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And so I introduced myself. The Cowboy and his lady clammed up. Camo kid, whose real name was Jimmy Martin, was more forthcoming. He had been involved in the caper that had most recently gotten Supernaw locked up. “Yeah, we'd been partying with him that day, but he was getting pretty out of control, so we were trying to lose him,” he said.

Somehow, it seems unlikely that guys like Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks would get ditched by kids like that, but Martin didn't see it as a big deal. “He sang a karaoke duet with my dad one night,” Martin said. “He said he'd like to record with him some day. That would be pretty cool, I guess.”

After striking out at Memory Lane, I headed over to the Blue Moon on the other side of Bellville. At about ten o'clock, the place was almost empty. The proprietor, a jolly blond fiftysomething with an accent of her native Ohio, laughed bitterly when I mentioned that I was doing a story on Supernaw.

“Well, you won't find him here,” she said. “We barred him from this place last year.” Apparently, management at the Blue Moon didn't find his performances as entertaining as some of the people on his message boards. “He's up there cussing, stripping off all his clothes, screaming,” she said. “We don't tolerate that stuff here.”

The Blue Moon once was Supernaw's home. Literally. The singer lived for a time in a trailer out back. “He didn't even have any electricity,” said one of the patrons. “Naw, I think he did have a generator back there,” said the club's DJ.

Later in the evening, the bar got slam-packed. Nearby Sealy has a midnight closing time, while the bars in Bellville rage until two. I walked over to the owner and told her what a nice place she had.

“Well, it's only been nice since we kicked Doug out,” she says. “This place was pretty terrible when him and his friends were coming in here.”

“Like a kid on a carousel / I go around in circles / Not knowing whether to be scared / Of all the ups and downs”

— Doug Supernaw, “Carousel”

One of the only signs that Doug Supernaw ever had a country music career is his Web site. The postings on his message boards run toward the odd, to say the least. Some people seem genuinely concerned for him, others are disgusted, while a third contingent appears delighted to kick the man while he's down.

Though he has not spoken to Supernaw in about five years, Justin White had more than a front-row seat for the singer's glory days. White was still a student at Robert E. Lee High School when he met the honky-tonker at a golf tournament in 1988. By that time, the 27-year-old Supernaw already had served as a staff writer with a Nashville music publishing house. At the time, White was impressed, with good reason. “That was the way you became a star back then,” says White, citing the examples of staff writers-turned-hitmakers such as Garth Brooks, Clint Black and John Michael Montgomery.

Supernaw was being groomed for that same level of success when he met White, who had whiled away his high school years writing songs and dreaming of a country music career. At the golf tourney, White told Supernaw he was a musician, and Supernaw asked him to send him a tape of his stuff. “He called me back and said, ‘I think your stuff is great, and I wanna write with you,'” White recalls. “I thought, ‘Well, hell, this is great.'”

By 1990, Supernaw was spending more time in Texas, and he and White cowrote together whenever possible. Supernaw also started assembling Texas Steel, an early version of the road band that would back him through his glory days. Meanwhile, White enrolled at the University of Texas, and in early 1991, Supernaw would again intervene in fairy-tale fashion. Texas Steel had a spate of road gigs coming up, and Supernaw asked White to become his sound man and songwriting partner between gigs. “I said, ‘Man, you're gonna pay me money to do this?'” White remembers. “So I called my dad and told him I wasn't gonna waste my time or his money anymore, so I dropped out of school, moved back to Houston and went to work for Doug.”

Soon enough, Supernaw was opening for Willie Nelson, playing the parking lot stages at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Chili Cook-Off, and headlining the Party on the Plaza concert series. He was drawing interest from several major Nashville labels, but Supernaw resisted when they insisted that he needed to move back to Music City. “He decided that the way for him to do it was to come back here, put together the best band he could, hit the road and play three-four-five nights a week at every roadhouse, outhouse and dance hall we could find, which is what we did,” White remembers. “We did it in my Blazer, two vans and a trailer.”

And it really paid off. Coors Light signed on as a sponsor, and Supernaw was able to retire the little caravan of trucks in favor of a proper tour bus purchased with the brewery's money. The band hit the road and hit it hard, and eventually became one of the top draws in places like Tyler's Oil Palace, and if they know good country music anywhere, they know it in Tyler.

It was all enough to persuade many observers that Supernaw was bound for superstardom. One such was Houston Chronicle music critic Rick Mitchell, who touted him as a next big thing in June of 1992. Mitchell wasn't blowing smoke. After a bidding war, Nashville label BNA, an offshoot of industry behemoth BMG, emerged as the winner in the Supernaw stakes. This was Nashville's “hat act” era, when male stars had to look good in cowboy duds, and Supernaw definitely fit that bill. BNA vice president of artists and repertoire Richard Landis was enthused about the tall, lantern-jawed, cleft-chinned baritone, to put it mildly. “I think he's got unlimited potential,” he told Mitchell in a Chronicle article. “He's got a look that I think will appeal to women and men. I see him as blue-collar country.”

