The History Of: Stevie Ray Vaughan. Part 1

“Something of a legend”, says Rolling Stones magazine, who recently named Stevie Ray Vaughan one of the top 10 guitarists in rock history.

“His playing reached out to you. He wasn't so concerned with technique and flash, but at the same time, he had it by the truckload. He never let technique rule his heart; he always played directly what was on his mind", says Steve Vai.

“As a guitar player, he had an incredible signature tone and an extreme intensity. He played one of the most difficult guitars to play - the Fender Stratocaster - and he played with really heavy strings.”, says Joe Satriani.

“It was an honor to have him do [my] tunes, because just like I went to Muddy Waters and paid tribute to him, everyone pays tribute to someone they admired a lot. Music is handed down to the next generation”, says BB King.

Austin’s favorite son was born in Dallas, Texas, on 3 October 1954 at the Methodist Hospital. During his childhood, Stevie would be inspired into guitar playing by his older brother, Jimmie (b.1951), which eventually landed him his first guitar in 1964, a plastic toy from Sears, the same year Jimmie also received his first. When he was in junior high school, he began playing in a number of garage bands, which occasionally landed gigs in local nightclubs. It was in 1965 when a friend of Jimmie’s, called Doyle Bramhall was impressed at Stevie’s guitar talent at age 11, who encouraged him to keep on playing – “He was the first one that ever told me I was good."

However, in 1965, parents of Stevie and Jimmie, Jimmie and Martha Vaughan, tried to put a stop to their sons musical careers after being alarmed by their indulgences with such drugs and alcohol. The result saw the moving of Jimmie with Doyle Bramhall in an apartment. At home, Stevie’s life couldn’t have been more terrible. He was severely restricted from his musical activities leaving him bored and unhappy. An attempt at life outside saw Stevie working as a dishwasher in a Dallas burger joint called Dairy Mart, where he made his final decision: to quit and play guitar after falling in a barrel full of grease – "Part of my job was to clean out the trash bins. One night, I was standing on top of a barrel, [and] the top caved in. I fell in grease up to [my chest], and right then I decided 'I'm not gonna do this anymore. I'm gonna play guitar."

Leaving school at the age of 17, Stevie sat in with a high school band called Cast Of Thousands for two songs as they record an album called A New Hi. The following year (1972), Stevie joined a rock band called Krackerjack but quit after the lead singer wanted them to wear face paint on stage. Soon, Stevie would find himself in a major band (Double Trouble) with bassist Tommy Shannon from Krackerjack.

In 1973, Marc Benno invited Stevie to record in his band called the Nightcrawlers, which featured Doyle Bramhall. The Nightcrawlers were almost successful until their record label A&M decided not to release the record. Disappointed, the band traveled back to Texas. On his way back home, Stevie purchased a battered '59 Stratocaster in Ray's Music Exchange in Austin. He named it "Number One" or “First Wife” and this becomes his favorite guitar for the rest of his life.

Stevie left the Nightcrawlers disappointed, but instead, joined the Cobras with Paul Ray. The Cobras were one of Austin’s popular bands. For the next two and a half years, Stevie played with the Cobras on the Austin Club Circuit, who eventually won “Band Of The Year” on an Austin music poll (1977) (The line-up stars Stevie Ray, W.C. Clark (bass), Lou Ann Barton (vocals), Freddie "Pharoah" Walden (drums), and Mike Kindred (keyboards).

The following year saw the resignation of W.C. Clark, the bands bassists. He was replaced by Jackie Newhouse. For a while. Saxophonist Johnny Reno briefly joined the band. Freddie Walden later quit the band and was later replaced by Chris "Whipper" Layton. Following the departure of Freddie Walden, the band renamed itself Triple Threat. The core of Double Trouble was forming.

