doug kershaw

Biography

Doug Kershaw, born January 24, 1936, in Tiel Ridge, Cameron Parish, Louisiana, is a pioneering American fiddle player, singer, and songwriter renowned for his energetic performances and deep roots in Cajun music. Raised in a French-speaking Cajun family, Kershaw did not learn English until the age of eight, by which time he had already mastered the fiddle and was teaching himself to play a remarkable 28 instruments. His early exposure to Cajun music came from family gatherings on a houseboat, and his first public performance was at a local bar, accompanied by his mother on guitar.

Kershaw's professional career began in 1948 with his brothers Rusty and Peewee in the Continental Playboys, later narrowing to the successful duo Rusty & Doug. The pair achieved national attention in the 1950s and early 1960s, selling over 18 million records and performing on the Grand Ole Opry and Louisiana Hayride. After Rusty & Doug disbanded, Doug launched a solo career, breaking into mainstream pop and country with hits like "Louisiana Man" and "Diggy Liggy Lo." His 1969 appearance on The Johnny Cash Show and the broadcast of "Louisiana Man" from the Apollo 12 lunar mission cemented his status as an ambassador for Cajun music.

Kershaw's musical style is a vibrant blend of traditional Cajun, country, and zydeco, marked by his virtuosic fiddle playing and high-energy stage presence. His influence on American music is profound, bridging cultural gaps and inspiring generations of musicians to explore Cajun traditions. Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009, Kershaw remains a celebrated figure in both Cajun and country music circles.

Fun Facts

• Doug Kershaw taught himself to play 28 different instruments.
• His song 'Louisiana Man' was the first song broadcast from the lunar surface to Earth by the Apollo 12 astronauts in 1969.
• He did not learn English until he was eight years old, having grown up speaking Cajun French.
• Doug's onstage persona in the 1960s earned him the nickname 'The Cajun Hippie' due to his energetic performances and counterculture style.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Kershaw's mother - Accompanied Doug at his first gig and fostered his early musical development (Early performances at Bucket of Blood bar) [1940s]
• Cajun musicians at family gatherings - Inspired Doug through performances at houseboat parties hosted by his parents (Informal Cajun music sessions) [1940s]

Key Collaborators

• Rusty Kershaw - Younger brother and partner in the duo Rusty & Doug (Rusty & Doug recordings, including 'Louisiana Man', 'Diggy Liggy Lo') [1948–1964]
• Peewee (Nelson Kershaw) - Older brother and bandmate in the Continental Playboys (Continental Playboys performances) [1948–early 1950s]
• Johnny Cash - Friend and host; Doug appeared on The Johnny Cash Show (The Johnny Cash Show (1969)) [1969]
• Eric Clapton's Derek & the Dominos - Doug opened for them at the Fillmore East (Fillmore East performances) [1969]

Artists Influenced

• Numerous Cajun and country musicians - Inspired artists to incorporate Cajun elements into mainstream music; 'Louisiana Man' covered by over 800 artists (Covers of 'Louisiana Man', 'Diggy Liggy Lo') [1960s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Louisiana Man (Diggy Diggy Lo)
2. Ballad Of The General Lee (The Dukes Of Hazzard)
3. Diggy Diggy Lo (Diggy Diggy Lo)
4. Calling Baton Rouge (Diggy Diggy Lo)
5. Diggy Liggy Lo (Volume 2)
6. Keep Between Them Ditches (The Dukes Of Hazzard)
7. Cover Girl Eyes (The Dukes Of Hazzard)
8. Diggy Diggy Lo (The Cajun Way)
9. Louisiana Man (Rusty & Doug Kershaw: Volume I)
10. Cajun Baby (with Hank Williams, Jr.) (Diggy Diggy Lo)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #cajun