Doug Kershaw

Music Home >> Music Genres >> Country Music



< < < < < > > > > > More Info on Doug Kershaw Similar Country Music Search Artistopia

Biography

Douglas James "Doug" Kershaw (born January 24, 1936) is an American Musical styles (violin)#Fiddle|fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana . Active since 1949, Kershaw has recorded fifteen albums and charted on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Early life

Born in Cameron Parish, Louisiana , Kershaw did not learn English until the age of eight. By that time, he had mastered the fiddle, which he played from the age of five, and was on his way to teaching himself to play 28 instruments. http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/kershaw_doug/bio.jhtml His first gig was at a local bar, the Bucket of Blood, where he was accompanied by his mother on guitar.

Kershaw became interested in Cajun music during parties his parents would hold on the family's houseboat in Louisiana, where he first heard Cajun bands playing the music.

Doug grew up surrounded by Cajun music|Cajun fiddle and accordion music. After teaching his brother, Rusty (born Russell; February 2, 1938), to play guitar, he formed a band, the Continental Playboys, with Rusty and older brother Peewee (Nelson Kershaw) in 1948. With the departure of Peewee from the group, in the early '50s, Rusty & Doug continued to perform as a duo. In 1955, when Doug was 19 years old, he and Rusty performed on the Louisiana Hayride radio broadcast in Shreveport, Louisiana . The two were so popular that they were invited to perform at the WWVA Jamboree (later renamed Jamboree U.S.A. ), in Wheeling, West Virginia .

Although the brothers initially sang in French language|French , J.D. Miller, owner of the Feature record label, persuaded them to incorporate songs in English language|English into their repertoire. In 1955, Doug and Rusty recorded their first single, "So Lovely, Baby." Released on the Hickory label, the tune went to number 14 on the country music charts. Later that same year, Doug and Rusty were invited to become cast members of the Louisiana Hayride cast. The Kershaws appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee and became regular members of the Opry cast the following year. http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/kershaw_doug/bio.jhtml

Despite the demands of his music career, Doug enrolled in McNeese State University , in Lake Charles, Louisiana , where he earned an undergraduate degree in Mathematics . At the peak of their early career, in 1958, Doug and Rusty both enlisted in the United States Army . They devoted their attention to the military until their discharge three years later.

"Louisiana Man" and solo career

After fulfilling his military obligation, the two brothers recorded "Louisiana Man", an autobiographical song that Doug had written while in the Army. The song not only sold millions of copies but over the years has come to be considered a standard of modern Cajun music. http://www.answers.com/topic/louisiana-man-the-very-best-of-doug-kershaw-live The song was eventually cover version|covered by more than 800 artists.

There were three albums released by the duo on Hickory records, only one being released before they split up. The first was Rusty and Doug Sing Louisiana Man (LPM 103) in 1961. Kershaw (Genus Cambarus) (LPS 163) was released in 1972 and was a double LP. Louisiana Man (HR 4506) was the final Hickory album, released in 1974. By 1964, the brothers had elected to go their separate ways. It took another three years before Kershaw signed a songwriters' contract with BMI, in 1967.

In June 1969, Kershaw made his first network television appearance on the debut of the The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)|Johnny Cash Show . He capped the year with a week-long engagement at the New York City 's Fillmore East as opening act for Eric Clapton 's Derek and the Dominos . While it seemed to many rock and pop fans that Kershaw had appeared out of nowhere, he had already sold more than 18 million copies of the records he had made in the early '60s with his brother, Rusty. "Louisiana Man" had been a Top 10 country hit in 1961 and its follow-up, "Diggy Liggy Lo", had done almost as well. His performance in front of a national audience led to Warner Bros. Records signing him to a long-term contract. http://delafont.com/music_acts/E/doug-kershaw.htm In November 1969, "Louisiana Man" was broadcast back to earth by the crew of the Apollo 12 moon mission. Beyond the southern venues, Kershaw became widely known in mainstream America as he played at major urban concert halls.

In 1970, Kershaw contributed a violin part to Arlo Guthrie's Single (music)|record single Alice's Rock and Roll Restaurant. http://www.discogs.com/Arlo-Guthrie-Alices-Rock-And-Roll-Restaurant-Ring-Around-A-Rosy-Rag/release/2544222

In 1971, Kershaw had a dramatically significant musical cameo in the movie Zachariah (1971 film)|Zachariah , starring Don Johnson and John Rubinstein.

