Stephen Ray Vaughan, also known as SRV, was an American musician born on October 3, 1954, and passed away on August 27, 1990. He gained fame as the guitarist and frontman of the blues rock trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Despite his short mainstream career of seven years, Vaughan is recognized as one of the most influential figures in blues music history and one of the greatest guitarists ever. He hailed from Dallas and started playing guitar at a young age, influenced by his brother Jimmie. Dropping out of high school in 1972, Vaughan moved to Austin where he formed Double Trouble with members Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton in 1978, quickly becoming a popular act in Texas.
The turning point in Vaughan’s career came in 1983 when he gained mainstream success with their debut album ‘Texas Flood.’ His talent caught the attention of renowned artists like David Bowie, leading to collaborations and a rise to fame in the blues revival of the 1980s. Despite battling alcoholism and drug addiction, Vaughan underwent rehabilitation and continued to achieve success with albums like ‘In Step,’ which featured his only number-one hit, ‘Crossfire.’ Tragically, Vaughan’s life was cut short on August 27, 1990, in a helicopter crash after a performance at Alpine Valley Music Theatre. Even after his untimely death, Vaughan’s music continued to resonate with audiences, earning him posthumous recognition, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.