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August Feature: Stevie Ray Vaughan

Though Stevie Ray Vaughan's main career spanned less than a decade, he managed in that short time to help spark a new interest in blues, established himself as one of the great guitarists of popular music, and won a prominent place in fans hearts where he remains to this day, over twenty years since his passing in a tragic helicopter accident in August, 1990.

Vaughan was born in Dallas, Texas, on October 3, 1954. Inspired by older brother Jimmie Vaughan, blues musicians like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Albert King (with whom he would later perform), jazz guitarists like Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery, and rock guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and, especially, Lonnie Mack, Vaughan gravitated toward music himself. By his teens had left high school, moved to Austin and began to play with his Triple Threat Revue which eventually evolved into the famed Double Trouble lineup.

The group released its debut album, the Grammy-nominated Texas Flood, in 1983 and followed with Couldn't Stand the Weather and Soul to Soul. After battling substance abuse problems, Vaughan returned in 1989 with the Grammy-winning album, In Step. He also won five W.C. Handy (now Blues Music) Awards and was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Throughout August, Crossroads features the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with projects featuring bandmates Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon and Reese Wynans.

Stevie Ray Vaughan at Montreux in 1985 with "Pride and Joy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU0MF8pwktg

Stevie Ray Vaughan in concert performing the Hendrix tune, "Little Wing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zy0lqpOyc

Chris Heim produces and hosts Global Village, a nationally and internationally distributed world music show; the nightly jazz show Night Train, and Crossroads, KMUW’s twice-weekly blues and R&B show. Chris is also a critic and freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Utne, Global Rhythm, Dirty Linen, and Option, among others.