<back - STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN - Stevie Ray Vaughan was born October 3, 1954. His older brother Jimmie Lee Vaughan, had an early influence on SRV via his record collection, which included albums by Jimmy Reed, Albert and B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, T-bone Walker and Muddy Waters. Stevie first picked up the guitar in 1963, at age 8. "I wanted to play drums, but I didn't have any," Stevie recalls. Then I wanted to play saxophone, but all I could get out of it was a few squeaks. My big brother Jimmie played guitar, so I figured I'd try it too. He would leave his guitars around the house, and tell me not to touch 'em. That's basically how I got started playing."

In 1968 he his first band called Blackbird. Shortly after joining Blackbird, he began playing with schoolmate Tommy Shannon in a band called The Chantones. By late 1969 Jimmie Vaughan had moved to Austin TX, drawn to the Blues scene happening at the time. Stevie followed in 1972. He joined the band Crackerjack, which featured Johnny Winter's drummer Uncle John Turner and bassist Tommy Shannon. In 1973 Stevie Ray left Crackerjack, joining The Nightcrawlers, which included Drew Pennington, Keith Ferguson, Doyle Bramhall. Stevie Ray left the Nightcrawlers in 1974, and became the second guitarist, along side Denny Freeman, with The Cobras. It was with this band that Stevie Ray began to sing. Stevie leaves the Cobras in 1977 to form Triple Threat with WC Clark, Lou Ann Barton, Chris Layton, and Mike Kindred.1980-Lou Ann Barton leaves Triple Threat to join Roomful of Blues. Stevie Ray renames the group Double Trouble. 1981-Tommy Shannon replaces Jackie Newhouse on bass. A taping of Double Trouble performing at an Austin music festival winds up in the hands of Mick Jagger. 1982-Stevie plays a party for the Rolling Stones in New York, April 22. Jackson Browne, offers Stevie free time at his LA studio. He records Texas Flood. Stevie Ray Vaughan is signed to Epic by John Hammond Sr. 1984-Couldn't Stand The Weather is released and wins a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues. In November, Stevie wins 2 WC Handy Awards from the Blues Foundation for Entertainer of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year. 1986-Records Live Alive featuring brother Jimmie Vaughan. 1989-In Step is released. Crossfire becomes Stevie's first #1 hit and earns another Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Recording. 1990-Stevie and brother Jimmie travel to Memphis to record Family Style. August 26, Stevie Ray  performs at a concert in Wisconsin. He boards a helicopter for Chicago. Shortly after midnight on August 27, Stevie Ray Vaughan is killed, along with the pilot and 3 members of Eric Clapton's group in a helicopter crash. He is buried. Dallas, TX on August 31. Stevie Ray Vaughan's tragic passing was a great lost to the Blues. He was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame in 2000. MP3- Pipeline w/ Dick Dale | Crossfire |