Doug Figgs knows the cowboy way

Doug Figgs is a talented musician who brings Western, folk and American music together. Figgs sings and plays cowboy style music, such as country, and continues to make music a priority in his life, he said.

Having played lead guitar since he was 15 years old, Figgs sings and performs for audiences of all ages.

“I have played other instruments,” Figgs said. “But the guitar is more versatile, and I can play more types of music with the guitar.”

Figgs likes Southern, old country music and rock. Growing up with music in the family, his father was his inspiration because he played the fiddle, guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin.

Figgs plays in other states besides New Mexico, such as Prescott, Ariz., for the Cowboy Poets Gathering. He also goes to Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Coach Valley, Utah, Idaho, Texas and Colorado.

Figgs plays solo and sometimes with a band called The Cowboy Way — along with another well-known local musician, Mariam Funke.

“I’m lucky to play with the best musicians around here,” Figgs said. “I take guitar lessons from Mariam. He does the recording.”

Born in Prescott, Figgs has lived in Lemitar since 1987, where he moved to work on his horse farm, he said. Figgs and Funke are currently working on their third CD with 18 original songs. The two co-wrote many of the songs on the CD. There are Western folk music song with country rock influence, he said.

Figgs’ favorite artists include George Strait and the Marshall Tucker Band, who have been an influence because their music tells stories. He said some of the music he writes is similar to Marshall Tucker music.

According to Figgs, Funke takes things on a whole new level, expanding all types of music and challenging Figgs as the student.

Figgs has 75 scheduled dates this year, and on Aug. 25 he will play at the Magdalena Bear Mountain Coffee House. He performs somewhere every weekend, including the Bodega Burger Lounge, Sofia’s Kitchen, the state fair in Albuquerque, the Old Town Bistro and at the Pie Town festival held during the second weekend in September.

“There are two things in my life which are horses and music,” Figgs said. “I have made my living with horses, now I’m going to get serious with music and become a musician and get into more music.”