. In October, Andy Lee Lang celebrated the 20th anniversary of his career on stage in the Austria Centre in Vienna. He reminisced on his stage career in a one-off concert. From the solo beginnings to the era of the Rockin’ Session, hits from his first CD, from The Elvis Presley Story to the entertainment world of Las Vegas he showed the rich diversity of his skills. Together with many musicians from his former bands and national and international friends and musical accompaniment, such as Big Jay McNeely, Carl Dobkins Jr., Johnny Preston or Magic Christian he provided over 4,000 spectators with an unforgettable evening.
Naturally Andy Lee Lang was also invited in 2005 to appear on countless radio and television shows, for example “Promi Time” in Radio NÖ and the show “Vera – Person of the Year”.
Also in 2005 Andy Lee Lang was distinguished several times for his musical works, and he was accepted into the “Legion Of Honor” at the United Cultural Convention and was entered into the “Top 100 Musicians in England 2005” – for the album Viva Las Vegas
Vol. 1, “Salute To Greatness Award For Outstanding Contributions In The Field Of Music” and” Degree Of Excellence In Music” in the performing & song writing category.
This year Andy Lee Lang ended his anniversary year with the 6th version of the show, “Rockin’ Christmas - The Original”. Highlight of the tour – already a tradition – is a concert in the Arena Nova, and for the first time, two shows in the Vienna Konzerthaus, all completely sold out. As special guest this year Andy invited the Grand Dame of rock ‘n’ roll, Wanda Jackson.
As every year Andy Lee Lang once again supported the campaign “Light into darkness” and was a guest at the Landesstudio as well as the Austrian-wide broadcast on 24 December.
After 20 successful years Andy Lee Lang granted himself some time off in 2006. He was largely only available for his own productions “Viva Las Vegas” and “The Elvis Presley Story”. Consequently Andy Lee Lang was only seen in 2006 on a few, specially selected stages.

2006
At the beginning of the year Andy Lee Lang was nominated for Austria’s most coveted music award, the “Amadeus Award”.
Despite his health-related time-out Andy Lee Lang was a guest at the Parktheater in Augsburg in April. He delighted audiences with three performances of his “Elvis Presley Story”.
In England Andy Lee Lang was chosen to be included in the “Top Musicians of 2005 - Contemporary Music”, named “Sovereign Ambassador of the Order Of American Ambassadors” and received “The Excellence Award” in the entertainment category from Cambridge.
Two additional national awards were added with his inclusion in the “Walk Of Fame” the “Walk Of Stars”.
On extended private trips Andy Lee Lang generated new energy and strength, which he demonstrated at a few “Viva Las Vegas Show’s” for example in Vienna and Lenzing. The crowning end to a quiet but nevertheless successful year was “The Elvis Presley Story” in Worms and Lampertheim, where further engagements in Germany were scheduled for 2007.

2007
Andy Lee Lang has discovered a new great love – the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Following his first visit to this unique nature reserve, he spontaneously established his own foundation for the preservation of the habitats of the last remaining mountain gorillas. He has already held the first benefit concerts in May to benefit the animals he has “taken under his wing”.