“By the face you could never tell / That inside I'm hurtin' / I'm always on the move / But never gainin' groundÉ”

— “Carousel”

Douglas Anderson Supernaw's upbringing was anything but blue-collar, though at least one of his parents definitely qualifies. His father Irwin, an Oklahoma native, was a research scientist for Texaco, an excellent golfer and an opera buff. His mother Rosanne Tyner's background was more hardscrabble — she was the daughter of a southern Illinois coal miner and a country music fanatic from birth, a love she instilled in her son. (As he put it in one song, “Daddy Made the Dollars, Mama Made the Sense.”)

Write Your Comment show comments (16)

  1. Doug Supernaw - Six Degrees of Separation

    I graduated from Eisenhower High School with Doug Supernaw and I saw his picture on the cover of the Press and thought to myself well, well the popular "golden boy" of high school has fallen, and proves that Karma is there for the not so popular kids in high school.

    However, as I was reading the article I was saddened by the fact Doug obviously has some serious mental health and personal accountability issues that only he can address.
    I worked briefly in 1999 with Yvonne Tisdale and like the rest of us she was looking for a boyfriend or a husband, although her heart may be in the right place but based on Doug's previous relationships with women maybe it is a good thing for Yvonne that Doug is not so sure about the "boyfriend" thing.

    Susie Mimnaugh

    Comment by Susie Mimnaugh — May 15, 2007 @ 12:31PM

  2. for the past few days i have had the pleasure of getting to know Doug while on his visit down here to southern illinois after the passing of his mother.i have found Doug to be a very sincere,generous,and very down to earth person despite all of his success.sitting around the fire the other night i was awestruck by the thought i was sitting next to Doug Supernaw!!!!!!!! a great singer,songwriter and person. dont be surprised to see doug in the spotlight again!!!!!

    Comment by rebecca meneese — October 16, 2007 @ 04:26PM

  3. I knew Doug back in the Mo's Days in Katy Texas when he was big with Reno. He would always stop and talk to me and my husband David...he always remembered our names. We moved to Spring Branch Texas several years later, I lost my job and started bartending at a bar here in Spring Branch. I was working one night and I here this song coming from the stage that sounded just like Doug....I look up and theres Doug up on stage singing Reno....When was through singing he came to the bar to order a drink....And he remembered my name after all those years...He even ask were my husband was....As a mater of fact he was living with a good friend of ours that happened to live right down the street from us....We never had any problems from Doug....Nicest guy I ever met....He doesn't let the fame get to his head... Love you. Doug.. Be careful out there.
    Sissy

    Comment by Sissy Bozant — October 20, 2007 @ 09:27AM

  4. I JUST READ THIS STORY ABOUT DOUG SUPERNAW AND IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART , I ALWAYS LOVED HIS MUSIC . I WENT TO SEE HIM MANY TIMES IN CONCERT BEING IN THE FIRST ROW MANY TIMES . I EVEN GOT MY EMAIL NAME FROM HIM AND HAVE HAD THAT NAME FOR AT LEAST 10 YRS NOW . I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AND HOPE THAT ONE DAY HE CAN REGAIN HIS LIFE AND START NEW .
    A FAN !! FOREVER KRISTI SCHWOCHWERT

    Comment by kristi schwochert — January 14, 2008 @ 05:42PM

  5. I was thinking about Doug Supernaw today and decided to search his name on the internet and came across this article. I saw Doug in concert around 13 years ago and he put on a great show. I also remember that he was one of the best looking men I've ever seen. This deeply saddens me to hear what his life has become. I hope he gets the help he needs and one day makes a comeback.

    Comment by Christy — January 20, 2008 @ 04:09PM

  6. i hope he gets better a good singer shouldn't be wasted we miss him there's nobody like him his music should be played more on the radio. Everbody deserves a second chance.

    Comment by cowboy — January 26, 2008 @ 06:44PM

  7. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE KNOWS OF WHERE I CAN READ ANY UPDATES ON DOUG SUPERNAW, I AM IN SUCH AWE OF HIM AND WANT TO FIND OUT WHATS NEW WITH HIM AND IF HES GETTING ANY BETTER ETC... MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS; KLFSUPERNAW@YAHOO.COM .... I AM SUCH A FAN OF HIS I HAVE EVERY CD HE EVER PUT OUT AND WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN FOR HIM TO GET BACK HIS LIFE , AND MAYBE ONE DAY PICK HIS CARRER BACK UP . HE HAS SUCH TALENT ITS UNBELIEVABLE ! I WISH HIM NOTHING BUT THE VERY BEST AND HOPE TO HEAR SOMETHING ON HIM SOON .. I KNOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WOULD ALSO LIKE THIS ALSO.
    KRISTI SCHWOCHERT FLORIDA