In 1980 Lou Ann Barton left Triple Threat to join Roomful Of Blues. Stevie Ray renamed the group Double Trouble. Their big break came in 1980, when they performed at the Steamboat 1874 club in Austin on April 1. This performance was recorded for radio and later released as the 1992 album, “In The Beginning”. On January 2 1981, Tommy Shannon replaces Jackie Newhouse on bass. A taping of a performance at an Austin music festival ended up in the hands of Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones frontman. This taping landed the group a gig to play a semiprivate party for the Rolling Stones at New York's Danceteria on April 22. Almost rising to their peak, the band performed at the Montreux International Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the first unsigned and unrecorded band to do so. This became the bands big break. The reaction was mixed. The album, Live in Montreux features the crowd booing as well as applauding. The band were devastated, yet they met two musicians who loved the bands sound and would have a profound effect on the bands fortunes. One of these musicians was David Bowie, who gave Stevie the guitar spot on his “Let’s Dance” album. The second musician was Jackson Browne, who offered the band free use of his studio. The demo they recorded there became their debut album, “Texas Flood”.

It was nominated for two Grammy awards: "Best Traditional Blues Recording" and "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" (for "Rude Mood"). The band also appeared on the "Austin City Limits" television show. Stevie won three categories in the Guitar Player's Readers Poll: "Best New Talent", "Best Blues Album", and "Best Electric Blues Guitarist" (beating out none other than Eric Clapton!). He became only the second guitarist in history to win three Guitar Player awards in one year (the first was Jeff Beck). Stevie also won the "Best Electric Blues Guitarist" award every year until 1991.

With the release of their debut album and the follow up, “Couldn’t Stand The Weather”, the bands success grew.

Couldn't Stand The Weather is released on May 15. Stevie won his first Grammy: "Best Traditional Blues Recording" for his performance of "Texas Flood" from Montreux (this song appears on Blues Explosion from Atlantic Records). "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" from Couldn't Stand The Weather was nominated for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance". In November, Stevie wins two W.C. Handy National Blues Awards: "Entertainer Of The Year" and "Blues Instrumentalist Of The Year." It was the first time a white person has won either award.

In 1985, 1985 - Keyboard player Reese Wynans joined Double Trouble to record their third album, “Soul To Soul”, which was released on September 30. It became Double Trouble's third straight gold album. Stevie received his fifth Grammy nomination: "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" (for "Say What!" from Soul To Soul). He also produced Lonnie Mack's comeback album Strike Like Lightning and played in several of its songs. On April 10, Stevie played "The Star Spangled Banner" for opening day of the National League baseball season at the Houston Astrodome, where he was booed by the crowd – the booing had a profound effect on Stevie.

However, the success grew with a price. The drugs and the alcohol taken by the band started to take it’s toll. By the time of “Live Alive”, Stevie Ray Vaughan was about to break. In Germany 1986, during a tour in Europe, he began vomiting blood in his hotel room. Later in the tour, at the Hammersmith Palais, he fell off a gangplank when leaving the stage: the rest of the tour was cancelled.

Both Stevie and Tommy checked themselves into rehab and emerged sober. He produced two albums, which proved that he had lost none of his passion: 1989’s “In Step” and 1990’S “Family Style”, with his brother Jimmie. At the end of August in 1990, Stevie and Double Trouble appeared on the bill at two Eric Clapton gigs at Alpine Valley, a ski resort in Wisconsin. After the show, on the 26th, Stevie boarded a helicopter on its way to Chicago. His helicopter never returned. In fog, it had flown into a hillside, killing all those on board: Stevie Ray Vaughan, the pilot and three members of Eric Clapton's entourage.

Stevie’s final resting place was at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas, Texas on August 31. Mourners include Billy Gibbons, Stevie Wonder, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Ringo Starr, and Dr. John. Outside the chapel, more than 3,000 fans gathered to say goodbye.

Thanks for taking the time to read my article. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you. Next time, I shall be writing Stevie Ray Vaughan. Part 2 - his guitars.

GoodNight_AmyLee

Comments

[strider_hein]

decent

[Harmonius]

Sorry about the spelling mistake.

[connerkjc]

I mourn in his death, he was a great man.

[Towllie]

AWSOME good read 5 stars bro

[Cameo]

I mourn in his death, he was a great man.

Actually, he was a horrible guy, just an incredible guitar player.

Very inclusive article.

[thejester]

good history before his success, learned some things. good job

[pavlina]

i've tead this somewhere...someone who can't spell vaughan couldn't have written this article

[Harmonius]

Sorry but I wrote the article dude.

[Harmonius]

Honestly, I only just found him like two weeks ago...never really cared for the spelling of him name which shows I got his name wrong. But he's really inspired me so I decided to write it.