Later life

Despite the success of his solo career, Kershaw was plagued by depression (mood)|depression and sadness|sorrow . His father had committed suicide when he was only seven. Marrying his wife, Pam, at the Reliant Astrodome|Houston Astrodome on June 21, 1975, Kershaw began raising his own family that included five sons - Douglas, Victor, Zachary, Tyler, and Elijah; and two grandsons and a granddaughter. His son, Tyler, plays drums in his band as well as manages his shows. Although he continued to perform and record, his albums of the 1970s failed to duplicate the commercial successes of "Louisiana Man" and "Diggy Diggy Lo".

In 1982, Doug Kershaw was featured as a stellar singer and musician from Louisiana, on the Southern Stars Poster|Southern Stars poster created by Dianna Chenevert to promote him and historically document his contribution to the music industry. On October 12, 1983 USA Today reporter Miles White highlighted Doug Kershaw as one of the famous entertainers on the poster which gave him additional nationwide attention. Kershaw rebounded with his biggest selling hit, "Hello Woman", which reached the country music Top 40. By 1984, Kershaw's battle with drug abuse|drug and alcohol abuse , came to a close and his previous erratic behavior, changed for the better.

In 1988, he recorded a duet, "Cajun Baby", with Hank Williams, Jr. , that became a Top 50 country hit. Kershaw released a French-language album, Two Step Fever , in 1999, and Michael Doucet of Beausoleil is featured on the duet "Fievre De Deux Etapes". Hot Diggity Doug was released in mid-2000 and Still Cajun After All These Years followed in early 2001.

Kershaw formerly owned and operated The Bayou House, a restaurant in Lucerne, Colorado, but parted ways with his partners in 2007 due to his displeasure with management and ambiance.

In 2009, Doug was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame .

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Chart Positions		Label
Year	Album	US Country	CAN	Label
1969	The Cajun Way	—	—	Warner Bros.
1970	Spanish Moss	—	86
1971	Doug Kershaw	—	—
1972	Swamp Grass	—	—
1972	''Devil's Elbow	—	—
1973	Douglas James Kershaw	—	—
1974	''Mama Kershaw's Boy	14	—
1975	Alive & Pickin	32	—
1976	''Ragin' Cajun	44	—
1977	Flip, Flop & Fly	47	—
1978	The Louisiana Man	—	—
1979	Louisiana Cajun Country	—	—	Starfire
1981	Instant Hero	—	—	Scotti Bros.
1989	Hot Diggidy Doug	—	—	BGM
1989	The Best of Doug Kershaw	—	—	Warner Bros.

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions		Album
Year	Single	US Country	CAN Country	Album
1969	"Feed It to the Fish"	—	—	The Cajun Way
1969	" Diggy Liggy Lo "	70	1	The Cajun Way
1970	Orange Blossom Special "	—	9	Spanish Moss
1970	"Natural Man"	—	—	Doug Kershaw
1971	"Play, Fiddle, Play"	—	—
1971	"Mama Said Yeah"	—	—
1972	"My Sally Jo"	—	—	''Devil's Elbow
1972	"The Devil's Elbow"	—	—	''Devil's Elbow
1974	"Mama's Got the Know How"	77	83	''Mama Kershaw's Boy
	"Nickel in My Pocket"	—	—	''Mama Kershaw's Boy
	"All You Want to Do Is Make Kids"	—	—	single only
1976	"It Takes All Day to Get Over Night"	76	—	''Ragin' Cajun
1976	"House Husband"	—	—	''Ragin' Cajun
1977	"I'm Walkin'"	96	—	Flip, Flop & Fly
1977	"You Won't Let Me"	—	—	Flip, Flop & Fly
1978	"Marie"	—	—	The Louisiana Man
1978	"Louisiana Sun"	—	—	The Louisiana Man
1981	"Hello Woman"	29	—	Instant Hero
1981	"Instant Hero"	—	—	Instant Hero
1982	"General Lee"	—	—	singles only
1982	"Keep Between the Ditches"	—	—	singles only
1988	"Cajun Baby" (with Hank Williams, Jr. )	52	—	Hot Diggidy Doug
1989	"Boogie Queen"	66	—	Hot Diggidy Doug

Notes

Copyright Citations

This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Doug Kershaw

Doug Kershaw Photo by: www.siegelproductions.ca

Country Music Artists