Tex-Mex musician Doug Sahm [ tickets ] was found dead of an apparent heart attack on Thursday in a hotel room in Taos, N.M. He was pronounced dead at 3:45 p.m.

Born in 1941, Sahm had performed on stage since the age of 6. Lately, he had been known to simultaneously front such bands as the Texas Tornados, the Texas Mavericks, the Last Real Texas Blues Band and the Sir Douglas Quintet. But there are still some that may remember him from his earlier days as part of a long list of bands: Doug Sahm and the Bandits, Doug Sahm and the Pharaohs, Doug Sahm and the Knights, Doug Sahm and the Markays, Doug Sahm and the Dell-Kings, Doug Sahm and the Spot Barnett Band, Doug Sahm and the Tex-Mex Trip and Doug Sahm as Wayne Douglas.

An easily recognized figure in his dark cowboy hat and sunglasses, Sahm was as much a performer as he was a friend to many in both the Austin and San Antonio music communities. With songs like ''She's About a Mover,'' ''Who Were You Thinkin' Of'' and ''(Hey Baby) Que Paso,'' Sahm became one of the most recognized voices in the world of Tex-Mex. In 1990, The Texas Tornadoes--in the Latin genre--won the Grammy for best Mexican/American performance for ''Soy De San Luis.''

Sahm had split time between San Antonio and Austin where he performed regularly with different bands. His two sons, Shandon and Shawn, have both played in various bands in and around Austin for years. For his '98 release, ''S.D.Q '98,'' Sahm had teamed up with local band, The Gourds [ tickets ], for a couple of songs which introduced the legend to a whole new set of fans.