Biography

In early 2023, the multi-dimensional Country Music entertainer Doug Moreland releases his 10th fully independent album Ranch Truck. Releasing each track individually, Doug plans to have the full album available by early summer. The songs were recorded in his former "Cattlelacs" studio, now moved to a new location in Austin TX. The album again captures Doug’s light-hearted take on the seriousness of life. His traditional styling still gathers influence from the western swing of Bob Wills and the easy-going spirit of Jimmy Buffett, mixed with humor the likes of Roger Miller.

Originally from the Fort Davis mountains in west Texas, Doug Moreland performs a fresh twist of Texas and Western swing music, with his original songwriting and his dandy band The Flying Armadillos. Being the eldest son of a wainwright, blacksmith, and fiddle-playing ranch hand, Doug set out in 1992 for a career in the music business. After a short stint in Ruidoso NM as a funny man in a dinner show, he then toured with various acts around the country as a fiddle sideman. During this time, he recognized his desire to front his own band and write his own songs, and also discovered the art of chainsaw carving, which all brought him to Austin TX in late 1999. There he progressed from a comedic, solo act with a singing dog as the finale, into a full dancehall band with his wit and charm playing right back into a familiar instrumentation of twin fiddles, upright bass fiddle, swing guitar, mandolin, and minimal drums. In 2020, Doug placed roots in his former hometown in far west Texas. There he started a monthly Family Barn Dance with a big dance band in 2022.

Musical Merit

Doug received a Will Rogers Cowboy Award for Western Music Male Performer of the Year from the Academy of Western Artists in 2007. He also received an Entertainer of the Year award from the Texas Music Awards in 2007. He played for the Austin City Council at a meeting declared by the Mayor as Doug Moreland Day in 2011. In 2015 and 2016, Doug won a nomination for Western Swing Male of the Year from the Ameripolitan Music Awards.

Noteworthy Appearances

Doug’s tour has extended from the state of Texas, western across the country and even to Europe. The band has performed with well-established acts such as Willie Nelson, Asleep At The Wheel, Robert Earl Keen, Canadian Country Music star Corb Lund, and folk-rocker Ryan Bingham.

Doug appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2003 with his former companion Holly-peño (a black/white McNab dog). They appeared together on Animal Planet's Pet Star, as well as Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Doug has also made guest appearances in a handful of films, most notably the 2012 Richard Linklater film Bernie along with Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine.