The DU Lounge

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,370 posts) Tue Nov 6, 2018, 01:47 PM Nov 2018

We can't ignore the birthdays. Today, Doug Sahm; and George Young, of the Easybeats.

Hat tip, This Day in Rock

Let's continue with our Tex-Mex theme (see: At the #1 position on the "Billboard Hot 100" 52 years ago today: "96 Tears."):

Doug Sahm

Born November 6, 1941 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Died November 18, 1999 (aged 58) Taos, New Mexico, United States

Douglas Wayne Sahm (November 6, 1941 – November 18, 1999) was an American musician and singer-songwriter from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music but became a significant figure in roots rock and other genres. Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tex-Mex music. Proficient on multiple instruments, he was the founder and leader of the 1960s rock and roll band, the Sir Douglas Quintet. He would later co-found the Texas Tornados with Augie Meyers, Freddy Fender, and Flaco Jiménez as well as Los Super Seven.
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Sir Douglas Quintet: 1960s

The Sir Douglas Quintet in 1965 (Sahm to the right)

Main article: Sir Douglas Quintet

In 1965, prompted by record producer Huey Meaux, Sahm formed the Sir Douglas Quintet with childhood friend Augie Meyers. They chose the group's name in an effort to make the band seem British to benefit from the British invasion. This image had its problems, particularly because of Sahm's Texas accent and because two of five band members were Hispanic. Some early publicity photos were shot in silhouette to hide this fact.

The band had a top 20 U.S. hit with "She's About a Mover" and a lesser hit with "The Rains Came," the former also reaching the Top Twenty in the UK Singles Chart. The band broke up after a bust for marijuana possession in Corpus Christi, Texas. Sahm moved to San Francisco and formed the Honkey Blues Band, then later re-formed the Sir Douglas Quintet with a new lineup. Eventually Augie Meyers rejoined the quintet, and they released the successful single and album Mendocino. The record contained the song "At the Crossroads", with the Sahm line "You just can't live in Texas if you don't have a lot of soul."

Bob Dylan stated, "Look, for me right now there are three groups: Butterfield, The Byrds and the Sir Douglas Quintet."

The Easybeats

The Easybeats in 1966

Origin Sydney, Australia
Years active 1964–1969, 1986
Labels EMI, Parlophone, Albert

The Easybeats were an Australian rock band that formed in Sydney, Australia, in late 1964, and disbanded at the end of 1969. They were the first rock and roll act from Australia to score an international pop hit with the 1966 single "Friday on My Mind".

All five founding members were from families that had migrated to Australia from Europe: lead singer Stevie Wright and drummer Gordon "Snowy" Fleet were from England; rhythm guitarist George Young was from Scotland; lead guitarist Harry Vanda and bassist Dick Diamonde were from the Netherlands.
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George Young

George Redburn Young ( November 6, 1946 – October 22, 2017) was an Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. He was a founding member of the bands the Easybeats and Flash and the Pan, and was one-half of the songwriting and production duo Vanda & Young with his long-time musical collaborator Harry Vanda.

Born in Scotland, Young moved to Australia with his family as a teenager, and became a naturalised citizen. He was a member of the 1960s Australian rock band the Easybeats, and co-wrote with bandmate Harry Vanda the international hits "Friday on My Mind" and "Love Is in the Air", the latter recorded by John Paul Young (who is unrelated). Vanda and Young were also the producers of early work by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, formed by his younger brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Vanda & Young were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Easybeats were inducted in 2005.