Happy Birthday to the Texas Blues Legend Stevie Ray Vaughan

Done Lost Your Good Thing Now Stevie Ray Vaughan 1981!

Stevie Ray Vaughan, younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan was born this day, October 03, 1954, in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. Only three years younger than his brother, Stevie’s desire to emulate his big lead to him being given a toy guitar from Sears at the age of seven.
He took learning the “instrument” seriously, teaching himself through careful listening of records. He listened to blues artists such as Albert King and Otis Rush; more jazz-oriented players such as Kenny Burrell, and local heroes, The Nightcaps, whose sole LP he listened to regularly (their song ‘Thunderbird’ featured in his early sets)
At the age of nine, he got his first electric guitar as a “hand-me-down” from his brother.

“Collins’ Shuffle” – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble at the first Tornado Jam in Lubbock, Texas – May 11, 1980!

At seventeen, Vaughan left school and moved to Austin, Texas.
Seven years and stints with at least five different bands followed; each year and each band was a step forward and while he was well known in Texas, he wasn’t known at all outside of it.

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Sky Is Crying Rare Video!

After playing at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival and Stevie are guesting on David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, he and the band were signed to the CBS subsidiary Epic Records on the recommendation of legendary A & R man John Hammond, Sr.

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Best Guitar Player – Sound Check – What?!!

It is hard to believe that he was only on the world stage for seven years – what he did with the time he had is inspiring – whenever the opportunity allowed, (or he could make the opportunity) he championed those who came before him or inspired him or who he felt deserved greater exposure.
Vaughan’s success did much to bring Jimi Hendrix to a wider audience once again after a lull, but this bootleg from 1981 finds him digging into a B. B. King classic to excellent effect.