OT: 70 years ago Today

[PooPopsBaldHead]

The greatest that ever was or will be was born in Dallas, Texas. Stevie Ray Vaughan would have been 70 today. It's hard to believe he was only 35 when he died.

I had just moved to Memphis from Charleston SC in 1990 when my Dad took me to my first Memphis in May. I didn't appreciate it then, but we watched Stevie Ray at the Mud Island Amphitheater... Glad I got to see him. I bet there's a few of you who were there as well ( I didn't see Ray Charles who played that year as well though.)

Anyhow, SRV is the goat and any argument otherwise is only made by those with micro weenies and Ole Miss fans. Do yourself a favor and take 10 minutes to watch Stevie blow the doors off El Macambo in Toronto with a live performance of Texas Flood. He famously mixed a quarter ounce of cocaine in with his bottle of crown and drank it to take the edge off, yet keep going. This very much had to be one of those nights... My man was sweating glitter and torching that guitar.

 

[Curby]

Heavy strings, thick blues tone. There was none like SRV.

His style was the reason I loved blues guitar and went back to listen to all the other greats that he drew inspiration from.

 

[maroonmadman]

SRV and Frank Zappa are two of my all time favorite guitar players.

 

[Augustus McCrae]

If y’all haven’t seen this it’s worth a watch.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

 

[BulldogBlitz]

( I didn't see Ray Charles who played that year as well though.)

I'm gonna guess Ray didn't see you either.

Yes...I've been cooped up. I'll se myself out.

 

[NTDawg]

I saw SRV and Joe Cocker in June 1990 in Jackson. It was a great concert that I enjoyed too much including the after-concert party at Hal and Mals eventually ending up at the Subway to trying to drive home. Not a good ending but the concert was amazing.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

I saw SRV and Joe Cocker in June 1990 in Jackson. It was a great concert that I enjoyed too much including the after-concert party at Hal and Mals eventually ending up at the Subway to trying to drive home. Not a good ending but the concert was amazing.

Did you give Stevie Ray a big Whoop! as you drifted in and out of consciousness? If not, I've seen you at your peak.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Holy shitte, never seen a guy rip a solo like that behind his back.
Always loved SRV but never seen that in my life.

Side note- I saw the lead vocals/guitar front man from a band called Lynam play GNR’sSweet ChildO Mine intro with one hand. Amazing. Had to have been the cocaine.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I'll share this one last time. I got sick and couldn't go to see SRV at a concert in Memphis. My friend and I said we'll definitely see him next time he comes around. I'll never will forget how bad I felt when I heard he died that August day on the way home from work. There has never been anything like him since. I have some memories of the company I had with me, listening to his music for a few special occasions.

 

[Digging dog]

That entertainer loss was my parents “Elvis loss”.
I was living in an old house on University drive (second from campus - parking lot now) when I heard it the news.

sat on the back porch whit a beer or 2 or 5 and played every SRV cd I owned.

he was one of my favs

 

[NTDawg]

Did you give Stevie Ray a big Whoop! as you drifted in and out of consciousness? If not, I've seen you at your peak.

I didnt hit my peak that until I got to the Subway. Speaking of which the Subway was awesome.

 

[hdogg]

He really was the greatest. His versions of Little Wing and Voodoo Child far surpass Hendrix, and that's saying a lot. I've heard a few interviews from people about the last show he gave when he died. They said he ran circles around Clapton and everyone else on stage that night. He wasn't just a blues player - he was a full on musician who loved playing blues, but he could play anything.
I never saw SRV but did see Clapton in Gulfport shortly after SRV died. You could tell he was still feeling the loss.

 

[Colonel Angus.sixpack]

Never saw him play live but I did visit his grave about a month ago as a side trip from Dallas to Houston. Tried to post a pic but it says the file is too large

 

[aTotal360]

Too sweaty.

 

[stateu1]

Too sweaty.

 

[NukeDogg]

My first known memory of SRV happened on my 7th birthday - the same day he died. I'm at home after school playing with my brother, mom's cooking dinner and my dad comes home from work and cuts on the news on TV, I wandered into the den at one point and I remember asking my dad what was wrong, why did he look so sad. Dad explains, then pulls out the Texas Flood album and we all listened to him rip that guitar for the rest of the evening.

Just went and googled that day, it was a Monday. And I just learned I share a birthday with Jesse Pinkman actor Aaron Paul. Cool...