Here's my letter about Doug Sahm that I sent to the Entertainment Editor
at the Statesman:
My memories of Doug Sahm?Well, there are many. But some stand out.
I'll never forget the rush I got when I heard "She's About a Mover"
my freshman year at UT. I'd never experienced anything like that before
and I was hooked for life. Then there was the time when my wife and
I were first married. We were at the Armadillo and had gone out for
a few minutes-as we were headed back, Doug and a stage full of Austin
all-star musicians lit into a version of "Walking The Dog" that was
so strong, even outside, I thought the earth might open at our feet.
And over it all was Doug's wailing yawp, redefining the song in his
own soul-stirring groove. But without a doubt, the strongest hit my
life ever took from Doug was towards the end of 1976. At that point,
I was worrying myself sick, trying to decide whether or not to start
my own business. Then, one Saturday morning, while I was riding in an
elevator, I heard "Mendocino" strained and reprocessed as, yeah, well,
elevator music. That was an epiphany-the one that changed my life. In
that instant, I realized that if a Doug Sahm song could be transformed
into sugar water, then anything could happen. I started putting my plans
into action and I never looked back.
Somehow, I thought there would always be some newly incarnated Doug
around, leaping out of the airwaves, rasping his latest blend of Texas
soul. Bless you, John T. Davis, for saying it best: "Personally, I wouldn't
have thought you could kill Doug Sahm with an ax." But the fact is,
for those of who grew up with his music, he'll never die.