Biography

Doug Jernigan was born in Pensacola Florida. When

Doug was nine years of age

his father bought him his first steel guitar. By the time he was fourteen years old he

was playing on the weekends at VFW and Legion Halls in the Pensacola area. At the

age of eighteen he had his

first professional job in Ohio prior to being drafted in

1965 into the United States Army.

In his early years

('60s & '70s),

Doug has toured as a backup player for Ferlin Husky,

David Houston, Jimmy Dickens, Faron Young,

Vassar Clements, Johnny Paycheck, Lorrie Morgan

and Jack Greene.

and many others.

That road work honed his skills.


In 1977 Doug became a Christian and began to play

in church and still does today. He has recorded with Betty Jean Robinson, Joe Paul Nichols and many other

gospel groups.
 

For his many accomplishments on the steel guitar, Doug was inducted into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1994.

Today, Doug continues as a recording artist, session player, teacher of the steel guitar and musician in his

home church of River of Life Assembly of God located in Smyrna, Tennessee.
He is married to his wife,

Jetta and travels to play his music and testify of the love

of His Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

 

That undaunted vision and his many other subsequent achievements led to his induction into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1994.


 

Tom Bradshaw Wrote -

In the early '70s, I was bouncing around Nashville searching for good steelmen. With me was Sonny Curtis, at that time the steel player for George Jones' Jones Boys.

 

We passed Demon's Den and heard some guy trying to play hoe-downs on a steel, but wasn't quite cutting it. Sonny and I elbowed our way inside and learned that the player was Doug Jernigan.

That was the first time I had heard Doug, although word of him had been circulating for some time. I commented to Sonny that no one would ever be able to play steel at the speed of a fiddle or banjo player, except for short riffs.

 

I told Sonny, "The kid should give up trying." Fortunately, Doug never heard my comment, not that he should have paid any attention.

From the beginning, Doug was a visionary. He knew the steel guitar was capable of being played at speeds that rivaled the three other lead instruments more identified

for their speed of playing: the fiddle, guitar, and banjo.

Doug was determined, eventually perfecting banjo rolls and fiddle riffs needed

for complete tunes.

Doug Jernigan then duplicated most of the tunes previously reserved for these instruments alone to play. Those skills and talent have become Doug's major identifying markers. In those accomplishments,

 

Doug Jernigan became the fastest picking steelman of his day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Bio and Image is licensed content under the GFDL"

In 1970 Ron Lashley of the Emmons Guitar Company recognized Doug's talent and produced his first album, Uptown To Country.

That album was one of the finest ever recorded and surely ranks in the top 50 even to this day. Since then, Doug has recorded many more instrumental albums,

shared billing on others,

and has been the session steel guitarist on countless recordings by renown country music artists such as Faron Young, Little Jimmy Dickins, Lorrie Morgan, and David Frizzell.

Doug is not secretive and shares his playing abilities through a number of course booklets that are available.

The cream of that instructional crop is listed elsewhere in this informative steel guitar website also personal one on one instruction is available.

Those hoe-downs and banjo rolls look easy when revealed

in tablature form. Keep in mind that Doug was perhaps the first one to figure out how to get them to flow from his E9th tuning, from beginning to end and with continuity.

 

A remarkable achievement!


Today, Doug tours as a concert performer, records with a host of Country Music stars and plays on the Opry constantly. He is one of the top 10 players in the world.

Doug Jernigan delivers country, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and blues with ease. Additionally, few are aware that he is also an accomplished Dobro player.

Besides all of the above,

Doug is a gentleman, dedicated to giving back what joy the instrument has given him.

Don't miss an opportunity to see him in concert or contact Doug Jernigan for personal instruction.

written by Phil Burton