[battleofla]

He wrote this himself just used a few quotes...

Anyway, I don't believe someone can read if they spell it Tead.

Good Article tis the shiznit!

[slash_620]

very intresting.

:golfclap:

cant wait till part 2...

[pavlina]

sorry, if it's yours then great job...it was a nice read. SRV biographies really can't be so different from each other, can they?

[Harmonius]

^ Thanks for that. Nah I don't think so anyway. It's more like a timeline of facts rather than a story if you will.

[Wartoad]

Wow.. this article is pretty damn good, and i havent really heard much of SRV... good job

[Strat_Monkey]

Maybe a little too much detail with all the comings and going of every band member, but I guess it would have been too short without that... maybe should have found some other stuff to put in, but whatever. Good article, 4 stars.

[MisterChainsaw]

5 stars, good job man.

[priest.fan.]

good job, accurate in everything i think

rip SRV

[BMAN12688]

in the next talk you'll discuss his other guitars?? otherrwise, good job! SRV dominates!

[Harmonius]

Thanks you guys. Yeah, I'm going to talk about his several guitars he had, mainly stratocasters like Firstwife (or Number One), Lenny, butter etc...

[hardrock3]

whys the strat such a hard guitar to play(quoting joe satriani) i can understand the .13 guage strings but whats that about?

[hardrock3]

whats with the strat being hard to play?( quoting satch)i can understand the .13 guage strings but whats that about?

[anti-goth]

good article, didnt see much wrong with it, got a few quotes wrong slightly, but thats ok. 5 stars....i like your name too...haha

[stuckin79x]

hella good article learned some things i dident know yeah live at montreux is an awsome 2 concerts

[hardrock3]

oops i wrote the same comment twice

[baron rojo]

i just have a doubt, what happened to mike kindred?

[spoonman017]

How can you like Amy Lee and SRV?

[Tao Burp]

No doubt SRV was a great guitar player and his Hendrix songs are legendary. Interesting note about him falling in grease. I remember the day he died. He was cleaning up his act, and moving ahead with some great stuff. SRV was a powerhouse blues playa! But he couldn't hold a candle to Britney in looks! Ha!

[Valhalla]

Actually, he was a horrible guy, just an incredible guitar player.

Why do you say that, I am lead to believe otherwise.

[hellcat28]

Wonderful Article!

[xXPuremetaLXx]

Great article of one of my idols...he really wuz an awsum guitarist

[clwy87]

awesome guitarists and awesome article for the late guitarist.5 stars. RIP SRV.

[jmizzle]

Great article!! I always love to hear anything about SRV...If I could bring any musician back, it would definitely be him!! RIP Stevie...you were the BEST

[heywood jablowm]

great article goodnite amylee, cant wait for the next one.

[Crzyrckgtrst28]

Actually, he was a horrible guy, just an incredible guitar player.

how is he a bad guy? stevie was a GREAT man. not to mention an unbelievable guitarist.

[Harmonius]

spoonman017:
How can you like Amy Lee and SRV?

Well, I HEART Amy Lee, but my musical influence is all blues.

[Harmonius]

BTW: Thanks for the positive comments

[Shane S.]

Cameo. How the *** do you know he was a horrible guy?He was an amazing guitar player.

[SRVNumberOne]

^ I've read Quotes from david bowie and others saying how great a guy SRV was.

Killer guitar player

RIP

[grayfox21]

Stevie was, in my opinion, the greatest guitarist to ever pick up the guitar. He is the whole reason I started playing, I mourn his death, but he lives on with his music.

[Valhalla]

^ I've read Quotes from david bowie and others saying how great a guy SRV was.

Killer guitar player

Did you read what he did with his "Hat" his favorite hat? Look in the boxset, it tells how he vistited a kid in the hosptital who was dying, and the kid kept saying how he wanted to meet Stevie, so SRV went and talked to him and showed him some stuff on the guitar for a couple of hours, anyhow, he left his hat with the kid, and when the boy died, they burried him with it.

