Stevie Ray Vaughan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stevie Ray Vaughan
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Vaughan performing at the Ritz Theater in Austin, Texas, March 1983
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| Born |
Stephen Ray Vaughan
October 3, 1954 Dallas, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | August 27, 1990 (aged 35) East Troy, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Helicopter crash |
| Resting place | Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas |
| Other names | Stevie Vaughan |
| Education | Justin F. Kimball High School |
| Occupation | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Spouse(s) |
Lenora Bailey
(m. 1979; div. 1988) |
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| Relatives | Jimmie Vaughan (brother) |
| Awards | List of awards and nominations |
| Musical career | |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1965–1990 |
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Stephen Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American musician. He was famous as the guitarist and leader of the blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Even though his main career lasted only seven years, he is seen as one of the most important musicians in blues music history. Many also call him one of the greatest guitarists ever. He was the younger brother of guitarist Jimmie Vaughan.
Stevie Ray Vaughan was born and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He started playing guitar at age seven. His older brother, Jimmie Vaughan, first inspired him. In 1972, he left high school and moved to Austin. There, he became known by playing at local clubs. In 1978, Vaughan joined Tommy Shannon on bass and Chris Layton on drums. They formed Double Trouble. The band became very popular in the Austin music scene and across Texas.
In 1982, he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival. There, David Bowie saw him perform. Bowie asked Vaughan to play guitar on his 1983 album, Let's Dance. Later, producer John Hammond helped Vaughan and his band sign with Epic Records. Within months, their first album, Texas Flood, became a big hit. Vaughan became a leading figure in the blues revival of the 1980s. He was known for playing guitar behind his back or with his teeth, like Jimi Hendrix. This helped other guitarists like Robert Cray and Jeff Healey become famous too.
His fourth and last studio album, In Step, came out in 1989. It reached number 33 in the United States. This album was one of his most successful. It included his only number-one hit, "Crossfire". He became one of the most requested blues performers worldwide. He played at famous places like Madison Square Garden in 1989.
On August 27, 1990, Vaughan and four others died in a helicopter crash. This happened in East Troy, Wisconsin, after a show with Double Trouble. An investigation found the crash was due to pilot error. Vaughan's music continued to be very popular after his death. He has sold over 15 million albums in the U.S. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named him the seventh greatest guitarist of all time. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. His Double Trouble bandmates, Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon, and Reese Wynans, were also inducted.
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Stevie Ray Vaughan's Early Life
Vaughan's family had lived in Rockwall County, Texas. His grandfather, Thomas Lee Vaughan, was a sharecropper. Stevie's father, Jimmie Lee Vaughan, was born in 1921. He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he married Martha Jean Cook. They had a son, Jimmie, in 1951. Stevie was born on October 3, 1954, in Dallas. His father worked with asbestos. The family moved often, living in different states before settling in Dallas.
First Instruments and Learning Guitar
In the early 1960s, Stevie looked up to his brother Jimmie. He tried playing drums and saxophone. For his seventh birthday in 1961, Vaughan got his first guitar. It was a toy guitar from Sears. He learned by listening to songs. He especially liked "Wine, Wine, Wine" and "Thunderbird" by the Nightcaps. He listened to blues artists like Albert King and Muddy Waters. He also liked rock guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix.
In 1963, he got his first electric guitar. It was a Gibson ES-125T, passed down from Jimmie. Soon after, in 1965, Vaughan joined his first band, the Chantones. Their first show was a talent contest in Dallas. Vaughan later joined the Brooklyn Underground. He played professionally in local bars and clubs. He traded Jimmie's Fender Broadcaster for an Epiphone Riviera. When Jimmie left home at 16, Stevie's parents did not support his guitar playing. He was unhappy at home. He took a job washing dishes at a hamburger stand. He soon quit to focus on music.
Stevie Ray Vaughan's Music Career
Starting Out
In May 1969, Vaughan joined a band called the Southern Distributor. He played the Yardbirds' "Jeff's Boogie" at his audition. The drummer, Mike Steinbach, said: "The kid was fourteen. We auditioned him on 'Jeff's Boogie,' really fast instrumental guitar, and he played it note for note." The band mostly played pop rock songs. Vaughan wanted to add blues songs. He was told he could not make a living playing blues. So, he left the band. Later that year, bassist Tommy Shannon heard Vaughan play. He was amazed by Stevie's skill. They started playing together in a band called Krackerjack.
