Blog & Mablog My Musical Career, Such as It Was
Feb 4, 2026
A nostalgic walk through a musical upbringing shaped by hymns, HiFi records, and choir days. Tales of first guitar porch performances and a prized 53-year Guild. Stories of forming bands, a 1978 local record, a homemade cassette release, and ongoing projects ranging from psalm settings to community concerts.
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Musical Roots And Early Lessons
- Doug Wilson grew up in a musical home where hymns, gospel records, Gilbert & Sullivan, and folk songs were common.
- He took a year of piano lessons but relied on his ear and learned chords rather than reading music well.
First Guitar And First Performance
- Doug received his first guitar at age 15 during a move to Ann Arbor and taught himself basic chords by strumming folk tunes like "Tom Dooley."
- His first solo public performance was singing "Go Tell It on the Mountain" at church, high in the key of F.
Navy Years And A Missed Break
- While in the Navy Doug bought a Guild guitar that he's kept for over 53 years and briefly auditioned for Pat Robertson Studios in Norfolk.
- They asked to hear him with a band, but naval duty sent him to sea and the opportunity passed.