20 Facts About Doug Jernigan

Doug Jernigan was born on January 5,1946 and is an American pedal steel guitarist and Dobro player.

Doug Jernigan is known for his infusion of country music with jazz using fast single-note solos.

Doug Jernigan was one of the first steel guitarists to play solos at speeds rivaling the banjo and fiddle.

Doug Jernigan was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1994.

Doug Jernigan was born in 1946 in Pensacola, Florida, to a family that was supportive of his musical talent, but were not musicians themselves.

Doug Jernigan took lessons using the Oahu method using tablature for about six months.

Doug Jernigan said the lessons were simplified because his teacher really didn't know much about steel guitar, but he was a good musician who gave Jernigan a foundation in music theory.

Doug Jernigan's father helped him learn "licks" from records by ear by lifting and replacing the phonograph needle for him until he could duplicate the recorded passage.

Doug Jernigan received his first pedal steel guitar at age 12, a Fender 1000 double-neck.

Doug Jernigan said, "I played that guitar until it just about fell apart".

Doug Jernigan said his most powerful influences were Emmons, Bud Isaacs and Jimmy Day.

At age 16, Doug Jernigan had been playing only basic county music with three chords.

Doug Jernigan moved to Nashville after high school and played at various clubs.

Doug Jernigan was drafted in 1965 into the United States Army and sent to Vietnam.

Doug Jernigan played in a Nashville club called the "Demon's Den" where he developed the technique of playing at lightning fast speeds on single note solos that rivaled the speed of fiddles and banjos.

In 1977, Doug Jernigan became a Christian and began to play in church and still does today.

Doug Jernigan has recorded with Betty Jean Robinson, Joe Paul Nichols and many other gospel music groups.

Doug Jernigan is a frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry.

Doug Jernigan was inducted into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1994.

Doug Jernigan achieved single-string delivery beyond mere riffs, but for complete tunes, with flowing, scorching speed.