In February 1970, Vaughan joined Liberation, a nine-piece band. He had first tried out as a bassist. But the original guitarist, Scott Phares, was so impressed by Vaughan's guitar playing that he became the bassist instead. In mid-1970, they played at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. ZZ Top asked them to perform. Vaughan jammed with ZZ Top on "Thunderbird." Phares said, "they tore the house down. It was awesome. It was one of those magical evenings. Stevie fit in like a glove on a hand."
Vaughan went to Justin F. Kimball High School. His late-night shows made him miss schoolwork. He often slept in class. Many school staff did not like his focus on music. But his art teacher encouraged him to follow an art career. In his second year, he took an experimental art class. He left it when it interfered with band practice. Vaughan did not like school. He remembered getting daily notes from the principal about his appearance.
First Recordings and Moving to Austin
In September 1970, Vaughan made his first studio recordings. He was with the band Cast of Thousands. They recorded two songs for a compilation album called A New Hi. In early 1971, Vaughan felt limited by playing pop songs. He formed his own band, Blackbird. He grew tired of the Dallas music scene. He left school and moved with his band to Austin, Texas. Austin had more open-minded audiences. Blackbird played in several Austin clubs. They opened for bands like Sugarloaf. But they could not keep a steady band lineup. In December 1972, Vaughan left Blackbird and joined Krackerjack for a short time.
In March 1973, Vaughan joined Marc Benno's band, the Nightcrawlers. The band included singer Doyle Bramhall. The next month, the Nightcrawlers recorded an album in Hollywood. The album was not released. But it had Vaughan's first songs, "Dirty Pool" and "Crawlin'." Vaughan and the Nightcrawlers went back to Austin without Benno. In mid-1973, they signed with Bill Ham, ZZ Top's manager. They played many shows across the Southern United States. Many were not successful. Ham left the band stranded in Mississippi.
In 1975, Vaughan joined Paul Ray and the Cobras. This band had guitarist Denny Freeman. For two and a half years, he played weekly at the Soap Creek Saloon. He also played at Antone's, known as Austin's "home of the blues." In late 1976, they recorded a single. Vaughan played guitar on both sides. In March, readers of the Austin Sun voted them Band of the Year. Vaughan also jammed with many of his heroes at Antone's. These included Buddy Guy and Albert King.
Vaughan toured with the Cobras in 1977. But in September, they wanted to play more mainstream music. Vaughan left and formed Triple Threat Revue. This band had singer Lou Ann Barton, bassist W. C. Clark, and drummer Fredde "Pharaoh" Walden. In January 1978, they recorded four songs in Austin. This is the only known studio recording of the band.
Forming Double Trouble
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In May 1978, Clark left the band. Vaughan renamed the group Double Trouble. The name came from an Otis Rush song. After bassist Jackie Newhouse joined, Walden quit. Chris Layton became the new drummer. Vaughan taught Layton to play a shuffle rhythm. Layton agreed to join. In July, Vaughan met Lenora Bailey, known as "Lenny." She became his girlfriend and later his wife.
In October 1978, Double Trouble started playing regularly at the Rome Inn in Austin. Edi Johnson, an accountant, saw Vaughan play. She told Manor Downs owner Frances Carr and general manager Chesley Millikin about him. Millikin was interested in managing artists. After Lou Ann Barton left the band in November 1979, Millikin signed Vaughan to a management contract. Vaughan also hired Robert "Cutter" Brandenburg as road manager. Brandenburg convinced Vaughan to use his middle name, "Stevie Ray," on stage.
In October 1980, bassist Tommy Shannon saw Double Trouble play. Shannon was playing with Alan Haynes. He joined Vaughan and Layton for a jam session. Shannon said, "it was like a revelation. 'That's where I want to be; that's where I belong, right there.'" Almost three months later, Vaughan asked Shannon to join. He quickly said yes.
Montreux Jazz Festival Performance
Double Trouble was popular in Texas but not nationally. Record producer Jerry Wexler suggested them to Claude Nobs, who organized the Montreux Jazz Festival. Nobs agreed to book Double Trouble for July 17, 1982.
