A pianist since childhood, Lanker joined the Cherry Poppin' Daddies in early 1997 at age 20, first recording on the supplemental tracks for their compilation album Zoot Suit Riot, including the eponymous single which would later serve as the band's commercial breakthrough.

Lanker officially left the band in early 2012, though was able to contribute a majority of the keyboard and piano tracks for the Daddies' 2013 studio album White Teeth, Black Thoughts before his departure.

The Visible Men played a one-off reunion show in November 2009, though there has been no official announcement as to whether the group will continue recording or performing in the future.

In 2009, Lanker joined Caddies frontman Chuck Robertson's reggae side project Ellwood.

In 2011, Ellwood released their debut album Lost in Transition on Fat Wreck Chords, which was followed by brief touring in the UK and US.