SAN ANTONIO, TX – The music world is mourning the loss of Augie Meyers, the legendary keyboardist and singer whose signature pumping organ sound defined the "Tex-Mex" genre and influenced generations of rock and roll. A true son of San Antonio, Meyers passed away at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy that stretched from the dance halls of South Texas to the world’s most prestigious concert stages.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Augie Meyers first rocketed to international fame in the mid-1960s as a founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet. Alongside his lifelong musical brother, Doug Sahm, Meyers provided the heartbeat of the band with his Vox Continental organ. His rhythmic, staccato "chank-chank" style on hits like "She’s About a Mover" became one of the most recognizable sounds in 1960s rock, bridging the gap between British Invasion pop and deep Texas soul.
In 1989, Meyers helped form the seminal supergroup The Texas Tornados with Sahm, Freddy Fender, and Flaco Jiménez. The group became the ultimate ambassadors of Tex-Mex music. Their debut album earned Meyers a Grammy Award in 1991 for Best Mexican-American Performance, featuring the timeless classic "(Hey Baby) Que Paso."
Beyond his own bands, Meyers was a sought-after studio musician whose talent was revered by the industry’s elite. He famously contributed his unique keyboard textures to Bob Dylan’s Grammy-winning Time Out of Mind and Love and Theft albums, and worked with legendary artists ranging from Tom Jones to John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.
A true pioneer, Meyers brought the sounds of the San Antonio West Side to the global stage. His career saw him perform at the Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and make numerous iconic appearances on Austin City Limits. Despite his global travels, he remained deeply rooted in the culture and spirit of San Antonio.
Augie Meyers is remembered not just as a virtuoso of the Vox organ and the accordion, but as a warm, witty, and essential thread in the fabric of American music.
He was 85 years old. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be held in his beloved San Antonio.