Forgotten Rock Bands: Sir Douglas Quintet

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Bill Price, and in this episode of Forgotten Rock Bands I will feature the Sir Douglas Quintet, who had two top 20 hits and one top 30 hit in the mid to late 1960's.

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Transcript

In this episode of Forgotten Rock Bands I will feature the Sir Douglas Quintet, who had two top 20 hits and one top 30 hit in the mid to late 1960's.

Douglas Wayne Sahm was born in 1941, and grew up in the east side of San Antonio, Texas. While growing up, he was proficient playing several musical instruments. Interestingly, while he was in junior high school, he turned down a opportunity to perform on the Grand Old Opry. In 1953 Doug met Augie Meyers who like Doug was also passionate about music. Augie took up playing the organ and piano. They became friends and attended concerts often jamming with country and R & B musicians.

In 1964 Doug formed a quintet band with his long time friend Augie Meyers, Jack Barber, Frank Morin and Johnny Perez. The band’s name was initially called Sir Douglas. Prior to forming the quintet, Doug Sham began his music career in country music. Interestingly at the age of eleven he played with country legend Hank Williams Sr, during Hank’s final performance. During his teenage years he played in blues clubs and acquired experience as a bandleader. The band’s initial success came about when they recorded songs, working with Houston Texas producer Huey Meraux. At that time, Houston had become the center of R & B music in Texas. The quintet’s sound and make-up was influenced by the music of several cultures, which included Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, African-American and various others.

Producer Meaux was aware of the music trends, especially with the British Invasion, that he suggested that the group adopt the English pop music trend. For a brief period, the band sported Beatles mop top haircuts and stage antics which was also suggested by their producer, however they soon abandoned the look. He also suggested the name The Sir Douglas Quintet. The band encompassed various instrumental styles that were typical of blues bands, which utilized one guitarist, keyboardist, bassist and drummer. The band had a unique sound, due to Augie Meyer’s Vox Continental organ. In 1965 Doug wrote a song titled “She’s About a Mover”.  That became their best known hit single that reached the #13 position in the US, 15 in the UK, and #8 in Canada. The band appeared on the Hullaballoo and Shindig television shows. Later in 1983, Ringo Starr recorded a cover version of  “She’s About a Mover”.

After completing tours in the US and Europe, the band returned to Texas in 1966. In the mid 1960's, the band moved to the San Francisco bay area and adopted some aspects of the San Francisco sound. In 1966 they released a single titled  “The Rains Came”, that only managed to reach the #31 position in the US, and #19 in Canada.

Here is The Sir Douglas Quintet and the song titled “The Rains Came”.

In December 1968, the band recorded and released a song titled  “Mendocino”. By early 1969, it reached the #27 position on the US Billboard Hot 100, and stayed fifteen weeks on the chart. 

Here is The Sir Douglas Quintet and  “Mendocino”.

In 1968 the band recorded and released the single titled “Dynamite Woman”, which was their last release that managed to enter the Billboard hot 100 at #83. This single had a different sound since it featured a country style fiddle. 

Here is The Sir Douglas Quintet and “Dynamite Woman”.

By 1971, the band members started to drift apart. This prompted a homesick Doug to return to Texas and pursue other music avenues. The following year, The Sir Douglas Quintet disbanded.  Then in 1981 with new guitarist Louie Ortega, the band toured and recorded in Europe. However, by 1985 the group disbanded. In 1989 Doug formed the Tex-Mex super group called The Texas Tornados, which included Augie Meyers, Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez.  Then in 1994 Doug reformed the Quintet, which included his two sons Shawn and Shandon. 

The discography encompasses twenty eight albums, fifteen compilation albums and  seventeen singles.   In 2005, The Sir Douglas Quintet was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the 2006 induction ceremony. And in 2015, “She’s About a Mover” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Doug Sahm died on November 18th, 1999 at the age of fifty-eight.  On October 18th, 2024, the Rollins Studio Theatre held a Concert Club Tribute to Doug Sham, which featured his son Shawn Sahm.

I’ll conclude this podcast with the Sir Douglas Quintet single from 1965,  “She’s About a Mover”.

This has been a look back at the history of The Sir Douglas Quintet, one of the forgotten rock bands. And until next time, I’m your host Bill Price.