Steve Ray Vaughan - Research Paper Example

Subsequently, the helicopter crashed on hilly terrain about 3/5 Mi from the takeoff point.” (NTSB, 1992) The pilot and all four passengers were killed. Among the dead was a man many consider to have been the greatest Texas blues guitarist of his generation and the heir to Johnny Winters legacy, Stevie Ray Vaughan was dead. His last show the night before had been a sold out concert of 30,000 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin, featured an encore jam with Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray.

Arguably, there could not have been a more fitting final performance for a great blues guitarist. The following brief discussion will focus on the life and career of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Initially, a brief biography will be presented, then his career, his style and the critical response will be surveyed. Interviews with guitarists of my acquaintance will also be considered and a full discography is included in an appendix. Stevie Ray Vaughan was born in Dallas, Texas on October 3, 1954. His brother James Lawrence "Jimmie" Vaughan was almost four years older.

Stevie Ray grew up listening to his brothers collection of B.B. King, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton records and playing his brothers guitar. By the time he was fifteen he was following his brother to gigs, including a memorable night in 1969 when his brothers band opened for The Jimi Hendrix Experience, although Stevie Ray never met him. At the same time, like many other teenagers in the 1960s Stevie Ray was forming bands. When he was in junior high school, he began playing in garage bands, occasionally landing gigs in local clubs and bars.

By the time he was 17, he had dropped out of Kimball High School to concentrate on his dream of a musical career. (“Stevie Ray Vaughan Biography”) According to his biographers Joe Nick Patoski and Bill Crawford both his style and speed were born in his competition