Stevie Ray Vaughan - Did You Know?

April 24, 2018

Music facts, music trivia, interesting stories and much more. Introducing the "Did You Know" page about American singer, songwriter and musician, Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Enjoy!

 

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He had a short-lived mainstream career spanning for only 7 years, but yet, was one of the most influential guitarists in the revival of blues in the 1980s.

Stevie Ray Vaughan began playing guitar when he was only 7 years old, inspired by his brother Jimmie. He had a distinct sound of his own which was partly based on using 13-gauge strings.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was musically inspired by American and British blues rock, and preffered clean amplifiers with high volume. This contributed to the popularity of vintage musical equipment.

Vaughan's sound and playing style often features simultaneous lead and rhythm which reminds and influenced by Jimi Hendrix, and his blues playing style was strongly influenced by Albert King, who dubbed himself Stevie's "godfather". Stevie Ray Vaughan also attracted attention from Jackson Browne and David Bowie, playing on albums with both musicians.

Stevie Ray Vaughan won several music awards during his music career and after his death. In 1983, readers of Guitar Player voted Vaughan as Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitar Player. In 1984, the Blues Foundation named Vaughan Entertainer of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year, and in 1987, Performance Magazine decided to honor him with Rhythm and Blues Act of the Year.

Vaughan also won 6 Grammy Awards and 10 Austin Music Awards. In 2000, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2014 into the Musicians Hall of Fame. 

Stevie Ray Vaughan is ranked #12 on the 100 greatest guitarists of all time list, according to Rolling Stone magazine. In 2015, Vaughan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Vaughan was killed in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990 after concluding an all-star encore jam session at Alpine Valley Music Theatre. He was scheduled for a flight later that night, but was eager to return as quickly as possible, boarding on an earlier flight that sadly crashed.

 

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