Durawa, Ernie

Allen Olsen interviews Ernie Durawa.
Ernie explains the bajo for Doug Sahm. He talks about the West Side Sound. He talks about his early life and musical influences. He talks about his time playing conjunto at clubs and eventually blues music in San Antonio. He discusses the Charlie Alvarado shooting incident and how he was as a person when he knew him. He tells an unnerving story about Jimmy Casas. He talks about his friendship with Doug Sahm and tells stories throughout their career. He talks about rock and roll and conjunto music. He talks about how he had to learn to read music.

Matt Synatschk interviews Ernie Durawa, part 2.
Side B: Ernie talks about working and playing gigs at Ray's Jazz Club and Ice House, which eventually is shut down due to racism in the 60s. He talks about psychedelic times in the 60s and how he avoided that lifestyle. He discusses how he played at the World's Fair once and all the gigs he did in San Antonio. He speaks about his time doing gigs in Chicago at Playboy clubs. Later, he moves to Austin and joins the Texas Tornadoes, eventually touring Europe and Japan. He briefly talks about his wife's cancer. He finishes up with discussing Texas music, what he's up to currently, and then shares stories from his career.

Matt Synatschk interviews Ernie Durawa, part 1.
Side A: Ernie opens with his early life and how he became a musician. He talks about his time playing at a Black jazz/blues club with Spot Barnett. He then shares a story about being arrested with his bandmates for marijuana possession in the 60s.

Side A: Ernie opens with his early life and how he became a musician. He talks about his time playing at a Black jazz/blues club with Spot Barnett. He then shares a story about being arrested with his bandmates for marijuana possession in the 60s.
Side B: Ernie talks about working and playing gigs at Ray's Jazz Club and Ice House, which eventually is shut down due to racism in the 60s. He talks about psychedelic times in the 60s and how he avoided that lifestyle. He discusses how he played at the World's Fair once and all the gigs he did in San Antonio. He speaks about his time doing gigs in Chicago at Playboy clubs. Later, he moves to Austin and joins the Texas Tornadoes, eventually touring Europe and Japan. He briefly talks about his wife's cancer. He finishes up with discussing Texas music, what he's up to currently, and then shares stories from his career.

Photo taken during an oral history interview by Matt Synatschk.