In Memoriam Stevie Ray Vaughan

It was thirteen years ago today, at just before 1:00 a.m., that Stevie Ray Vaughan and four others were killed in a helicopter crash. He had just played a concert in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin with his brother Jimmie, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray.

I plan to set aside some listening time this evening to play some of the great music he left us. The sky is crying...

 

It pains me to think about the great music he'd be putting out today.
I loved him....and miss him.

 

I was late in getting into Stevie, but once I did, i fell hard. He was simply awesome.

 

Remember when Stevie first appeared on the national scene playing guitar on Let's Dance? Then Bowie pretended to play Stevie's parts in the video. That really burned me up! Then Bowie asked Stevie to play guitar for him on the upcomig tour and even though Stevie was a relative unknown and could have benefitted from the exposure, he turned Bowie down!

 

A very sad loss to the world IMHO. Stevie had taken his self-abuse life-style and changed it for the better while giving the world some of the best music in a decade and for many years yet to come. RIP Stevie.

 

An awesome talent - much missed.

 

Stevie Ray & Double Trouble played at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival where they caught the attention of David Bowie & Jackson Browne. Stevie Ray initially accepted Bowie's offer to play on the Serious Moonlight tour, but when asked to sign an exclusive contract that would have prevented him from working with Double Trouble during the duration, Stevie Ray jumped ship after the rehearsals, just days before the start of the tour.

Things worked out for the better -- Jackson Browne offered some free studio time and SR & Double Trouble caught the attention of John Hammond, who helped sign them to Columbia/Epic.

 

I was lucky to have seen him on tour in the fall of '89 at the Oakland Coliseum with Jeff Beck opening up. He blew me away. He closed the show by playing 'Third Stone From The Sun' and 'Voodoo Chile'. WOW!

 

A great guitarist who combined elements of Clapton and Hendrix (and Albert King, etc.). He is missed.

 

Arguably the best white blues guitar player. Any news of any new SRV reissues like LIVE ALIVE?

 

I remember reading somewhere that Eric Clapton also wanted to catch this helicopter, but missed it because his concert was longer than expected or something like that...
What can I say...

Peace
Thomas

 

I heard the same thing about Clapton. I didnt really get into SRV until after he died. I remember reading the article in the paper though. I knew who he was but I only had one CD. I have them all now and they are great. It would be nice to have some more SRV DVDs though. Watching him play is half the fun.

 

EC and SRV played with Buddy Guy and several others at the Alpine Valley Blues Fest August 25 and 26th. There are a few poor sounding bootlegs out there with some great music. I dont know if it was pro-recorded but it would be nice to have as an official release.

 

Why does "White" have to be included in this statement? I would prefer it to have read....

"Arguably, one of the best blues guitar players."

I say drop the race card

 

There is a lot more competition if you remove the "White".

 

I'm not playing the "race card". The Blues started as an African American artform. The original bluesmen are in a class by themselves. I've heard Clapton called a similar title on MTV. I've also seen an album featuring Clapton called WHITE BOY BLUES. I mean no disrespect. On the contrary, I used white out of the reverence I have for the pioneering blues artists.

 

Gee.......I didn't even notice the word...but i know what you meant. Don't apologize.
Relax, people!