Vaughan started with a mix of Freddie King's "Hide Away" and his own song, "Rude Mood". Double Trouble played songs by Larry Davis, Hound Dog Taylor, and Albert Collins. They also played three of their own songs: "Pride and Joy", "Love Struck Baby", and "Dirty Pool". The audience reacted with some boos at the end.
Road manager Don Opperman said Stevie was disappointed. Vaughan later explained, "it wasn't the whole crowd [that booed]. It was just a few people sitting right up front. The room there was built for acoustic jazz. When five or six people boo, wow, it sounds like the whole world hates you." The performance was filmed and later released on DVD in 2004.
The next night, Double Trouble played at the Montreux Casino lounge. Jackson Browne was there. Browne jammed with them and offered them free use of his recording studio in Los Angeles. In November, the band recorded ten songs there in two days. While in the studio, Vaughan got a call from David Bowie. Bowie invited him to play on his new album, Let's Dance. In January 1983, Vaughan recorded guitar on six of the album's eight songs. This included the title track and "China Girl". The album was released in April 1983 and sold many copies.
National Success
In March 1983, Gregg Geller from Epic Records signed Double Trouble. This happened because producer John Hammond recommended them. Epic then funded a music video for "Love Struck Baby." Vaughan remembered, "Four years ago I got married in a club where we used to play all the time called the Rome Inn. When they closed it down, the owner gave me the sign, so in the video we put that up behind me on the stage."
Bowie wanted Vaughan to play on his upcoming Serious Moonlight Tour. But Vaughan left the tour before it started. This was because they could not agree on his payment. Vaughan said, "I couldn't gear everything on something I didn't really care a whole lot about. It was kind of risky, but I really didn't need all the headaches." Even though the reasons were debated, Vaughan gained a lot of attention for leaving the tour.
On May 9, the band played at The Bottom Line in New York City. They opened for Bryan Adams. Many famous people were in the audience, including Mick Jagger and Johnny Winter. The performance was amazing. The New York Post wrote that Double Trouble played better than Adams. They said the stage was "rendered to cinders by the most explosively original showmanship."
Texas Flood Album
Double Trouble used the recordings from Jackson Browne's studio to make their first album. The album, Texas Flood, starts with "Love Struck Baby." Vaughan wrote this song for his wife, Lenny. He wrote "Pride and Joy" and "I'm Cryin'" for a former girlfriend, Lindi Bethel. The album also included Vaughan's cover of Larry Davis' "Texas Flood." This song became strongly linked to him. "Lenny" was a tribute to his wife.
Texas Flood was released on June 13, 1983. It reached number 38 on the charts. It sold half a million copies. Billboard magazine called it "a guitar boogie lovers delight." Agent Alex Hodges said, "No one knew how big that record would be, because guitar players weren't necessarily in vogue... he was one of the few artists that was recouped on every record in a short period of time."
On June 16, Vaughan played a show in Dallas to celebrate the album's release. Many VIPs attended, including Ted Nugent and Sammy Hagar. The The Dallas Morning News praised the performance. After a short tour in Europe, Double Trouble opened for The Moody Blues on a North American tour. Tommy Shannon called the tour "glorious." He said, "Our record hadn't become that successful yet, but we were playing in front of coliseums full of people." The band also appeared on Austin City Limits. They played a sold-out show at New York City's Beacon Theatre. Variety magazine called Vaughan the "guitar hero of the present era."
Couldn't Stand the Weather Album
In January 1984, Double Trouble started recording their second album, Couldn't Stand the Weather. They worked with John Hammond as executive producer. Drummer Chris Layton remembered working with Hammond. He said Hammond was like "a nice hand on your shoulder." During recording, Vaughan's cover of Bob Geddins' "Tin Pan Alley" was recorded. Layton said, "that's the best that song will ever sound."
Vaughan also tried playing with other musicians. Jimmie Vaughan played rhythm guitar on "The Things That I Used to Do" and the title track. Music expert Andy Aledort said Vaughan's guitar playing on the title track had steady rhythms and improvised lead lines. It also had a unique R&B and soul riff.
Couldn't Stand the Weather was released on May 15, 1984. It quickly sold more than Texas Flood. It reached number 31 on the charts. The album included Vaughan's cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". This led to comparisons with Hendrix. AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine said the album "confirmed that the acclaimed debut was no fluke." Authors Joe Nick Patoski and Bill Crawford said the album "was a major turning point in Stevie Ray Vaughan's development." They also said Vaughan's singing got better.
