Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan performs on stage.
Background information
Birth name Stephen Ray Vaughan
Born October 3, 1954(1954-10-03)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died August 27, 1990(1990-08-27) (aged 35)
East Troy, Wisconsin, U.S.
Genres Blues, rock, jazz
Occupations Guitarist, singer, songwriter
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1970–1991
Labels A&M, Epic
Associated acts Marc Benno, Double Trouble, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan, David Bowie, Robert Cray, Albert King, B. B. King, Albert Collins
Notable instruments
Fender Stratocaster

Stephen Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was a Grammy Award-winning[1] American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Eighteen albums of Vaughan's work have been released.[2]

Vaughan was inspired to play guitar by his older brother, Jimmie Vaughan, and was influenced by such players as Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy.[3] After a few years as a sideman in and around Austin, Vaughan formed the band Double Trouble, with whom he made four successful studio albums and established a reputation as one of the foremost blues guitarists in the world. He was noted for using the Fender Stratocaster, with several guitars being made in tribute to Vaughan, including a Signature Stratocaster[4] and a replica of his famous Strat named "Lenny".[5] In 1986, after years of substance abuse from alcohol and cocaine, he spent a month in drug rehabilitation, and remained clean and sober for the final four years of his life, until his death in 1990 in a helicopter crash.[6]

On February 22, 2000, Vaughan was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., being one of only 79 performers to be inducted.[7] He also won several W. C. Handy Awards, during his lifetime and posthumously, including Entertainer of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year in 1984.[8] In 2003, he was ranked #7 in Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.[9] Classic Rock Magazine ranked him #3 in their list of the 100 Wildest Guitar Heroes in 2007.[10]

Contents

Early life

Vaughan was born on October 3, 1954, in Dallas, Texas, the son of 26-year-old Martha Jean Vaughan (15 June 1928 – 13 June 2009),[11] and Jimmie Lee Vaughan (6 September 1921 – 27 August 1986),[12] a soldier from Rockwall, Texas.[13]

For Christmas 1963, Stevie received a western toy guitar made by Sears and learned to play songs like "Wine, Wine, Wine" and "Thunderbird" by Texan garage rock band The Nightcaps.[14] His brother, Jimmie Vaughan, was three years older and was his first big influence.[15] According to the Vaughan biography Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire, Stevie developed his own style in direct competition with Jimmie.[16]

Early musical career

After falling into a barrel of grease while working for a fast food restaurant, Vaughan vowed to work solely as a musician. He dropped out of Kimball High School in 1971[17] and moved to Austin with his first band, an R&B band called Blackbird.[15] He stayed with this band until late 1972.

In 1973, Vaughan joined the rock band Krackerjack for a few months, quitting when the group decided to wear makeup on stage. Marc Benno added him to his band The Nightcrawlers in late 1973, which included Doyle Bramhall with whom Vaughan began a longtime friendship. The band flew to Los Angeles to record a new album for A&M Records. A&M refused to release the album, leaving Stevie to travel back to Texas.[18][19] The album sat dormant until being released by Blue Skunk Music in 2009. In late 1974, he joined the popular Austin band Paul Ray & The Cobras, averaging five gigs a week for the next two-and-a-half years. They released a 45rpm record, his second appearance on vinyl, and won "Band of the Year" in an Austin music poll. The record, however, didn't attract major record labels.[20]

Double Trouble

In 1977, Vaughan left The Cobras and formed Triple Threat Revue with Lou Ann Barton on vocals, W.C. Clark on bass, Mike Kindred on keyboards, and Fredde Pharaoh on drums.[21] Saxophone player Johnny Reno and bassist Jackie Newhouse joined Vaughan and Pharaoh to form Double Trouble, taking their name from an Otis Rush song. Chris "Whipper" Layton later replaced Pharaoh on drums. In early 1980, Double Trouble was booked at the Lone Star Cafe in New York City. According to Cleve Hattersly of the Austin band Greezy Wheels, Barton became drunk, "threw beer glasses and screamed at the waitresses". Barton announced that she was leaving Double Trouble to sing for Roomful of Blues.[21]