[bloodsheds470]

stevie ray vaughan to me is the best there was, if you read his bio you may find out why i think that. Even though i dont play the same music that he did he is my main inspiration on guitar and is the only person i wish could com back to life. By the way Dimebag was an over rated guitar player and stevie should get more credit then dimebag is getting. I play heavy metal and pantera has no inspiration on my music. Dimebag(RIP). Just had to get that off my chest. STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN(RIP) the best

[Harmonius]

Stevie Ray Vaughan rocks...yes I can spell Vaughan right now...

[Metal Daze]

Cameo: Actually, he was a horrible guy, just an incredible guitar player.

How do you know that? well anyway great article!

[Laser]

He is probably my largest influences, my style is horribly reminescent of his. He was an excellent musician, and if it weren't for him, i would probably be in an Emo band or something.

[lzstratbrat]

hardrock3:whys the strat such a hard guitar to play(quoting joe satriani) i can understand the .13 guage strings but whats that about?
[POSTED: 04 January 2005 - 17:16]|

I play a Strat too, and I wouldn't say it's much more difficult than other guitars I've played. Is Satch talking about tone maybe? What do you think?

[Harmonius]

^^ SRV had nearly impossible action on his stratocaster?

[uNrEaL]

Stevie was, in my opinion, the greatest guitarist to ever pick up the guitar. He is the whole reason I started playing, I mourn his death, but he lives on with his music.

SAME!

[The Pill box]

The action on his strat was as high as he could get it AND he used 13 gauge jazz strings. Can you bend a 13 gauge e string like Stevie could? I doubt it. Strats have very little (about none/ no) neck pitch really, and they also have a very flat neck radius, about 7 I think. And when you compare Stevies strat to those Ibani that Satch uses, of course Satch is gonna say it?s a very difficult guitar to play.

[The Pill box]

By the way Dimebag was an over rated guitar player and stevie should get more credit then dimebag is getting. I play heavy metal and pantera has no inspiration on my music. Dimebag(RIP). Just had to get that off my chest. STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN(RIP) the best

Shut the fuck up dude. Dimebag has just recently passed away, show some respect... Stevie died in an accident over 14 years ago, Darrell was murdered last month. Do you think people will be saying Darrell Abbots name 14 years down the road? I don't, maybe the fans that will never forget, but most people just didn't know who he was. Why did you even mention Dime? I could seriously rant on about this but I wont. Don't mention other guitarist and claim they deserve more credit... because music isn't a competition.

[alexcjalali]

srv was a filthy republican, and frequently had extra marital affairs with centaurs.

[buckethead101]

man i enjoy that story. 5 freakin' stars!!!..

[fingerpkngood]

I can help but wonder how much more great guitar playing the world could have witnessed and listed to if he hadn't died so young. WHY HAVE SO MANY GREAT GUITAR PLAYERS DIED YOUNG???.. I put Stevie #2 on my list...right behind #1 Jimi Hendrix.

[SomeEvilDude]

I'm starting to get heavily into the blues, and have been listening a lot to Hendrix and Clapton, but with the words 'The greatest blues guitarist of his generation' I had to check this guy out :P

Can anybody tell me with what band was Stevie's best?

[wzgy]

double trouble... the backbone, was his best. Montreux and Mocambo. That's all anyone(who knows blues guitar) needs to see to be convinced...

[wzgy]

I can help but wonder how much more great guitar playing the world could have witnessed and listed to if he hadn't died so young. WHY HAVE SO MANY GREAT GUITAR PLAYERS DIED YOUNG???.. I put Stevie #2 on my list...right behind #1 Jimi Hendrix
Amen bro

[MGBGT]

The first song I cried to was Texas Flood. There are very few saints. If he did do wrong by some people, it's for them to judge (and dis) him. Anyone who moved so many people should be remembered for their contribution.

I think his music is a truly great legacy.

[Harmonius]

MGBGT:
The first song I cried to was Texas Flood. There are very few saints. If he did do wrong by some people, it's for them to judge (and dis) him. Anyone who moved so many people should be remembered for their contribution.

I think his music is a truly great legacy.

I agree 100%

Texas Flood is great! I really like Pride and Joy, down, Voodoo chile, slight return (his version), Mary had a little Lamb, Testify...so many great tracks

[SomeEvilDude]

So... did he or Hendrix do the original Voodoo Child? Or are Voodoo Child and Voodoo Chile to different songs? I'm really, really confused right now :S

Um, I think I'm gonna ask a slightly different request... what (in your opinions) are Stevie's best albums?