Carnegie Hall Concert
On October 4, 1984, Vaughan played a concert at Carnegie Hall. Many guest musicians joined him. For the second half, he added Jimmie as rhythm guitarist. They also had drummer George Rains, keyboardist Dr. John, and a horn section. Singer Angela Strehli also performed. The group practiced for less than two weeks. The venue sold out, making Vaughan excited and nervous. He calmed down after the third song. The concert raised money for cancer research. The audience of 2,200 people included Vaughan's family and friends. Stephen Holden of The New York Times said the venue became "a whistling, stomping roadhouse."
Hammond introduced Vaughan as "one of the greatest guitar players of all time." Vaughan started with "Scuttle Buttin'." He wore a custom-made mariachi suit. Double Trouble played songs by the Isley Brothers and Jimi Hendrix. They also played their own songs like "Love Struck Baby" and "Couldn't Stand the Weather." For the second half, Vaughan played covers by Larry Davis, Buddy Guy, and Albert King. The show ended with Vaughan playing "Lenny" and "Rude Mood" by himself.
The concert was recorded. It was later released as a live album, Live at Carnegie Hall, in 1997. It was certified gold. After the concert, Vaughan went to a private party. The next day, Double Trouble signed autographs for fans. In late October 1984, the band toured Australia and New Zealand. They played sold-out concerts at the Sydney Opera House. They also appeared on Australian TV. After returning to the U.S., they toured California. Vaughan and Lenny then vacationed in Saint Croix. The next month, Double Trouble went to Japan for five shows.
Soul to Soul Album
In March 1985, Double Trouble started recording their third album, Soul to Soul. Vaughan felt frustrated because he lacked new ideas. He wanted to add more to the band's sound. So, he hired keyboardist Reese Wynans to play on the album. Wynans soon joined the band.
During the album's creation, Vaughan played at the Houston Astrodome on April 10, 1985. He played a slide guitar version of the U.S. national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". Some people booed his performance. Vaughan did not like comparisons to Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock performance. He said, "His version was great."
Soul to Soul was released on September 30, 1985. It reached number 34 on the charts. It was eventually certified gold. Critic Jimmy Guterman of Rolling Stone wondered if the band was running out of ideas. Vaughan said, "as far as what's on there song-wise, I like the album a lot. It meant a lot to us what we went through to get this record."
Live Alive Album
After touring for nine and a half months, Epic Records asked Double Trouble for a fourth album. In July 1986, Vaughan decided to record a live album, Live Alive. They used recordings from three concerts in Austin and Dallas. On July 17 and 18, the band played sold-out shows at the Austin Opera House. On July 19, they played at the Dallas Starfest. Vaughan produced the album himself. Tommy Shannon felt that Vaughan and he were "headed for a brick wall." Guitarist Denny Freeman called the shows "a musical mess." Wynans said, "Things were getting illogical and crazy."
The Live Alive album was released on November 17, 1986. It was the only official live Double Trouble album released while Vaughan was alive. It did not appear on the Billboard 200 chart. Many critics said most of the album was overdubbed. Vaughan later admitted it was not his best work. He said, "I wasn't in very good shape when we recorded Live Alive... There were more fix-it jobs done on the album than I would have liked."
Live Alive Tour
In November 1986, after a period of recovery, Vaughan moved back to his mother's house in Dallas. Double Trouble began practicing for the Live Alive tour. Vaughan was worried about performing after getting sober. But he received positive support. Wynans said, "Stevie was real worried about playing after he'd gotten sober... Once we got back out on the road, he was very inspired and motivated." The tour started on November 23. On December 31, 1986, they played a concert in Atlanta with Lonnie Mack.
As the tour continued, Vaughan wanted to work on new music. But in January 1987, he filed for divorce. This stopped him from writing and recording for almost two years. Double Trouble wrote the song "Crossfire" with Bill Carter and Ruth Ellsworth. Layton remembered, "We wrote the music, and they had to write the lyrics. We had just gotten together; Stevie was unable to be there at that time." On August 6, 1987, Double Trouble played at the Austin Aqua Festival. About 20,000 people attended. After opening for Robert Plant in May 1988, the band toured Europe. This was Vaughan's last concert tour in Europe.
