Stevie Ray Vaughn

Allow me to preface my remarks about Stevie Ray's music by simply stating that words cannot convey music. The following is informational and gleaned from various sites along the internet and from my personal experience. I saw and heard Stevie Ray Vaughn perform live when I lived in the DFW area in the late 70's and 80's. Your best bet is to check out Stevie Ray's recorded albums. I recommend "Flooding Down in Texas".

Today's featured musician is Dallas born Stevie Ray Vaughn. There is no argument that this musical genius is one of the top two or three blues guitarists of all times. Stevie Ray Vaughn dropped out of high school to pursue a musical career and formed early Texas bands (the Cobras & Triple Threat) playing Dallas and Austin clubs. Triple Threat was composed of Vaughn, bassist Jackie Newhouse, drummer Chris Layton, and vocalist Lou Ann Barton. Triple Threat played Texas bars and clubs, especially those in Austin. After losing his vocalist in 1978 Vaughn formed Double Trouble and assumed the vocalist role. The band name was inspired by the Otis Redding song of the same name.

Although one of the most popular bands in Texas, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble did not really gain national fame until they played the Montreus Festival in 1982. Here their performance dazzled the international stars David Bowie and Jackson Brown. Bowie offered Stevie Ray recording time at Downtown in Los Angeles and Stevie Ray wound up doing lead guitar on Bowie's album "Let' Dance".

Stevie Ray signed a record contract with Epic and produced his first album "Texas Flood" that came out in the summer of 1983. It became a blockbuster album and was a crossover success with rock and blues radio stations. He and his band began their first national tour in 1984 and recorded another album "Can't Stand the Weather" that went gold by the end of 1985. The band acquired keyboardist Reese Wynans in that year and produced a third album, "Soul to Soul".

Stevie Ray produced a double live album in 1986 and did a national tour in 1987. He like many musician had problems with drugs and alcohol and part of that year was spent in rehab. In 1988 he toured, played various concerts, and appeared as a headliner at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. His fourth album, "In Step" was released in 1989 and became his biggest hit yet. Stevie Ray was awarding a grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Recording.

In 1990 he recorded an album with brother Jimmy called "Family Style" that was scheduled to be released later that year. In August of that year while on national tour he performed in Wisconsin. Leaving that concert to return to Chicago, Stevie's helicopter crashed killing him and four others. Stevie was 35. We miss him. Subsequently his music has been re-released and the album that he and his brother produced topped the charts as his most successful.

I will always think of Stevie Ray when it is flooding down in Texas. I also remember him when I hear a good blues guitarist in a club. I know the new performer was influenced by Stevie Ray.

top