[Harmonius]

I liked Texas Flood and In Style. Anyway, Voddo child was originally done by Hendrix, and I think the covers are called Vodoo Chile (Slight Return)...I think...not so sure.

[Ahh Shaith]

Good article. And I'm not saying that you don't know what you're talking about...But how did you write an entire article/"timeline" about him and misspell his last name every time? I mean, it's cool and whatnot, I'm just kind of curious. And yes, it's called Voodoo Chile.

spam deleted.

deansouthpaw, first warning.

[i enjoy guitar]

couldn't stand the weatherrrr duh nananana na naaaa nana na

[gryftorsguitar]

he did a ***ing AMAZING version of little wing. 100x better than hendrix's. and about 3 times as long.

[Harmonius]

Um...Redwing_Suck...what SPAM was deleted? Because if it was a negetive comment about my article I still want to know his opinion.

Thanks

[Harmonius]

Oh btw (Ahh Shaith) - I only just recently got into Stevie Ray Vaughan about three months ago because I heard Stevie was Mike McCreadys idol from Pearl Jam (That Even Flow video was Mike's impression of Stevie, if you guys didn't know that). I guess I always spelled his name, Stevie Ray and left out the vaughan bit. I never cared much for his name, just the music. Anyways, thanks for the positive opinion

[DireStraits]

Simply put, I wish more people now played like Stevie did, instead of this power-chord obsessed rack that currently rules the airwaves. I honestly believe that if more people were taht good than the world would be at peace.

[DireStraits]

power-chord obsessed rack

oops, i meant rock, my mistake

[levelwisedallas]

Greatest guitarist ever.

[angelgear]

hey dont worry about the spelling mistake even david bowie got it wrong on his "lets dance" album

[acdc101]

How is the strat the most difficult guitar to play?

[acdc101]

I find it extremely easy to play.

Actually, he was a horrible guy, just an incredible guitar player.

aparently Mozart was a totaly immature petulant asshole does that make him any less great?

I find it extremely easy to play.

dude! Stevie was a bluesman and everybody who likes/plays the blues properly knows it is not about playing difficulty! its about what you feel in your heart and soul when you play,unlike virtuoso music like Vai or Satriani who while brilliant technical player an geniuses at what they do are rather cold and clinical.
go away and listen to some son house bb king or muddy waters you little streak of piss!

[skrappybizkit]

personally, i think he is tied for the greatest guitarist ever, along with jimi and santana!

[a_doo]

his version of little wing is the best guitar in a song ever

[Harmonius]

Did someone correct the spelling of VAUGHAN for me?

[Advilmonkeyman]

If you luv SRV check out a guy by the name of PHILIP SAYCE! He WILL melt your face off!

[LastoBethLammen]

I have heard that SRV was extualy a great guy besides his guitar talent. He once canceled a show becaus BB King was playing before him !! He said BB King is my hero i cant accept he is playing before me he is better then me so i only want to play before him !! i love SRV

[LastoBethLammen]

Soul to Soul owns !!! listen to Gone Home and Look At Little Sister and Aint Gone 'N' Give Up On Love and ofcourse Little Wing . Also Rude Mood Tightrope Pride And Joy Cold Shot Texas Flood Crossfire are great songs please listen them !!! and buy the Album Soul to Soul its great !!!

[StJimmy]

Muy bien dude. Great article, great guitarist.

[Stratojukas]

I wonderered on to this site by accident - Interesting article on SRV but a few errors here and there -- no big deal. I have spent literally years studying SRV's guitar style, mainly because I consider him to be one of the best guitar players ever -- there is no definitive "best" guitar player. Being a guitar player myself since 1969, I appreciate the level at which he was able express himself - few ever reach that level. In the tradition of great blues guitar players/vocalists, SRV was able to ask a question with his voice, and answer it with his guitar. Few did it better than he.

In my humble opinion, "Texas Flood" and "Couldn't Stand The Weather" represent the ultimate in guitar tone, and SRV's crowning achievement, although who knows how he would have evolved had he lived. "In Step" may have offered a glimpse, although I prefer the older sound.