In Step Album
After Vaughan's divorce was final, Double Trouble began recording their fourth and last studio album, In Step. They worked with producer Jim Gaines and co-songwriter Doyle Bramhall. Vaughan initially doubted his musical skills. But he gained confidence as they recorded. Shannon said, "In Step was, for him, a big growing experience. In my opinion, it's our best studio album."
Vaughan added horn players Joe Sublett and Darrell Leonard to the album. They played saxophone and trumpet on "Crossfire" and "Love Me Darlin'". Before the album was finished, Vaughan and Double Trouble played at a party for President George H. W. Bush in Washington, D.C.. In Step was released on June 13, 1989. Eight months later, it was certified gold. The album was Vaughan's most successful. It was his first to win a Grammy Award. It reached number 33 on the Billboard 200. "Crossfire" became his only number one hit. The album also featured his first recording using a Fuzz Face pedal on the Howlin' Wolf song, "Love Me Darlin'".
In July 1989, Neil Perry of Sounds magazine wrote about the album. He said the song "Riviera Paradise" showed "just why Vaughan is to the guitar what Nureyev is to ballet." Music journalist Robert Christgau said Vaughan was "writing blues for AA...he escapes the blues undamaged for the first time in his career." In October 1989, the Boca Raton News called Vaughan's guitar solos "determined, clear-headed and downright stinging."
Stevie Ray Vaughan's Death
On Monday, August 27, 1990, at 12:50 a.m., Vaughan and members of Eric Clapton's touring group played a final jam session. This was at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin. They then left for Midway International Airport in a Bell 206B helicopter. This was a common way to leave the venue. The helicopter crashed into a nearby ski hill soon after takeoff. Vaughan and the four other people on board died. These included pilot Jeff Brown, agent Bobby Brooks, bodyguard Nigel Browne, and tour manager Colin Smythe. The helicopter belonged to Omniflight Helicopters. The coroner found that all five died instantly.
Vaughan's funeral was held on August 31, 1990, in Dallas, Texas. His casket was covered with flowers. About 3,000 mourners joined a procession. Many musicians attended, including Jeff Healey, ZZ Top, Stevie Wonder, and Buddy Guy. Vaughan's grave marker says: "Thank you... for all the love you passed our way."
Stevie Ray Vaughan's Musical Style
Vaughan's music came from blues, rock, and jazz. He was influenced by many artists. These included Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, Lonnie Mack, B.B. King, Freddie King, and Muddy Waters. Nightclub owner Clifford Antone said Vaughan jammed with Albert King in 1977. He said it was "the best I've ever saw Albert or the best I ever saw Stevie." Jimi Hendrix was Vaughan's biggest inspiration. He also liked jazz guitarists like Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery.
In 1987, Vaughan listed Lonnie Mack first among guitarists he listened to. Vaughan said Mack was "ahead of his time." He also said, "I got a lot of my fast stuff from Lonnie." Vaughan learned tremolo picking and vibrato from Mack. He said Mack taught him to "play guitar from the heart."
Vaughan's relationship with Johnny Winter was a bit complicated. They met several times and played similar music. But Vaughan often did not mention Winter in interviews. Winter said he was upset when Vaughan said he never met him. Winter wrote in his biography, "We even played together over at Tommy Shannon's house one time." Vaughan cleared this up in 1988. He said he was misquoted. He explained that "Every musician in Texas knows Johnny and has learned something from him."
Stevie Ray Vaughan's Equipment
Guitars
Vaughan owned and used many guitars. His favorite was a Fender Stratocaster. It had a 1963 body, a 1962 neck, and 1959 pickups. This is why he called it a "1959 Strat." He liked its strong sound. He called this guitar his "first wife" or "Number One." Another favorite was a Strat he named 'Lenny' after his wife. In 1980, Lenny and friends bought him this 1965 Stratocaster. It had been repainted red. That night, he wrote the song "Lenny." Vaughan mostly used Stratocasters for shows and recordings. But he also played other guitars.
One custom guitar, called "Main," was built by James Hamilton. It was a gift from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Hamilton built it in 1979. Vaughan received it on April 29, 1984. Hamilton remembered Vaughan was so happy. He played it that night at a festival. It became one of his main guitars. Vaughan changed the knobs to white Fender ones. The pickups were replaced after the guitar was used in the "Couldn't Stand the Weather" video. The guitar got wet and the pickups were ruined.