Vaughan started using his full name to become known as Stevie Ray Vaughan.[21] Double Trouble recorded a performance at The Steamboat 1974 in Austin, later released as In The Beginning in 1992. Tommy Shannon, who played Woodstock in 1969 with Johnny Winter, replaced Jackie Newhouse in January 1981. In July, the band played a festival in Manor, Texas. A film from the performance was given to The Rolling Stones by Double Trouble's manager Chesley Millikin. The Stones invited Double Trouble to play a private party at the New York City club Danceteria.[22]

In early 1982, Double Trouble played a show at the Continental Club in Austin. Impressed by the band's performance, legendary music producer Jerry Wexler recommended the band to play the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.[23] Booked on an acoustic night, members of the audience booed.[23] Musician Jackson Browne gave the band three days of use at his own studio in Los Angeles, and the band recorded an album's worth of material in the fall of 1982. David Bowie hired Stevie to play on his album Let's Dance, released in 1983. The album was a hit, and gained Vaughan widespread attention for his impressive guitar work.

In the spring of 1983, Vaughan opted out of Bowie's Serious Moonlight Tour during the rehearsals to focus on Double Trouble. Producer John Hammond, who is credited with discovering Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen, got the band a record deal with Epic Records. The sessions from Jackson Browne's studio resulted in the band's debut album, Texas Flood, which was released on June 13, 1983. By the end of the year, Guitar Player Magazine voted Vaughan as Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitar Player, and Texas Flood as Best Guitar Album.

The band's second album, Couldn't Stand the Weather, was released on May 15, 1984. The success of the 'Couldn't Stand the Weather' album skyrocketed SRV and Double Trouble into the European music spotlight where they were recorded live in Germany at a Rockpalast concert on August 25, 1984. On October 4, the day after Vaughan's thirtieth birthday, the band performed at New York City's Carnegie Hall with guests Jimmie Vaughan on guitar, Angela Strehli on vocals, Roomful of Blues horns, Dr. John on keyboards, and George Rains on drums. Vaughan also won two W.C. Handy National Blues Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year.

Soul to Soul, their third studio album, was released on September 30, 1985, featuring new band member Reese Wynans on keyboards. By this time, Vaughan's problems with alcohol and cocaine escalated.[14] In July 1986, the band recorded shows in Austin and Dallas for their first live album, Live Alive, released on November 15, 1986. While on tour in Europe and after years of substance abuse, Vaughan entered a clinic in London under the care of Dr. Victor Bloom, who had helped Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend overcome heroin addiction.[14] Vaughan was advised to enter a rehab clinic in Atlanta.[14] The last thirteen dates of the tour were canceled, and Vaughan became clean and sober on October 13, 1986.

In the spring of 1987, MTV broadcast the band's show in Daytona Beach, Florida, as part of its spring break coverage. Vaughan appeared in the movie Back to the Beach, performing "Pipeline" with Dick Dale. He also appeared on B.B. King's Cinemax TV special with Eric Clapton, Albert King, and others.

In January 1989, the band performed at President George Bush's Inaugural party in Washington, D.C. Their fourth album, In Step, was released on June 6 and won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Record. On January 30, 1990, Vaughan performed "Pride and Joy", "Testify," and "Rude Mood" for MTV Unplugged on an acoustic twelve-string guitar. In the spring, Stevie and brother Jimmie recorded Family Style, which was released on September 25, 1990. By August 13, all five of Vaughan's and Double Trouble's albums were certified gold, each selling over 500,000 units.

Death

On August 26, 1990, a sold out concert of 30,000 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin, featured an encore jam with Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray. On August 27, shortly before 1 a.m., a helicopter carrying Vaughan en route to Chicago crashed within seconds after takeoff.

