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Doug's BIO
DOUG BATTLES
Doug started playing the guitar when he was 13 years
old. When he got his first guitar it only had two strings on it and in a round about way this is how he
learned to play bass guitar. When he had learned all he could with only two strings, he added 2 more (this was all Doug could
afford). Now with 4 strings he practiced and learned more, Doug contributes this to learning banjo and mandolin.
Eventually, he was able to purchase the two remaining strings. Now with all 6 strings, he treated the guitar like a lap steel
guitar but a man told him he couldn’t play the guitar with a shoe polish bottle. He tuned the guitar for Doug and said
he would help him learn the chords. This meant Doug had to start all over. Practice sessions were
held only on the weekends but unfortunately the man would be intoxicated and Doug knew not to question what he was showing
him. He would have him sit in front of him and he would show Doug a chord and then would flip the guitar over and hand it
to Doug. This is how he came to play the guitar upside down and backwards. Later
on through the years, this man became his father-in-law. Over the years, Doug has played with
several groups and the music included country, gospel and now bluegrass. His biggest accomplishment was
when he played guitar and sang bass with “The Lordsmen” quartet. They spent five years in Nashville performing
for “The Mull Singing Convention” and touring throughout the eastern United States. Now
being part of bluegrass music, he says that he finds himself surrounded by some of the best musicians in the country, Doug lives in Franklin, North Carolina with his wife, Pam.
They have four children ( 2 daughters and 2 sons) and eight grandchildren. Shady Creek welcomes Doug and his wife to their BLUEGRASS FAMILY!
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