Post by rocky on May 1, 2003 18:30:07 GMT -5
Below is Rolling Stones' magazine tribute to the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan, arguably the greatest guitarist who ever lived. Personally I think that Jimi Hendrix holds that honor but Stevie is a very close 2nd. Man was he awesome, we miss ya Stevie, but we'll never forget ya.
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Acclaimed blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was born in Dallas, Texas on October 3, 1954 and began playing guitar at age 11. A poor student, Vaughan dropped out of high school in 1972 and moved to Austin to pursue a career as a professional musician. After performing with several local bands, such as The Nightcrawlers and The Cobras, Vaughan formed his own blues/R&B band in 1976 called the Triple Threat Revue, later named Triple Threat. After the departure of vocalist Lou Ann Barton in 1981, Triple Threat became known as Double Trouble, a moniker taken from the title of an Otis Rush song.
Vaughan's big break came in 1982, when Double Trouble performed at the Montreux Festival in Swtizerland and were "discovered" by David Bowie, who invited Vaughan to perform on his Let's Dance album; Double Trouble subsequently landed a deal with Epic Records. Their 1983 debut album Texas Flood did not make the band an overnight success, but did showcase Vaughan's growing talent and laid the groundwork for his future fame. A favorite with critics, Texas Flood was also nominated for several Grammies. 1984's Couldn't Stand the Weather and 1985's Soul to Soul, both of which went gold, expanded Vaughan's following, even impressing country star Lonnie Mack, who invited Vaughan to produce and play on his 1985 comeback album Strike Like Lightning. With his trademark "SRV" Fender Stratocaster, Vaughan wowed audiences worldwide with a unique guitar tone and technique, picking up yearly Grammy nominations for his showcase instrumentals.
Despite his growing reputation as an amazing guitarist, Vaughan struggled with personal difficulties during the mid-'80s. Long addicted to drugs and alcohol, Vaughan entered anAtlanta rehabilitation clinic in 1986 after collapsing on stage while on tour in Germany.The following year Vaughan divorced his wife of many years. With his problems finally behind him, Vaughan began to concentrate once again on his music,appearing as himself in the 1987 movie Back to the Beach, dueting with legendary surf rocker thingy Dale. In 1988 Vaughan performed an acoustic set on MTV; the followingyear he released Double Trouble's fifth album, In Step, touring with fellow guitar legend Jeff Beck. Vaughan went on to win a Grammy for In Step, and scored a No. 1 AOR radio hit with "Crossfire." By early 1990 Vaughan had released another album, Family Style, recorded with his older brother Jimmie, and won two more Grammys in Rock and Blues categories. A two month co-headlining tour with '60s rocker Joe thingyer followed, after which Double Trouble began its own headlining tour.
After an August 27, 1990 performance with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray at Alpine Valley, in southern Wisconsin, Vaughan left for Chicago via helicopter. The packed chopper slammed into a hill during bad weather, and Vaughan and four otherpassengers were killed instantly. After his tragic death, Vaughan's fame only grew, as, like Jimi Hendrix before him, he posthumously became an immortal "guitar god," admired for his technical skill and innovative style. New Stevie Ray Vaughan material continues to be released, periodically reminding the public of the rare talent that was lost.
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Here is a little poem penned by his grief stricken uncle Joe Boy Cook:
I hear a blues riff in the still of the night.
Is that you little boy blues?
Your cross was found on some faraway hill,
They say where wild flowers grow.
Are you up there somewhere playing your blues?
Oh Lord I think I know . . .
Stevie Ray Vaughan-RIP
www.staticfiends.com/
................................................................
Acclaimed blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was born in Dallas, Texas on October 3, 1954 and began playing guitar at age 11. A poor student, Vaughan dropped out of high school in 1972 and moved to Austin to pursue a career as a professional musician. After performing with several local bands, such as The Nightcrawlers and The Cobras, Vaughan formed his own blues/R&B band in 1976 called the Triple Threat Revue, later named Triple Threat. After the departure of vocalist Lou Ann Barton in 1981, Triple Threat became known as Double Trouble, a moniker taken from the title of an Otis Rush song.
Vaughan's big break came in 1982, when Double Trouble performed at the Montreux Festival in Swtizerland and were "discovered" by David Bowie, who invited Vaughan to perform on his Let's Dance album; Double Trouble subsequently landed a deal with Epic Records. Their 1983 debut album Texas Flood did not make the band an overnight success, but did showcase Vaughan's growing talent and laid the groundwork for his future fame. A favorite with critics, Texas Flood was also nominated for several Grammies. 1984's Couldn't Stand the Weather and 1985's Soul to Soul, both of which went gold, expanded Vaughan's following, even impressing country star Lonnie Mack, who invited Vaughan to produce and play on his 1985 comeback album Strike Like Lightning. With his trademark "SRV" Fender Stratocaster, Vaughan wowed audiences worldwide with a unique guitar tone and technique, picking up yearly Grammy nominations for his showcase instrumentals.
Despite his growing reputation as an amazing guitarist, Vaughan struggled with personal difficulties during the mid-'80s. Long addicted to drugs and alcohol, Vaughan entered anAtlanta rehabilitation clinic in 1986 after collapsing on stage while on tour in Germany.The following year Vaughan divorced his wife of many years. With his problems finally behind him, Vaughan began to concentrate once again on his music,appearing as himself in the 1987 movie Back to the Beach, dueting with legendary surf rocker thingy Dale. In 1988 Vaughan performed an acoustic set on MTV; the followingyear he released Double Trouble's fifth album, In Step, touring with fellow guitar legend Jeff Beck. Vaughan went on to win a Grammy for In Step, and scored a No. 1 AOR radio hit with "Crossfire." By early 1990 Vaughan had released another album, Family Style, recorded with his older brother Jimmie, and won two more Grammys in Rock and Blues categories. A two month co-headlining tour with '60s rocker Joe thingyer followed, after which Double Trouble began its own headlining tour.
After an August 27, 1990 performance with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray at Alpine Valley, in southern Wisconsin, Vaughan left for Chicago via helicopter. The packed chopper slammed into a hill during bad weather, and Vaughan and four otherpassengers were killed instantly. After his tragic death, Vaughan's fame only grew, as, like Jimi Hendrix before him, he posthumously became an immortal "guitar god," admired for his technical skill and innovative style. New Stevie Ray Vaughan material continues to be released, periodically reminding the public of the rare talent that was lost.
...................................................................
Here is a little poem penned by his grief stricken uncle Joe Boy Cook:
I hear a blues riff in the still of the night.
Is that you little boy blues?
Your cross was found on some faraway hill,
They say where wild flowers grow.
Are you up there somewhere playing your blues?
Oh Lord I think I know . . .
Stevie Ray Vaughan-RIP
www.staticfiends.com/