Stevie Ray Vaughn was born on October 3, 1954, in Dallas Texas. By the age of nine, Stevie began to outshine his older brother Jimmie on guitar. Soon the Vaughn brothers were enjoying healthy competition in local bands. By 1972, Stevie's career path was firmly established when he dropped out of high school and moved to Austin. There, he landed spots with such bands as The Nightcrawlers and The Cobras.
In 1976, Stevie forms a R&B band called Triple Threat Revue. The band, after some line-up changes, changes the name to Triple Threat. On December 20, 1979, Stevie marries Lenora Bailey. Affectionately nicknamed Lenny, Stevie later pens a tribute to his wife under the same name, after she and members of his road crew present him with a vintage Stratocaster as a birthday present. Stevie would use this guitar exclusively to record and perform 'Lenny'. In 1980, Lou Ann Barton and W.C. Clark leave Triple Threat. Stevie renames the band Double Trouble. In 1981, Jackie Newhouse is replaced with Tommy Shannon on bass.
In 1982, Double Trouble becomes the first unsigned and unrecorded band to perform at the Montreuax Festival in Switzerland. Luminaries in the audience included David Bowie, who enlisted Stevie to record on his 'Let's Dance' album, and Jackson Browne who offered Stevie time in his Los Angeles studio. Soon thereafter, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble are signed to Epic Records.
1983 marks the debut of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble with 'Texas Flood' as their first album. Nominated for two Grammy awards, winning three categories in the Guitar Player's Readers Poll (besting Eric Clapton), and an appearance on Austin City Limits, thrusts Stevie and the band into the limelight. Stevie and company followed this up in 1984 with 'Couldn't Stand the Weather' garnering Stevie his first Grammy and another Guitar Player's Readers Poll award.
Keyboard player Reese Wynans joins the band in 1985 and the
band releases 'Soul to Soul' which becomes their third
gold
album. Stevie receives a fifth Grammy nomination and for the third straight
year, Stevie is voted Best Electric Blues Guitarist by Guitar Player
magazine.
'Live Alive' is released in 1986, winning a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and a second nomination in the same category for his recording of 'Pipeline' with Dick Dale, becoming the first musician in history to be nominated twice for the same Grammy in the same year. On tour in Germany, Stevie collapses and enters a drug rehabilitation center in London. On August 27, Stevie's father, Jim, dies of Parkinson's disease. In 1987, with Stevie and Tommy Shannon fresh from an Atlanta detox center, the band is back on tour. Stevie would file for a divorce from Lenora Bailey Vaughn later that same year. The divorce would become final in 1988.
A clean and sober Stevie and band, release 'In Step' in 1989. The song 'Crossfire', becomes Stevie's first #1 radio hit, and produces Stevie's third Grammy, and a second Austin City Limits appearance. In 1990, Stevie and his brother Jimmie (of The Fabulous Thunderbirds fame) record 'Family Style'. On August 26th, Stevie and Double Trouble appear in concert in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin with Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and Buddy Guy. After the show (just after midnight on August 27th), Stevie boards a helicopter bound for Chicago. The helicopter crashes into a fog-shrouded hill shortly after take-off. Stevie Ray Vaughn, the pilot and three other passengers died. Stevie Ray Vaughn was laid to rest on August 31, in Dallas Texas.
Throughout his short-lived career, Stevie Ray Vaughn never
failed to amaze audiences with his legendary fiery performances. His influence
can be heard in the work of such up-and-comers as Cory Stevens, Jonny
Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepard, among others. In seven short years he produced
a legend that many feel will never be duplicated. One wonders what musical
achievements he would have produced, had his life not been so tragically
cut short. - Daniel Skorseth
There are many SRV related sites on the web.
This link, Vince's Stevie Ray Vaughn Page, will help get you started.