Vaughan bought many Stratocasters. He gave some away as gifts. He gave a sunburst Diplomat Strat-style guitar to his girlfriend Janna Lapidus. Vaughan used very heavy guitar strings. They were tuned a half-step lower than normal. Because of these heavy strings and his fast playing, his fingernails sometimes split. He would use super glue to fix them during shows. His guitar technician, Rene Martinez, suggested lighter strings. Vaughan liked guitar necks that were thicker at the top. This made it easier for his thumb-over playing style. He used the vibrato bar a lot. So, his roadie often got custom stainless steel bars. Vaughan preferred Fender medium guitar picks. He used the rounder side of the pick.
Vaughan was also seen playing a Rickenbacker Capri, a National Duolian, and a Gibson Flying V. He used a Gibson Johnny Smith to record "Stang's Swang." He used a Guild 12-string acoustic for his performance on MTV Unplugged in 1990. On June 24, 2004, his "Lenny" Stratocaster was sold at auction for $623,500. The money went to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Centre.
Amplifiers and Effects
Vaughan helped bring back old amplifiers and effects in the 1980s. His loud playing needed strong amplifiers. He used two black-face Fender Super Reverbs. These helped create his clear, overdriven sound. He often mixed other amps with the Super Reverbs. These included Fender Vibroverbs, Dumble, and Marshall amps. He used the Marshall amps for his clean sound.
His main effects were an Ibanez Tube Screamer and a Vox wah-wah pedal. But Vaughan tried many other effects. He used a Fender Vibratone. This made a warbling sound. You can hear it on the song "Cold Shot." He used a vintage Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face pedal on In Step. He also used an Octavia. The Guitar Geek website shows details of Vaughan's 1985 equipment. This information came from interviews with his guitar tech, Cesar Diaz.
Stevie Ray Vaughan's Legacy
Stevie Ray Vaughan helped bring back blues rock. He opened the way for many other artists. His music still influences many blues, rock, and alternative artists. These include John Mayer, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Los Lonely Boys. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Vaughan "the leading light in American blues." He said Vaughan developed "a uniquely eclectic and fiery style." In 1983, Variety magazine called Vaughan the "guitar hero of the present era."
In the months after his death, Vaughan sold over 5.5 million albums in the United States. On September 25, 1990, Epic Records released Family Style. This was an album the Vaughan brothers made together. Sony made a deal with Vaughan's family. They gained control of his music. They could release new albums with unreleased songs. On October 29, 1991, The Sky Is Crying was released. This was Vaughan's first album released after his death. It had studio recordings from 1984 to 1985. Other collections, live albums, and films have also been released since he passed away.
On October 3, 1991, Texas governor Ann Richards declared "Stevie Ray Vaughan Commemoration Day." A memorial concert was held in Dallas. In 1993, a statue of Vaughan was put up in Austin. It was the first public monument of a musician in Austin. In September 1994, a Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Run for Recovery was held in Dallas. In 1993, Martha Vaughan started the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Scholarship Fund. This helps students who want to go to college and study the arts.
Awards and Honors
Vaughan won five W. C. Handy Awards. He was added to the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1985, he was named an honorary admiral in the Texas Navy. Vaughan had one number-one hit on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for "Crossfire." His album sales in the U.S. are over 15 million units. Family Style, released after his death, won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 1991. It became his best-selling album that was not with Double Trouble. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked him seventh among the "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time." He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, along with Double Trouble. Guitar World magazine ranked him Number One on its list of the greatest blues guitarists.
In 1994, the city of Austin, Texas, built the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial. It is on the hiking trail next to Lady Bird Lake.
Stevie Ray Vaughan's Albums
- Texas Flood (1983)
- Couldn't Stand the Weather (1984)
- Soul to Soul (1985)
- In Step (1989)
- Family Style (1990)
- The Sky Is Crying (1991)
Images for kids
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Vaughan's great-grandfather, Robert Hodgen LaRue, around the 1900s.
See also
In Spanish: Stevie Ray Vaughan para niños
- 1980s in music
- List of blues rock musicians
- List of electric blues musicians
- List of guitarists
- List of Texas blues musicians
- Music of Austin, Texas
- Music of Texas
