Doug Sahm Gets Love From SXSW, New Tribute Album

Doug Sahm, who has been referred to as the “the father of Americana music,” was honored Wednesday night at the Austin Music Awards. Along with an award presentation, a performance from fellow Texan Alejandro Escovedo highlighted the night. Among the songs played were Sahm’s infamous “She’s About a Mover” and “Too Little Too Late.”

Doug Sahm, the late Tex-Mex musician who helped found Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornadoes, was honored at South By Southwest this past week.

Sahm, who has been referred to as the “the father of Americana music,” was honored Wednesday night at the Austin Music Awards. Along with an award presentation, a performance from fellow Texan Alejandro Escovedo highlighted the night. Among the songs played were Sahm’s infamous “She’s About a Mover” and “Too Little Too Late.”

Thursday night’s tribute show featured performances from Jimmie Vaughn, the Gourds, Sarah Borges, Dave Alvin, Jake Andrews, and also Sahm’s son Shawn, who fronted a reunited Texas Tornados. Lively versions of “Who Were You Thinking Of?,” “(Hey Baby) Que Paso,” and “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” were just a few of the many great numbers performed.

Doug Sahm, who died in 1999 from a heart attack, left behind a huge musical legacy, one that would influence many great artists. Bob Dylan was quoted once saying, “Look, for me right now there are three groups: Butterfield, The Byrds, and Sir Douglas Quintet.”

Vanguard’s Keep Your Soul: a Tribute to Doug Sahm was released today, featuring many of the same performers from Thursday’s show.

“I didn’t want the 10th anniversary of my pop’s passing to go by without being acknowledged,” said Shawn Sahm, Doug’s oldest son, in an interview with the website My San Antonio. “The thing about this record is it will show people Dad is a vital link in the Texas musical food chain. Hopefully it will show he belongs up there with his peers for his part in helping create the Texas music legacy.”

Added Texas Tornado Augie Meyers, “He could get on a mental horse and ride off in seven different directions at once.”

Here’s the track list for Keep Your Soul:

Little Willie G. – “She’s About a Mover”
Delbert McClinton – “Texas Me”
Flaco Jimenez with the West Side Horns – “Ta Bueno Compadre (It’s OK Friend)”
Los Lobos – “And It Didn’t Even Bring Me Down”
Jimmie Vaughan – “Why, Why, Why”
Alejandro Escovedo -“Too Little Too Late”
Greg Dulli – “You Was for Real”
Dave Alvin – “Dynamite Woman”
The Gourds – “Nuevo Laredo”
Terry Allen – “I’m Not That Kat Anymore”
Freda & the Firedogs – “Be Real”Shawn Sahm – “Mendocino”
Joe “King” Carrasco & Texas Tornados, “Adios Mexico”
Charlie Sexton & the Mystic Knights of the Sea, “You’re Doin’ It Too Hard”