Doug Clark Steiger

Doug’s been referred to as a musician’s musician.   A gifted acoustic guitarist and songwriter, Doug has been plying his trade since he first took it on the road back in 1970.   He left his home in Utah and headed east with his guitar in one hand and a Kirby vacuum in the other.   After determining that Kirby wasn’t the key to his future, Doug struck out on his own eventually finding his way to Toronto Canada.   It became apparent to all who heard him that Doug was more than just a passable guitar player.   His clear and insightful delivery of original material and covers of other songwriters as diverse as Gordon Lightfoot, Fred Neil and Jacques Brel made people take notice.

In the years he spent in Toronto, his music was well received; Doug became appreciated both by his audiences and industry people.   The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) recorded  "Goodnight World"  and  "Time To Love",  which received airplay in Canada and in Europe.  Arpeggio records also recorded a 45 rpm of his song   "Is Someone Listening"  which was used as a soundtrack to a television show.   As a songwriter, Doug’s material was garnering attention.   A lovely song called  "Light Up My Lady"  was recorded in the mid to late 70s by Jim Post (who later became renowned for his stage portrayal of Mark Twain), then covered again by the duo Hamilton Camp and Bob Gibson, and most recently by (veteran musician and founding member of the original Limelighters)  Glenn Yarborough.

Unfortunately, the pairing with his manager was less than successful.  
After a couple of failed attempts to carry is career forward across Canada and in Los Angeles they went their separate ways.   Doug returned to the United States in 1977 after becoming disillusioned with the business but his music wouldn't be dissuaded.   Doug enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1978 and eventually met up with some Naval Officers who had a group that played gigs both off and on base.   At least his creative spirit had an outlet.   After being honorably discharged Doug relocated to Houston, Texas in 1984 in search of a professional musical career.   He hosted open mikes and has performed with people like (a then unknown) Slaid Cleaves,  even making the acquaintance of and performing with U2’s Bono.

In 1987, Doug accompanied a friend from Houston to the Kerrville Folk Festival.  One evening around a campfire,  Kerrville’s founder-producer Rod Kennedy heard Doug playing  "These Hands"  and it impressed Kennedy enough that he asked Doug to play Kerrville’s main stage the next year.   He even had encouragement from an enthusiastic Peter Yarrow  who backed him up on  "Light Up My Lady".  Doug did what most struggling artists do, he played evening gigs while holding down his day job.   Rod Kennedy came calling again in 1993 asking him to join that year’s Nashville Reunion, where his music was introduced to a completely new audience at Nashville’s renowned Bluebird Café.   However, knowing it would take a minimum commitment of a year or two in Nashville  (and with a young daughter back in Houston)  he decided not to follow that path at that time.   

Doug continued to play gigs in Houston where he was already a well respected and in-demand session musician.   He  recorded one of his gigs at Ovations, which resulted in his  releasing that evening’s offerings on a CD called  "Let’s Be Friends".

     In 2000, Doug transferred to Austin’s Guitar Center and resumed his playing to new audiences.   He has been actively  writing and taking his music further  ever since.   He is considered  one of Austin's most knowledgeable acoustic guitar specialists.

     In November 2003, Doug went to Vancouver BC Canada and recorded a  (now released)  CD of new material and some old favorites  titled  "Take Me With You".   Its 14 songs are a worthy representation of Doug’s skill as musician, gifted vocalist and songwriter.