Tony Douglas and the Shrimpers were playing a gig in Canton recently when State Representative Dan Flynn walked onstage.

Flynn presented Douglas with a plague for his “long accomplished career in country music.”

Douglas said it was several minutes before he could speak or sing because he was in such shock.

“I never dreamed that things like this would happen to me,” Douglas said Monday. “This came as a tee-total surprise to me.”

Douglas was born in Martins Mill and recorded his first album in Ft. Worth at Manny’s Recording Studio in 1956.

A current guest on the Louisiana Hayride radio program, Douglas was offered a three-year contract to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, the nation’s premier showcase for country stars.

At first Douglas was so excited about going to the Grand Ole Opry that he didn’t realize there would be a clause in his contract requiring him to move from Texas to Nashville.

“I didn’t want to leave Texas,” Douglas said.

He did have a chance to record in Nashville, though.

“When I went to Nashville to record ‘His and Hers’ I already had an arrangement recorded with my guys in Texas.

“The producers and musicians refused to play it like I wanted it,” he said. “They didn’t think it would work.”

Douglas stormed out of the studio, and then came back informing the musicians they would play it his way.

“I said if they didn’t, I would go get some guys that would do it the right way,” he said.

“His and Hers” became one of Douglas’ signature songs.

“I have been very fortunate to pick songs that became hits,” he said.

Douglas also credited the many musicians he has performed with throughout his career.

“I have only used Texas-grown and produced musicians,” he said.

Douglas is in the process of adding a back room to his produce store, Papa T’s Produce in Athens. The room will house memorabilia from Douglas’ 50-plus-year-career.