    Comment by kristi — February 2, 2008 @ 05:51PM

  8. They are finally letting me use the computer in the Nuthouse. i would just like to tell my children that I love them very, very much and maybe one day they will let me out. 1 Dios Botik, Douglas Anderson Supernaw

    Comment by Doug Supernaw — March 8, 2008 @ 06:30PM

  9. I have said many prayers for Doug Supernaw. When he was in trouble in Amarillo TX I wanted so much to try to see him and tell him how he and his music had affected my life and to tell him thank you. I wore out one tape and finally got a CD. I was living a pretty successful life in San Diego CA but missed my home in TX more than I can say. I played Red and Rio Grande over and over. Now I'm back home in TX and happy. I also want to add that I'm a 63 yr old woman not a young chick by any means. I've seen a lot of singers come and go in my lifetime and Doug Supernaw is one who really needs to make a comeback - and please make it soon before I kick the bucket. Thank you Doug Supernaw and God bless you. Judi

    Comment by Judi M — March 9, 2008 @ 06:25AM

  10. I met Doug back in the '90's when I had a morning radio show in TX and Doug, along with Steve Wariner and others did a concert for our troops stationed at Ft. Hood, TX, called the Dog Days of Summer. He was awesome, handsome and a real gentleman. This story breaks my heart to see such a larger than life man reduced to a feeble, deeply disturbed child. I can only hope and pray that he's able to get on the wagon, stop the b.s. and get his act together again. I miss his sense of humor, great music and voice. Hurry back Doug as you are missed.
    Kari

    Comment by Kari — April 1, 2008 @ 05:53AM

  11. Sorry to hear about Doug being back in the hospital. After the southern Illinois incident I was hoping he would get some counseling and get better. He has a tremendous amount of talent. Hopefully someone can help him, help hisself. You are in our prayers.

    Comment by Glenda — April 3, 2008 @ 08:44AM

  12. I feel sorry for the guy, I was one of supernaws biggest fans. I hope that oneday he will get back up on his feet. I have seen it too much in my family and the only thing that gets them through is family and themselves. please give me info on how he is doing and if he is going to sing again?

    Thanks
    pat schiro

    Comment by Patrick Schiro — May 1, 2008 @ 09:19PM

  13. Fell in love with Doug's music when RED AND RIO GRANDE came out when I was 18. "Reno" clicked with me so much about a girl in my life that I felt as if I was singing the song as well. Best of luck Doug and remember that your fans still love you and your music. God bless.

    Richard
    South Carolina

    Comment by Richard McClellan — May 26, 2008 @ 07:10AM

  14. I met Doug back in 97 I think, my band and I opened up for him in Fallon, NV. The guy was a real Gentleman to me, and really gave me the encouragement I needed as a singer/songwriter not to mention everyone else who was present. Being an entertainer I know the harshness life can have on you from people being jealous to judge mental to just plain old mean. Doug if you can read this, hang in there bro, you'll get through all the garbage that's coming down on you now. I'm active duty Air Force and I'll retire in a couple of years. I'm heading for Texas (love it down there) and I hope I'll run into you and that God will find favor in you again and that you'll be living better days. Today you're just down, but you're not out..."Roots and Wings" will lead you to a better day. You're still a good Man even though there are some who think not. I...happen to think you are a good Man. God speed bro!
    Rick Hays in Reno, NV.

    Comment by Rick Hays — May 26, 2008 @ 10:57PM

  15. Doug, I hope this posting will find you doing well. Like most people that have posted comments on here I was influncened by you music growing up. I met you once when you played the local county fair here in Courtland, Virginia and ever since then I have been a Supernaw fan. I hope you pull through this and I look foward to seeing you once again. Your friend J.R.Holland Courtland,Va

    Comment by J.R. Holland — June 1, 2008 @ 06:42PM

  16. HEY , I KEEP LOOKING ON HERE TO SEE IF I CAN FIND ANY NEW NEWS ON DOUG SUPERNAW, I WISH HIM THE VERY BEST ... HOPE HE CAN GET THE HELP HE NEEDS SO HE CAN POSSIBLE COME BACK TO ALL OF US " HIS FANS" WHO LOVED HIM AND HIS MUSIC SO VERY MUCH. DOUG IF YOU GET TO READ THESE COMMENTS I JUST WANT TO SAY .. HANG IN THERE THINGS HAVE TO GET BETTER FOR YOU. SOMETIMES THINGS GET WHERE YOU THINK THEY JUST CANT GET ANY WORSE ... THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERES A LITTLE RAY OF LIGHT ...SOMETHING TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH . I DO WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AND HOPE TO ONEDAY HERE MR DOUG SUPERNAW BACK AND IN FULL SWING .... WAITING FOR YOUR COME BACK ..... KRISTI SCHWOCHERT...

    Comment by kristi — June 4, 2008 @ 07:13AM

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