Stevie Ray Vaughan was born on October 3, 1954 to father Big Jim,
mother Martha, and big brother Jimmy.
His blistering guitar playing breathed life back into the blues.
Stevie Ray Vaughan fused blazing technique with deep soul, and
the genuineness and passion of his music moved millions. It
nearly saved his life.
Emerging from the hotbed of Texas blues, Stevie Ray developed his
unique style early on. Fueled by alcohol and drugs, he lived
at a fever pitch that nearly destroyed him. In his final years, Stevie Ray mustered the courage to overcome his addictions.
His death in a freak helicopter crash in August of 1990 silenced
one of the great musical talents of our time.
--Joe Nick Patoski and Bill Crawford
Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Cross Fire
How Stevie Changed Our Lives
I remember when I first heard Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was a tape
of "In Step" that my aunt gave me. I had been playing
classic Simon and Garfunkle tunes on my acoustic, and was planning
on getting a 12-string. But as soon as I heard the first notes
of the album, it blew my mind and I knew, I wanted to play the
blues.
I soon got an electric guitar and amplifier and tried to copy
the sound of Stevie. I also, took the opertunity to go further
into the blues, by listening to everything that Stevie sited as
an influence.
For me, Stevie has opened up a whole new world for me, the blues.
Regretfully, his tragic death occurred about the same time
I realized him, and never got the chance to see him play live.
As his music lives on inside of me, his raw passion
draws me to playing blues guitar, and often, can reduce me to
tears. Stevie's music will always be in my soul.
- Hipster Cornboy
Please tell us how Stevie Ray has affected your life.
I realized him, and never got the chance to see him play live.
