Doug Kershaw

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Oral History Information

Doug Kershaw is the wild man of Cajun music who has been a powerful ambassador for the musical style around the world for many decades. His passion and high energy performances gained the attention of people who may have otherwise not have been exposed to this native Louisianan's music. Beginning in 1955 he recorded a series of songs for Hickory Records with his younger brother Rusty. The group known as Rusty & Doug had several hits and performed on the Grand Ole Opry, as well as on the Louisiana Hayride where he met young Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, who would become a life long friend. On his own Doug wrote the autobiographical song “Louisiana Man” (which has since become a standard song at any Cajun festival) and “Diggy Liggy Lo.” In 2019 Doug released his memoirs entitled The Ragin’ Cajun!