Four days later, funeral services were held at Laurel Land Memorial Park in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas, with over 1,500 people attending and 3,000 more outside the chapel.[24] Brother Jimmie, mother Martha, and girlfriend Janna were in attendance. Among the mourners were Stevie Wonder, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and Nile Rodgers.[25]

Legacy

The 1991 album The Sky Is Crying was the first of several posthumous Vaughan releases to achieve chart success. It entered the US album charts at #7, won a Grammy, and went platinum.[24] Jimmie Vaughan later co-wrote and recorded a song in tribute to his brother and other deceased blues guitarists, titled "Six Strings Down". Bonnie Raitt's 1991 album Luck of the Draw was dedicated to him. Many other artists recorded songs in remembrance of Vaughan, including Eric Johnson ("SRV," on the album Venus Isle), Tommy Emmanuel ("Stevie's Blues"), Buddy Guy, Steve Vai ("Jibboom," on the album The Ultra Zone), and Wayne Perkins ("Big Stratocaster," on the album Rambling Heart). Stevie Wonder, whose "Superstition" Vaughan covered (recorded live on Live Alive), honored him with "Stevie Ray Blues" on his 1995 live album Natural Wonder.

Musicians such as Joe Bonamassa, John Mayer, Robert Randolph, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Colin James, Jonny Lang, Los Lonely Boys, Mike McCready, Eric Johnson, Orianthi, John Petrucci, and Doyle Bramhall II have cited Vaughan as an influence.

In 1991, Texas governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, Vaughan's birthday, to be "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day." An annual motorcycle ride and concert in Central Texas benefits the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund.[26]

In 1992, the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation released the Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature Stratocaster, which Vaughan had helped design. As of 2010, the model is still in production. In 2004, Fender released a limited edition exact replica of "Number One".[27] The last guitar that Vaughan played before his death is on display in the Hard Rock Cafe in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

In 1994, the city of Austin erected the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue at Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake, the site of a number of Vaughan's concerts. It has become one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.[28]

Since 1998, St. Louis has hosted an annual Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute Concert around Thanksgiving featuring local musicians. [29]

In 2000, Stevie Ray Vaughan was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Stevie Ray Vaughan became eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.[30]

In November 2007, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation released a second tribute to Vaughan, an exact replica of his second beloved guitar, Lenny. This guitar was given to him by his wife Lenora ("Lenny") on his 26th birthday. According to Fender, the original Lenny was a 1965 Strat that he saw in the window of a pawn shop that he was unable to afford. The guitar is sold with a strap, a case with Vaughan's name embroidered in the fabric lining, a number of brochures and memorabilia and a leather bound certificate of authenticity.

In 2008, residents voted to rename Dallas' Industrial Boulevard, with Vaughan's name being one of the finalists alongside Stanley Marcus, Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Cesar Chavez.[31]

Influences and style

Vaughan's guitar style was influenced by many blues guitarists, foremost among them Albert King. Other influences included Otis Rush, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jimi Hendrix. He was also strongly influenced by fast-picking early blues-rock guitarist Lonnie Mack, who, according to Vaughan, "really taught me to play guitar from the heart".[32] Vaughan, who had been inspired by Mack—the first record he bought was Mack's "Wham" (1963)-- [21] produced and played on Mack's 1985 Alligator Records album Strike Like Lightning[33] and covered "Wham!". Vaughan's older brother Jimmie Vaughan has stated that Johnny "Guitar" Watson was the guitarist he and Vaughan studied the most. Vaughan also cited his brother as an influence.

Vaughan's sound and playing style, which often incorporated simultaneous lead and rhythm parts, drew comparisons to Hendrix. Vaughan covered several Hendrix tunes on his studio albums and in performance, such as "Little Wing", "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", and "Third Stone from the Sun." He was also heavily influenced by Freddie King,[34] another Texas bluesman, mainly in the use of turnarounds. Another stylistic influence was Albert Collins.[35] Vaughan also took considerable influence from jazz guitarists such as Kenny Burrell.[36]

Musical equipment

For guitars and other equipment, see Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitars

Guitars

His main guitar was a beat-up 1963 Fender Stratocaster ("the most famous battered Strat in rock history"[23]) he dubbed Number One, which he referred to as a '59.[37] All of his other main guitars were vintage Strats or Strat-style guitars.