With regards to those questions posted here: A Strat is only hard to play if you were brought up on a Les Paul. A Stratocaster, with its longer scale length of 25.5 inches, as opposed to a Les Paul at 24.75 inches, means the frets are slightly further apart and string tension is a little higher. Yes, if you are used to a Les Paul, it takes some adjustment, especially if you are switching guitars from song to song. Les paul owners (comimg from an SG, LP and Strat owner), you haven't lived until you have owned and used a Stratocaster live.

Jimi was great, but SRV was better. Howlin' Wolf was great, but Jimi was better -- and on and on.

All in all, be thankful we all had the chance to experience SRV -- he was truly out of this world.

[Harmonius]

Stratojukas:
I wonderered on to this site by accident - Interesting article on SRV but a few errors here and there -- no big deal. I have spent literally years studying SRV's guitar style, mainly because I consider him to be one of the best guitar players ever -- there is no definitive "best" guitar player. Being a guitar player myself since 1969, I appreciate the level at which he was able express himself - few ever reach that level. In the tradition of great blues guitar players/vocalists, SRV was able to ask a question with his voice, and answer it with his guitar. Few did it better than he.


In my humble opinion, "Texas Flood" and "Couldn't Stand The Weather" represent the ultimate in guitar tone, and SRV's crowning achievement, although who knows how he would have evolved had he lived. "In Step" may have offered a glimpse, although I prefer the older sound.




With regards to those questions posted here: A Strat is only hard to play if you were brought up on a Les Paul. A Stratocaster, with its longer scale length of 25.5 inches, as opposed to a Les Paul at 24.75 inches, means the frets are slightly further apart and string tension is a little higher. Yes, if you are used to a Les Paul, it takes some adjustment, especially if you are switching guitars from song to song. Les paul owners (comimg from an SG, LP and Strat owner), you haven't lived until you have owned and used a Stratocaster live.




Jimi was great, but SRV was better. Howlin' Wolf was great, but Jimi was better -- and on and on.




All in all, be thankful we all had the chance to experience SRV -- he was truly out of this world.

Great great. What errors did I make?

[shaofu0424]

i wonder what jimi and stevie are cooking on up there... dont worry guys, i wont be late... shao fu

[Harmonius]

?? What?? ^

[_ChAkA_]

shaofu0424:
i wonder what jimi and stevie are cooking on up there... dont worry guys, i wont be late... shao fu

Hehe me too buddy, me too.

That was an awesome article. I learned quite a bit. Very good job.

[Harmonius]

Why thanks you and ,B]you are welcome

[Harmonius]

EDIT: Why thanks you and you are welcome

[Harmonius]

PS: Stevie Ray Vaughan Pt2: His guitars is now active on the UG Contribution forum.

[Codonah]

Nice Collumn. A Great Article For A Legendary Man. A Lot Of Stevie Goes Into My Guitar Playing. May He Rest In Peace.

5 Stars

[Vinura]

Why do all the greats have to die
Bruce Lee
Cliff Burton
Aryton Senna

it just aint right

[Klistrad]

Very good article! 5 stars!

[ZoSo.Led.Zep.]

alexcjalali:
srv was a filthy republican, and frequently had extra marital affairs with centaurs.

hehehe great article dude

[ccntx2]

Does Anyone know how to contact Mike Kindred?

[fat-ass-pidgeon]

Stevie Ray Vaughan was one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was not a bad person. His guitar playing has inspired me along with many other aspring guitarists that i know. Ray Vaughan's musical legacy will live on forever.

[gmsje]

Thanks to Stratojukas for the salient comments on SRV's voice and guitar tone in Texas Flood and Couldn't Stand the Weather. Besides his awesome musicianship, he had a great blues voice. Totally soulful. For me, Cold Shot and Tin Pan Alley are his signature songs. I don't rank either Jimi or Stevie above each other; they're on the same plane, a cut above anyone else. I like to think that Jimi was still seeing and hearing the world through Stevie's eyes and ears.

[DirkH]

Hi AmyLee, great article. I couldn´t find your mailadress. I just wanted to ask if you like to contribute your SRV history to my homepage www.blueslessons.net ?! Please drop me a line!
Dirk ([e-mail])