Everything about Doug Sahm totally explained
Douglas Wayne Sahm (
November 6,
1941 –
November 18,
1999), was a
musician from
Texas. Born in
San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in
country music, but became a significant figure in
blues,
rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as
Tex-Mex. He was the founder and leader of the 1960s hippie band The
Sir Douglas Quintet, and later with
Augie Meyers,
Freddy Fender and
Flaco Jimenez - The
Texas Tornados.
Sahm was proficient on dozens of musical instruments and was a lifelong
baseball fan.
Country prodigy: 1940s and 1950s
Sahm began his musical career singing and playing steel guitar, mandolin and violin as "Little" Doug Sahm, making his radio debut at the age five and releasing his first record "A
Real American Joe" at age eleven. In December of 1952 he played on stage with
Hank Williams.
He is said to have been offered a permanent spot on the
Grand Ole Opry, but his mother wanted him to finish junior high.
One of Sahm's earliest recordings was rejected by Mercury Records in 1953. Also in the mid-1950s, he started sneaking into San Antonio
R&B clubs such as the Tiffany Lounge and the Ebony Lounge, and he was soon performing at the same venues.
Sahm formed his first band, the Knights, in 1957. Later in the decade, Sahm joined up with Spot Barnett's band playing mostly black San Antonio blues clubs. In 1960, Sahm travelled across the country promoting a record.
He met
Freddy Fender around 1958.
Sir Douglas Quintet: 1960s
In 1965, prompted by record producer
Huey Meaux, he formed the
Sir Douglas Quintet with childhood friend
Augie Meyers. The group's name was chosen in an effort to make the band seem British to benefit from the
British invasion. This image had its problems, particularly Sahm's Texas accent and that two fifths of the band were of Mexican origin. Some early publicity photos of the band showed them only in silhouette to hide this fact.
The band had a top 20 US hit with the
12-bar blues "
She's About a Mover" and a lesser hit with "And the Rains Came," the former also reaching the Top Twenty in the UK.
The band broke up after a bust for
marijuana possession in Corpus Christi, Texas. Doug moved to San Francisco, forming the Honkey Blues Band before reforming the Sir Douglas Quintet with a new lineup. Eventually
Augie Meyers rejoined the quintet and they released the successful single and album "Mendocino". The record contained the song "At the Crossroad" with the legendary Sahm line "You just can't live in Texas if you don't have a lot of soul".
"Look" he said, "for me right now there are three groups: Butterfield, The Byrds and the Sir Douglas Quintet." Bob Dylan
Atlantic years: 1970s
In 1973,
Jerry Wexler of
Atlantic Records bought Sahm's contract and produced his solo debut
Doug Sahm and Band, an album featuring
Bob Dylan,
Dr. John,
David Bromberg and
Flaco Jimenez.
"Then in October 1972, Dylan was in the studio with Doug Sahm..........Dylan having been friendly with Sahm since the mid-sixties and having expressed enthusiasm for the Sir Douglas Quintet on more than one occasion"
Sahm continued recording both as a solo artist and with the Sir Douglas Quintet. During this period, Sahm also had a couple of minor motion picture roles. In 1972, he and the Quintet appeared with
Kris Kristofferson in
Cisco Pike and in 1979 he was featured in
More American Graffiti.
Sahm was also a sought-after session musician, appearing on releases of other artists including,
The Grateful Dead. He sang backing vocals on
Willie Nelson's 1973 gospel album,
The Troublemaker.
About a Mover: 1980s
In 1983, Sahm and Meyers signed with the Swedish Sonet label, and made several extensive
European tours that revitalized their careers. The single "Meet Me In Stockholm" from their
Midnight Sun LP went platinum and was one of the biggest selling records ever in Scandinavia.
After an accident in 1985 Doug moved to Canada and then returned to Texas in 1988.
A Texas Tornado: 1990s
In 1990 Sahm formed
Tex-Mex supergroup the
Texas Tornados with
Freddy Fender,
Augie Meyers and
Flaco Jimenez. The group recorded four albums and received a
Grammy.
Sahm also appears on the Uncle Tupelo album "Anodyne" on the song "Give Back the Key to my Heart". "Anodyne" was released in 1993.
Sahm recorded a Grammy-winning solo album,
The Last Real Texas Blues Band and recorded with yet another new formation of the Sir Douglas Quintet for
SDQ '98.
Sahm died of a
heart attack in his sleep in a motel room in
Taos, New Mexico on November 18, 1999.
A posthumous album,
The Return of Wayne Douglas, was released in 2000. Sahm's son, Shawn Sahm, continues in his father's footsteps as the leader of his band, Shawn Sahm & The Tex Mex Experience. Father and son appeared together on the cover of the
Rolling Stone in 1968.. Doug Sahm's other son, Shandon, played drums for
The Meat Puppets between 1999 and 2002.
Selected discography
Solo albums
Solo compilations
2004 - He's About a Groover: An Essential Collection (Fuel 2000)
2004 - Complete Atlantic Recordings (Rhino)
2003 - The Genuine Texas Groover (Rhino Handmade)
2001 - Son of San Antonio: The Roots of Sir Douglas (Music Club)
2000 - San Antonio Rock: The Harlem Recordings 1957-1961 (Norton)
2000 - In the Beginning (Aim)
1995 - His Early Years (Collectables)
1995 - Get on Up (Collectables)
1992 - The Best of Doug Sahm's Atlantic Sessions (Rhino)
1986 - Texas (Road Runner)
1981 - Sir Douglas: His First Recordings (Charly)
1979 - Sir Doug: Way Back When He Was Just Doug Sahm (Harlem Hitparade)Further Information
Get more info on 'Doug Sahm'.
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