I worked with Doug for about twenty years, off and on, and some of my best memories would be from doing the three records with him: "The Lullaby", "Lost in the Blues" and "If I could only sing". Doug was as inspiring in the studio as he was on stage. Those recordings serve to document to some degree his amazing voice and sensitive songwriting.
Thanks for asking.

Bobby Schnitzer (12/18/2007)


Doug sings "I shall be released" on You Tube video.

We lost a local legend on Friday, November 29, 1991.
Doug Maynard was only 40 years old.

Affectionately known as "Dog" by his friends, I can still see him in my mind's eye. More importantly, I can hear him like he never left.

Since I was a fan of his, not a friend, I will rely on his friends for anecdotes. I can just say that this man " was a soul man" to pinch a quote from the "Lullaby" album. His blood ran blue. Famous for his "tri-tone" voice, he seemed to harmonize with himself. He was another musician "trapped" in the Midwest. He had too much talent to stay here. In the music field, after a certain level of success, LA, NY or Nashville is the place to be.
But, I digress.

He sang (about 1970) for Zarathustra, a Canoise spin-off band that included Bob Coates, Dick Hedlund & Mike Flaherty, among others. He also played in Passage and Troubled Sleep. I remember seeing Passage play down at the legendary River Serpent in St Paul. That band included a fab picker, Bobby "Stinger" Schnitzer. Man, he could burn!

He also was in the Bingham-McCabe band with Charlie Bingham and Bruce McCabe.(I got some fun video of that laying around here somewhere!).

Later on, he had his own band. He released at least 2 albums, and one live was released after his passing. They are fine, live was better. Also, he is on the following movie soundtracks: Patti Rocks, The Personals, and Live and Die in LA (1985).

I asked Bronco about Doug. He liked and respected Doug and mentioned that Doug was a perfectionist and was not afraid to tell you if something you played wasn't right.

He sang live Dylan's "I shall be released". He owned that song!

The last time I saw him was in 1991 at the Whiskey Junction. He had a beer in his hand. I turned to my brother (another fan of his) and said "he ain't gonna make it". It was just a gut feeling, really. A thought that stuck with me all night and then some. A week later he was gone.

God bless you Doug, wherever you are.

Who has played with Doug or is on his albums?