Doug Sahm

The late great Doug Sahm, who died unexpectedly in early 2000, was a genre-defying, musical badass who was equally at home with country, Psychedelic Rock, R&B, all manner of Tex-Mex, and just about any other category of music you might want to throw at him. He began his career as a child prodigy singer/steel guitar player in the bars and clubs of his native San Antonio, Tex., before he reached his teens. He even sat in with Hank Williams shortly before the country legend kicked the bucket. Sahm formed the Sir Douglas Quintet in the mid-1960s and hit the charts twice with the classic pumping Farfisa sounds of "She's About A Mover" and "Mendocino." After the quintet split, Sahm continued to record prolifically. A formidable blues guitarist and stunningly soulful singer, Sahm's music was inextricably linked to Texas. In the '90s Sahm hooked up with Freddy Fender, Flaco Jiminez, and his old buddy Augie Meyers to form the Texas Tornados, a sort of border rock supergroup that enjoyed quite a bit of success. He will be missed.