The Best of The Sir Douglas Quintet

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Meaux, Francois (2018). Blue Weeds: The Alchemy of a Cajun Childhood. Balboa Press. ISBN 978-1-982-21121-9. Sahm's last album of original material, The Return of Wayne Douglas, was released posthumously in late 2000. was not interested. However, the producer soon found himself without a market when Beatlemania hit America. The story goes that Meaux, not to be outdone by a bunch of British upstarts, headed for San Antonio where he shut himself away in a hotel room with a bountiful supply of Thunderbird wine and every Beatles' record he could find, determined to discover what made them sell. His conclusion: "The beat was on the beat, just like a Cajun two-step." He then called Sahm, told him to grow his hair long, form a group, and write a song with a Cajun two-step beat. Doug assembled a band composed of members of his own Markays and Augie's Goldens. Meaux gave them an English sounding name, the Sir Douglas Quintet and, in 1965, scored an international hit with "She's About A Mover," an infectious blend of Texas pop Since the 1950s, Mendocino has been known for its artist colony, comprised of artists drawn to the area’s natural beauty and [at the time] low cost of living. Town landmarks include the Chinese Taoist Temple of Kwan Tai (1854) and the Mendocino Presbyterian Church (1868). Mendocino has been featured in sets for the films East of Eden, The Russians Are Coming, Overboard, The Dunwich Horror,and others. The town has also been the location of numbers of episodes of the TV series Murder She Wrote,starring Angela Lansbury. Johnny Perez owned Topanga Skyline Studios, with “the Vibe and the Magic of the ’70’s.” Skyline’s grand woodwork, welcoming business culture, and “western fort” dirt courtyard set the stage for drummer Perez to mentor and inspire generations of young artists – until his death on September 11, 2012 at the age of 69, in a California hospital, from complications of cirrhosis of the liver.

Douglas Wayne Sahm was born November 6, 1941, in San Antonio, Texas. Considered to be a prodigy on steel-guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, he made his radio debut at age five singing "Teardrops In My Heart" on station KMAC in San Antonio. This was followed by two years of radio appearances on the Mutual network. He became a featured player on the Louisiana Hayride country radio program by age eight. Known as Little Doug Sahm, he would often sit in at live performances of such greats as Webb Pierce, Hank Thompson and Faron Young. In December, 1952, Hank Williams took Doug on stage in Austin, Texas, less than two weeks before Williams's death. Austin City Council (April 10, 2008). "Regular Meeting of the Austin City Council April 10, 2008". City of Austin . Retrieved February 14, 2021. Pareles, Jon (November 22, 1999). "Doug Sahm, Musical Voice of Texas, Dies at 58". The New York Times . Retrieved March 4, 2021. Hisaw, Eric (August 1, 2010). "Mr. Record Man: Doug Sahm, Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornados". Lone Star Music Magazine . Retrieved February 15, 2021.Denberg, Jody (November 1984). "Lawrence Welk Meets The Doors". Texas Monthly. 12 (11) . Retrieved February 3, 2021– via Google Books. In late December, 1964, they co-founded Sir Douglas. In the succeeding months was renamed the Sir Douglas Quintet, as the bands’ original lineup grew to five musicians. As the British Invasion was changing record-buying tastes in 1964, the Sir Douglas Quintet decided to dress in outlandish clothes and try to pass themselves off as a “British” band. And “Sir” in the band’s title added to the impression that they actually might be from England. Photos of the band were shot in silhouette to conceal the Latino origin of some of the bandmates. In the summer of 1960 Doug Sahm & The Markays had a #12 hit in San Antonio with “Why Why Why”, written by Sahm. He followed up with a single credited to Doug Sahm titled “Baby Tell Me”, which climbed to #17 in San Antonio in December ’60. In 1961 Doug Sahm & the Dell-Kings had a Top 40 hit in San Antonio titled “More and More”. Sahm had several other Top 40 hits in the San Antonio record market in the early 60s. Said future bandmate Harvey Kagan of Doug Sahm’s stage presence, “His look in those days was a pompadour haircut, suit and tie, and a diamond pinkie ring.”

