Nothing touches hearts and minds like music; especially music from the soul. So, today, it is only proper to respectfully and musically remember a melody maverick that gave us plenty of soul-soothing, mind-mellowing blues, straight from the heart and from his life.
Caught in the Crossfire, Stevie’s physical being swiftly left in a puff of smoke just as a magician causes his apprentice to disappear. The heart and soul of SRV quietly vanished as the helicopter in which he was travelling en route to Chicago, crashed just outside of East Troy, Wisconsin, minutes after finishing a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, just after midnight on August 27, 1990.
In what would truly be his final encore performance, SRV returned to the stage before his final exit from that concert, jamming with fellow music legends Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray. It was as if he knew this would be his last opportunity to share his music with the world. The loss was utterly tragic and long-lasting to anyone who appreciates music.
Stevie Ray Vaughan: The making of a Music Legend
Born in Dallas and growing up near Austin, Texas, Stevie Ray Vaughan became infused and engrossed with music from his older brother, Jimmie and was inspired by other musicians including Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy. He began playing music at age 9, after receiving a western toy guitar made by Sears for Christmas in 1963. He would go on from there, developing his own style in an effort to compete with his older brother, Jimmie. Stevie Ray Vaughan would go on to be known and associated with his Fender Stratocaster guitar, with Fender creating several signature guitars in his honor.
Bouncing from band to band, SRV made the decision in 1980 to go on his own and be known simply as Stevie Ray Vaughan. Success quickly followed Stevie, being offered to play his guitar with music stars Jackson Browne and David Bowie. After recording several sessions, SRV wanted again to focus on his band. In the spring of 1983, SRV’s band, Double Trouble, signed a deal with Epic Records and released their first album called Texas Flood, using sessions recorded from his work with Jackson Browne. Within six months, Guitar Player Magazine voted SRV as Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitar Player, and Texas Flood as Best Guitar Album.
In total, Stevie Ray Vaughan released eighteen albums and is a multi-Grammy Award winner. In 1991, then Texas Governor, Ann Richards, proclaimed October 3rd (his birthday) as Stevie Ray Vaughan Day. Later, in 2000, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Vaughan battled alcohol and cocaine abuse, before entering a month-long rehab clinic in 1986, where he subsequently remained clean and sober until his death in 1990. Stevie Ray Vaughan changed the music world with his passion and talents and left it a richer and more compassionate place when he left.
Warmly remembering the music legend, everyone’s Pride and Joy, Stevie Ray Vaughan. The best remembrance and tribute to him is to listen to his music.... Watch and listen to it here.
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Comments
#1 Still miss ya Stevie Ray :-(
It was 20 years ago today that we lost Stevie Ray. I always remember it like it was yesterday when we received the news. I still get chills and still gives me the blues.
Have been a fan since just before he hit it big and was fortunate enough to have seen SRV and DT live twice, both times at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. First time w/fellow legend Bonnie Riatt opening and the second w/The King of the Blues BB King opening up. Great shows and 20+ yrs later I can still close my eyes and see Stevie onstage. Although I was dropped out and grew up in SoCal, I was conceived in Southern TX and still have alot of ties down there. That is why I think my connection to Stevie is so strong, never met the man but feel like I know him like an old friend. Always wish I had the chance to meet him but can only wait until my butt is called up to Heaven.
RIP SRV. Miss you like a brother, my brother.
OB in the 805
#2 Remebering Stevie Ray Vaughan
We are all on the Titanic. It just sank a bit quicker for Stevie. And maybe, too, when it happened, it happened to a better person than perhaps you or I. He was special in that he had found himself early in his life. That is the magic we all search for. The secret of an enjoyable life is to find our own significant purpose for being here. He found his and that is what gave him joy and also made him such a giving person. I imagine he had felt that he was in heaven on earth, to be excepted and praised for something he really loved doing. We all saw and felt his joy and that made us feel joy for him. These are the people who can see his light and understand why we love him so. Anytime someone does something like what he did, we cannot help but feel anything but love because he found himself. And, in the end that is what we all are trying to do maybe all of our lives. Thank You Stevie Ray Vaughan for giving us hope to chase our own particular dreams, because you showed it can be done. And done well.
Joe Jones Somewhere in Montgomery, Alabama