Hall of Fame Inductee



Stevie Ray Vaughan, Class of 1972

When asked to write an introduction for Stevie's induction into the Kimball Hall of Fame, I reflected back on his career and my tremendous admiration of his talent. Stevie was born in Oak Cliff, Texas and grew up there, attending Kimball High School until Christmas of 1971, when he left to seek his place in the music industry doing what he loved to do. I knew Stevie and watched him play more times than I can count, from 14 years of age, until the very end. He is, without a doubt, the best blues guitar player I have ever seen or heard. Although I am probably one of his biggest fans, I really feel the words of some of his other fans express it for all of us that were fortunate enough to be around to see him play before his death.

"When the world lost Stevie Ray Vaughan, it not only lost an incredible musician, but an incredible person. He touched millions of people all over the world with his music and personal courage. There was something about his passion and intensity that attracted people to him. Stevie brought the raw power of the blues to a new generation of listeners, while paying homage to the great players who influenced him. And then, he was tragically taken from us, just as his star was really beginning to shine.

I have only been a fan of Stevie for a few years now, but even in that short time I have been able to appreciate the impact he had, both on the music world and on people. I really admired him for the way he poured his soul into his music and for the courage he showed in overcoming his addictions. His music simply blows me away and I really don't think that anyone will ever be able to replace him. Like Jimi Hendrix, whom he always admired, Stevie was one of a kind.
.........Words from an unknown fan


Some of his achievements:

  • 1977: Band of the Year, Austin, TX playing for Paul Ray and the Cobras.

  • 1983: Texas Flood nominated for two Grammy awards, Best Traditional Blues Recording and Best Rock Instrumental Performance ("Rude Mood")
    Stevie wins three categories in the Guitar Player's Readers Poll: Best New Talent, Best Blues Album and Best Electric Blues Guitarist beating out Eric Clapton. He becomes only the second guitarist in history to win three Guitar Player awards in one year (the first is Jeff Beck). Stevie will win the "Best Electric Blues Guitarist" award every year until 1991.

  • 1984: Wins first Grammy for Best Traditional Blue Recording for his performance of "Texas Flood" from Montreux. "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" from Couldn't Stand The Weather is nominated for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance". In November, Stevie wins two W.C. Handy National Blues Awards: "Entertainer of the Year" and "Blues Instrumentalist of the Year." It is the first time a white person has won either award.

  • 1985: Soul to Soul becomes Double Trouble's third gold album and Stevie receives his fifth Grammy nomination, Best Rock Instrumental Performance (for "Say What!" from Soul to Soul)

  • 1987: Stevie becomes clean and sober.

  • 1989: In January, Stevie and Double Trouble perform at an inaugural party for President George Bush in Washington, D.C. In Step is released on June 6. This is the first album that Stevie makes without the aid of drugs. "Crossfire" becomes Stevie's first #1 album radio hit and earns Stevie another Grammy ("Best Contemporary Blues Recording").

  • 1990 - On January 30, Stevie performs three songs on "MTV Unplugged." Stevie and Jimmie travel to Memphis to record Family Style in March and April. The album is released later that year. In June, he embarks on a two-month co-headlining tour with Joe Cocker. On August 25, Double Trouble performs at a concert at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. The line-up includes Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy.

After a rousing final encore on the 26th, Stevie boards a helicopter on its way to Chicago. Shortly after midnight on August 27, Stevie Ray Vaughan is killed, along with the pilot and three members of Eric Clapton's entourage when the helicopter crashes into a fog-shrouded hill.

He is buried in a private ceremony at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas, Texas on August 31. The mourners include Billy Gibbons, Stevie Wonder, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr, and Dr. John. Outside the chapel, more than 3,000 fans gathered to say goodbye.

Here are quotes from the three musicians that played with him the night he died:

Eric Clapton:
"I don't think anyone has commanded my respect more, to this day. The first time I heard Stevie Ray, I thought, "Whoever this is, he is going to shake the world". I was in my car and I remember thinking, I have to find out, before the day is over, who that guitar player is. That doesn't happen to me very often, that I get that way about listening to music. I mean, about three or four times in my life I've felt that way, in a car, listening to the radio, where I've stopped the car, pulled over, listened, and thought, I've got to find out before the end of the day, not, you know, sooner or later, but I have to know NOW who that is.

"...and I remember being fascinated by the fact that he never, ever seemed to be... lost in any way. It was as though he never took a breather... or took a pause to think where he was going to go next, it just flowed out of him. He seemed to be an open channel and music just flowed out. It's going to be a long time before anyone that brilliant will come along again."

Buddy Guy
"It was an honor to have him do [my] tunes, because just like I went to Muddy Waters and paid tribute to him, everyone pays tribute to someone they admired a lot. Music is handed down to the next generation. And he wasn't just some white kid saying, 'I got it.' He told the truth. 'I got this from Buddy Guy or Albert Collins,' or whoever he wanted to talk about. That was some of his greatness."

"Stevie is the best friend I ever had, the best guitarist I ever heard, and the best person anyone will ever want to know. He will be missed a lot."

Robert Cray
"... for a long time coming there's going to be a lot of frustrated guitar players trying to pick up on Stevie's stuff."

"I'll always remember how he kicked my ass all the time on the guitar. It was inspirational, you know?"

To me, Stevie epitomizes the essence of the spirit of the people that I knew that grew up in Oak Cliff back in the 60's. He was a man that gave his heart and soul to the one thing he loved the most, his music. He was a great inspiration to many people. He left a big hole in the hearts of the people that loved him and he will be remembered long after we are all gone. He is definitely a legend.

We miss you Stevie!!
Gayla Goolsby Mitchell Class of 70

© 2001 JustinFKimball.org