Amplifiers

Vaughan favored Fender[38] and Marshall amplifiers.[23]

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards and Nominations

Austin Music Awards

Radio/Print Awards

Other awards

Discography

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Grammy Nominees". http://www.grammy.com/nominees. 
  2. ↑ Bluepower.com, Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  3. ↑ Dicaire, David (2002). More blues singers: biographies of 50 artists from the later 20th century. North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 128. ISBN 978-0-7864-1035-4. http://books.google.com/?id=3E3pGRLc1L8C&pg=PA128&dq=stevie+ray+influences&q=stevie%20ray%20influences. 
  4. ↑ "Fender Products: Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster". http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0109200800. 
  5. ↑ "The Stevie Ray Vaughan "Lenny" Stratocaster Guitar". http://www.fender.com/features/lenny/. 
  6. ↑ NTSB (11 September 1992). "Helicopter Crash Press Release". Press release. http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X23968&key=1. Retrieved 7 May 2010. 
  7. ↑ "Past Hall of Fame Inductees". http://www.blues.org/#ref=halloffame_inductees. 
  8. ↑ "Past Blues Music Awards". http://www.blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_pastyears. 
  9. ↑ "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone (New York City: Jann Wenner). 2003. http://www.rollingstone.com/cms/home/music/page4541.html/tpl.rsRss. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  10. ↑ Classic Rock (London: Future Publishing). 7 March 2007. 
  11. ↑ "Mrs. Martha Jean Vaughan 1928–2009 – Obituary – Tributes.com". 2010. http://www.tributes.com/show/Martha-Vaughan-86145240. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  12. ↑ "Jimmie Vaughan 1921–1986 – Obituary – Tributes.com". 2010. http://www.tributes.com/show/Jimmie-Vaughan-56595332. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  13. ↑ Dickerson, James (2004). The fabulous Vaughan Brothers: Jimmie and Stevie Ray. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. pp. 2. ISBN 978-1-58979-116-9. http://books.google.com/?id=NrAOD3qhANAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=stevie+ray&q. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Dickerson, James (2004). The fabulous Vaughan Brothers: Jimmie and Stevie Ray. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. pp. 7. ISBN 978-1-58979-116-9. http://books.google.com/?id=NrAOD3qhANAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=stevie+ray&q. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Joseph, Frank (September 1983). Guitar world presents Stevie Ray Vaughan: from the pages of Guitar World. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. pp. 17. ISBN 0793580803. http://books.google.com/?id=Mf6L5Q3_62IC&pg=PT22. 
  16. ↑ Patoski, Joe Nick; Bill Crawford (1993). Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316160681. 
  17. ↑ "Kimball High School, Oak Cliff, Dallas, TX". http://www.oakcliff.com/Justin_F_Kimball_High_School_Dallas.html. 
  18. ↑ Dickerson, James (2002). The fabulous Vaughan Brothers: Jimmie and Stevie Ray. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. pp. 22. ISBN 9781589791169. http://books.google.com/?id=NrAOD3qhANAC&pg=PA22&dq=stevie+ray+nightcrawlers&q=stevie%20ray%20nightcrawlers. 
  19. ↑ "Welcome to Marc Benno.com". http://www.marcbenno.com/news.html. 
  20. ↑ Dickerson, James (2002). The fabulous Vaughan Brothers: Jimmie and Stevie Ray. Dallas: Taylor Publishing. pp. 23. ISBN 9781589791169. http://books.google.com/?id=NrAOD3qhANAC&pg=PA22&dq=stevie+ray+nightcrawlers&q=stevie%20ray%20nightcrawlers. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Guitar World, August 2000.
  22. ↑ Gulla, Bob (2009). Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History. Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 227. ISBN 9780313358067. http://books.google.com/?id=DL3I9qQWdeAC&pg=PA227&dq=stevie+ray+danceteria&q=stevie%20ray%20danceteria. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Gregory, Hugh (2003). Roadhouse blues: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas R&B. Hal Leonard. pp. 124–25. ISBN 9780879307479. http://books.google.com/?id=iWkzJssSXcEC&pg=PA124. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Gulla, Bob (2008). Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History. ABC-CLIO. pp. 230. ISBN 9780313358067. http://books.google.com/?id=DL3I9qQWdeAC&pg=PA230#v=onepage&q. 
  25. ↑ Crossfire, pp. 263–64
  26. ↑ Stevie Ray Vaughan Remembrance Ride & Concert.
  27. ↑ StevieRay.com – Fender.
  28. ↑ Austin Art in Public Places Tour - Central.
  29. ↑ SRV Tribute
  30. ↑ Future Rock Hall entry for Stevie Ray Vaughan.
  31. ↑ "Stanley Marcus, Stevie Ray Vaughan make Industrial Boulevard list"
  32. ↑ Davis, History of the Blues, DaCapo 2003, p. 246.
  33. ↑ "Strike Like Lightning". http://www.answers.com/topic/strike-like-lightning. 
  34. ↑ Guitar Player, October 1984.
  35. ↑ Milkowski, Bill. "Resurrection", Guitar World Guitar Legends, Fall 1992.
  36. ↑ Rubin, Dave (2007). Inside the Blues, 1942 to 1982. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 165. ISBN 142341666X. http://books.google.com/?id=0amzAiwBmOcC&pg=PA165&dq=stevie+ray+kenny+burrell&q=stevie%20ray%20kenny%20burrell. 
  37. ↑ Kitts, Jeff (1997). Guitar world presents Stevie Ray Vaughan: ... from the pages of Guitar World magazine. Hal Leonard. pp. 102–110. ISBN 9780793580804. http://books.google.com/books?id=Mf6L5Q3_62IC&pg=PT110. Retrieved 4 March 2010. 
  38. ↑ Buchholz, Brad (28 january 1992). "You can own a guitar like Stevie Ray's". The Dallas Morning News. 
  39. ↑ Crossfire, p. 204
  40. ↑ Crossfire, p. 228
  41. ↑ 41.00 41.01 41.02 41.03 41.04 41.05 41.06 41.07 41.08 41.09 41.10 41.11 41.12 41.13 "Austin Music Awards: Stevie Ray Vaughan, 12 Awards". The Austin Chronicle. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Awards/MusicAwards?searchWord=stevie%20ray%20vaughan&winner=oid%3A305815. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.5 42.6 42.7 42.8 42.9 [1].

