Country music legend Augie Meyers has sadly passed away at the age of 85. His family released a statement on Facebook, confirming the news of his passing.
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"Augie Meyers, a true Texas Legend passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, March 7th at 85 with his wife Sara at his side,"
the statement said. "A Memorial Service for the public will be announced soon. The family thanks all of Augie's friends and fans for their prayers during this time."Augie co-founded the Sir Douglas Quintet with Doug Sahm in the early 1960s. The group blended psychedelic rock, blues, jazz, country music, and Latin vibes to create a unique and brand-new sound. Augie was the organ player for the band, earning significant praise for the band's unmistakable sound.
"There's something to be said about simplicity. Augie had a way of reducing his organ fills to just the right part, whether soloing or that pulsing rhythm with minimalist note changes in the chord," Jerry Dale McFadden told Rolling Stone. "When you heard it in a song, you knew instantly that it was Augie Meyers."
The Sir Douglas Quintet never did reach a national or international level of success. However, the unique musical approach is cited as a genuine influence across multiple genres.
Augie Meyers and Doug Sahm Formed the Texas Tornados in the 90s
Undeterred by the subpar success of the Sir Douglas Quintet, Augie and Doug went on to form the Texas Tornados in the 1990s. The duo released their debut album in 1990, featuring the hit song "(Hey Baby) Que Pasó," a song that blended English and Spanish throughout. That track was eventually dubbed the city's anthem for San Antonio.
To this day, the Texas Tornados receive more than 186,000 monthly downloads on Spotify. Outside of "(Hey Baby) Que Pasó," songs such as "Who Were You Thinkin' Of" and "Little Bit Is Better Than Nada" both have more than 4 million streams apiece.
Augie and Doug last released a studio album for the Texas Tornados in 2010 titled "Esta Bueno." Doug released a singles album in 2020.
Currently, there are no details regarding Augie's cause of death, nor his impending funeral. That information will likely remain private for family and close friends.
