Stevie Ray Vaughan: The making of a Music Legend

After years of hard drinking and cocaine abuse, the great guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan got himself clean and sober in October 1986. Acknowledging that he'd hit rock bottom, the quiet bluesman once renounced the myth of the sainted rock 'n' roll casualty. Aug. 27 marks the 20-year anniversary of Vaughan's death at age 35.

Shannon first met "Stevie Ray Vaughan" when the guitarist was still a teenager, performing at a Dallas club called the Fog. Two years after his death, Stevie Ray Vaughan won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for his cover of Hendrix's 'Little Wing.' The song appeared on an outtakes collection called 'The Sky Is Crying,' named for another of Vaughan's favorites, the song by blues great Elmore James.

Nothing touches hearts and minds like music; especially music from the soul.

Stevie Ray Vaughan: The making of a Music Legend

Born in Dallas and growing up near Austin, Texas, "Stevie Ray Vaughan" became infused and engrossed with music from his older brother, Jimmie and was inspired by other musicians including Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy. Success quickly followed Stevie, being offered to play his guitar with music stars Jackson Browne and David Bowie. Within six months, Guitar Player Magazine voted SRV as Best New Talent and Best Electric Blues Guitar Player, and Texas Flood as Best Guitar Album.
In total, Stevie Ray Vaughan released eighteen albums and is a multi-Grammy Award winner. In 1991, then Texas Governor, Ann Richards, proclaimed October 3rd (his birthday) as Stevie Ray Vaughan Day. Warmly remembering the music legend, everyone’s Pride and Joy, Stevie Ray Vaughan.