Penny Lang

A revered figure in Canadian folk circles, singer/songwriter Penny Lang cultivated a loyal audience through her singular interpretations of folk, blues, country, and gospel standards. Born in Montreal, she first gained notice in the 1960s while refining her skills at prisons, hospitals, churches, and summer camps before appearing at prominent folk festivals and maintaining an exhaustive club schedule throughout North America. Warner Bros. later approached her with a recording contract, yet the resolutely acoustic performer declined once she learned an electric band would be required. By the mid-1970s, exhausted by industry pressures and struggling with alcoholism, she withdrew into seclusion, settling in a remote cabin deep in Quebec’s wilderness. She remained absent from the stage until 1988, when she resumed live performances and began composing fresh material. Her return was marked by the 1991 self-released cassette-only album Yes!!, followed a year later by Live. Ain't Life Sweet arrived in 1993, and Carry On Children appeared in 1996.