References

External links

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Stevie Ray Vaughan • Tommy Shannon • Chris Layton • Reese Wynans
Studio albums
Texas Flood • Couldn't Stand the Weather • Soul to Soul • In Step • Family Style (w/ Jimmie Vaughan) • The Sky Is Crying
Live albums
Live Alive • In the Beginning • Live at Carnegie Hall • Live At Montreux 1982 and 1985 • Live in Tokyo
Compilations
The Real Deal: Greatest Hits Volume 2 • The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Videos
Pride and Joy • Live at the El Mocambo • Live from Austin, Texas • Live at Montreux: 1982 & 1985 • A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan
Tours
Texas Flood Tour • Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour • First Tour of Australia • Japan Tour 1985 • Soul to Soul Tour • European Tour 1986 • Live Alive Tour • In Step Tour • The Fire Meets the Fury Tour
Original songs
"Crossfire" • "Lenny" • "Love Struck Baby" • "Pride and Joy" • "Rude Mood" • "Say What!"
Cover songs
"Texas Flood" • "Come On, Pt. 3" • "Little Wing" • "Testify" • "Superstition" • "The Things (That) I Used to Do" • "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" • "The Sky Is Crying"
Related articles
Discography • Double Trouble • Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature Stratocaster • SRV guitars • Jimmie Vaughan