Fred Douglas

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Job Title
Musician

Fred Douglas recalled picking up his first Fender Precision Bass when he was hired to record as a member of the Pacers. The Pacers were the band behind the “wild man of rock and roll” Sonny Burgess. The band recorded early Rockabilly songs for the Sun label out of Memphis, years before Elvis Presley started in the very same studio. Fred remained with Sonny for all of the Pacer’s Sun recordings and related tours, in fact they opened for Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and the pioneer of the Rockabilly sound, Carl Perkins. Fred’s bass playing can be heard on a number of Sonny’s hits, including “Fannie Brown.”