Jeff Dugan (2)

Jeff Dugan was raised in New Iberia, Louisiana. He was the third son born to Lenox and Georgia Dugan. Being from South Louisiana you would expect him to be influenced by Cajun Music, and although his family would get together and play Cajun Music often when he was growing up, Jeff was personally drawn to Country Music. As a teenager he got involved with some friends in a band and found that although he was the bass player, he could sing. He began imitating country vocalists like: Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, John Conlee and became quite good at it. His parents allowed him to go and sing in local bars at the age of 16. Somewhere along the way he began to dream of becoming a Country Music Star. He lived alot like the songs he sang. He played music three nights a week and fished or hunted the rest of the time. Then along came the record executive, Barry Beckett, who finally gave him the big break he had been hoping for. He went off to Nashville and recorded on the Warner Bros. label in the late 80's. He opened for some of the biggest stars; Reba, Ronnie Milsaps, & Lee Greenwood. But things did not go his way. A change at the record label rearranged everything for Jeff. Only two singles were released, "Once A Fool, Always a Fool" & "I Wish it was that Easy Going Home", but his album never made it out the door. He went back to Louisiana disappointed and disillusioned. He continued to sing in the clubs and handled it the only way he knew how. He drank, performed, he fished and he waited for another opportunity. He moved to Nashville in 1992 and made another attempt to land a record deal. He sang demos and hoped someone would give him another shot. But it didn't happen and he got an offer to return to Louisiana and go back to work in a club. He married his wife, Sherry, in 1993, and shortly thereafter he quit the nightclub scene. He went to work as a hardwood flooring contractor, a craft he had learned from his father. After all, he needed a real job to pay the bills, but the dream was still there. Jeff recorded a new cd with his friend, Bobby Terry titled "Kick'in Up Dust". He eventually put together another band and began singing on the weekends. The extra money was needed and he enjoyed being back on stage. One night he was approached by some business men who wanted to develop him and get him a record contract. So once again, Jeff recorded, he worked on his "image" and they even "showcased" him to Nashville record labels. There was talk, there was interest, but still no deal. Jeff always had a desire to own his own nightclub. He decided to go into partnership with a local business man and they remodeled a nightclub and opened it in 1999. It was called the "Stockyard Saloon" and was located just outside of Lafayette, La. During this time, he released an album locally titled "The Heart Talks". Opening the club was exciting, and sort of satisfied his desires to be a star. After all, it was the biggest club around, and he was opening for all of the concerts there. He booked some of the best in Country Music: Trace Adkins, John Conlee, Brad Paisley, LeAnn Womack, Lone Star.......but like everything else, it didn't satisfy him for very long. The night life was taking a toll on his marriage and he finally stopped and took a good long look at himself. He knew that the most important thing in life was his wife and children and something had to change. In the late fall of 2000, he went to the club, opened a concert for John Anderson, then walked off the stage and out the back door....and never returned. Things began to turn around in Jeff's personal life when in January of 2001 he became a born again Christian. He and Sherry began serving the Lord in church by being involved in music ministry and media. He has since recorded four Christian albums. Jeff was recognized by the Christian Country Music Industry with several awards and he was honored to have traveled throughout the South and Southwest singing in churches. Jeff and Sherry are blessed to have a wonderful family. Their sons are grown now and they have five grandchildren. Life is good!