In the 1970s he moved to Austin and became a member of the "Cosmic Cowboy" scene, along with Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker. He released his solo debut as Doug Sahm & Band when he was signed by Atlantic Records in 1973. With help from his friends Flaco Jiménez, Bob Dylan, and Dr. John, Sahm released the album Doug Sahm & Band - Doug Sahm And Band, which included the song "Is Anybody Going to San Antone?" DiMartino, Dave (1994). Singer-songwriters: Pop Music's Performer-composers from A to Zevon. Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-823-07629-1. Joynson, Vernon (1984). The Acid Trip: A Complete Guide to Psychedelic Music. Babylon Books. ISBN 978-0-907-18824-7. Johnny Perez owned Topanga Skyline Studios, with "the Vibe and the Magic of the '70's." Skyline's grand woodwork, welcoming business culture, and "western fort" dirt courtyard set the stage for drummer Perez to mentor and inspire generations of young artists – until his death on September 11, 2012, at the age of 69, in a California hospital, from complications of cirrhosis of the liver. Jasinski, Laurie (2012). Handbook of Texas Music. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-0-876-11297-7.Reid, Jan; Sahm, Shawn (2010). Texas Tornado: The Times & Music of Doug Sahm. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-72196-8. Olsen, Allen (2005). "West Side Sound". Hand Book of Texas. Texas State Historical Association . Retrieved February 15, 2021. San Anto staff (2009). "#37 – La Musica de San Anto". San Anto Cultural Arts . Retrieved February 16, 2021. Magnet staff (September 24, 2002). "Doug Sahm: A Lone Star State of Mind". Magnet . Retrieved February 2, 2021. In the spring of ’66 the Sir Douglas Quintet released a cover of the Gary U.S. Bonds number-one hit from 1961 “Quarter To Three”. After seven single releases on the Tribe record label, and one release with Pacemaker records, the Sir Douglas Quintet signed with Smash. The label had recently had successes with “Walk Away Renée” and “Pretty Ballerina” forthe Left Banke, “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love)”for The Swingin’ Medallions, “ Peter Rabbit” for Dee Jay And The Runaways, and “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” for Jay & The Techniques.

Finally, on November 26, 1999, Terry Gross rebroadcast a tribute put together by Ed Ward in 1988, plus an interview she conducted with Sahm on September 7, 1989, on her radio show Fresh Air. You can listen to this broadcast in RealAudio. This segment starts at about the 46:50 mark into the program [Tip: Move the slider on the Real Audio window to this point]. Sahm, himself, comes in at about the 52:00 minute mark. In the introduction, Gross misreads a line when she says that Sahm died at the age of 88 (he was actually 58). Later she corrects herself. Also, Ward mistakenly states that Sahm was of Lebanese descent, when his parents were actually Americans of German and Irish origin. As a joke, Sahm once told Ward that they were from Lebanon and this misstatement of fact was repeated by John Lomax III in the liner notes to 1998 CD The Crazy Cajun Recordings, as well as in The Guiness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, among other places. Sverigetopplistan staff (2020). "Sverigetopplistan search". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved February 3, 2021. Before he was in his teens, Sahm began making records for the local Sarg label, encouraged by older San Antonio figures like the western swing bandleader Adolph Hofner. He formed a series of bands at Sam Houston high school, and at night played in clubs like the Ebony Lounge. "For a white boy to be accepted there," he remembered proudly, "was like being signed to the New York Yankees."In live performances, blues, often with swing or shuffle beats, was usually a substantial component of the set. Besides doing their own original material, the Quintet revived several classics such as Jimmie Rodgers' " In the Jailhouse Now" and Freddy Fender's " Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" to be found on the albums Son of San Antonio (originally on The Best of The Sir Douglas Quintet, 1966) and Texas Fever (originally on The Return of Doug Saldana, 1971), respectively. [ citation needed] In 1973, during a visit to the Mexican restaurant La Rosa in San Antonio, Sahm was apprehended by police officers who searched him, his car, and his companions for drugs. As they searched the car, his fiddle was broken. [85] After being handcuffed, Sahm was beaten by the police officers as he continued to protest and move. He was arrested for public intoxication. [86] The case was dismissed at his trial in June 1973, and Sahm unsuccessfully tried to sue the city. [87] Violet had already been unhappy with the marriage because of Sahm's numerous affairs, [88] and after his arrest, they divorced. [89] Austin-American Statesman staff (January 21, 1993). "Hoopla!". Austin-American Statesman. Vol.122, no.180 . Retrieved July 11, 2021– via Newspapers.com. Powell, Austin; Freeman, Doug; Johnston, Daniel (2011). The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-72270-5.