Lane Tietgen

Lane Tietgen (born Topeka, Kansas[1]) was an American poet, composer and musician who sings and plays guitar and bass. Tietgen lived in the Bay Area in California.[2] He died on 14 July 2020, as reported in the Sonoma News

A number of Tietgen's songs have been covered by famous musicians, including "Captain Bobby Stout" and "Martha's Madman" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, "It Can't Make Any Difference to Me" by Dave Mason, and "Red and Black Blues" by Ringo Starr. In 2006 Ice Cube used a melody by Tietgen for his song, "Click, Clack – Get Back!," on the album Laugh Now, Cry Later.[3]

Tietgen began his musical career as the guitarist and primary songwriter for The Serfs, who achieved some fame in and around the band's home state of Kansas. In 1970, the blues-jazz-rock band, The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood, recorded seven Tietgen compositions, including "Captain Bobby Stout and" "Martha's Madmen." The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood featured Hahn, Mike Finnigan, Clyde Graves and George Marsh.[4][5]

In 2009 The Serfs were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.[6] That same year, Tietgen released a solo album, Wheels of Fortune, featuring all original songs.[7]

Tietgen regularly performed live as a folk singer and guitarist in music venues.[8]