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Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and began his music career. Later, producer John H. Hammond arranged a deal with Epic Records in 1983.
Alcohol and drug abuse severely affected his health before he became sober in late 1986. After three years without a new album, he returned to the studio, releasing In Step. The album produced the single "Crossfire" in July 1989, which became a number one hit. On August 26, 1990, Vaughan performed at Alpine Valley Music Theatre as part of his In Step Tour in a triple bill along with Eric Clapton and Robert Cray before an audience of approximately 25,000. Leaving the concert that evening, his helicopter crashed into a nearby ski slope. He was pronounced dead hours later.
Vaughan was an important figure in Texas blues, a loud, swing-driven fusion of blues and rock. He became the leading musician of the blues rock sound, with multiple network television appearances and charting albums. His debut Texas Flood, released in June 1983, became a double-platinum record. Vaughan encompassed multiple styles, including jazz and ballads. Nominated for 12 Grammys, he won six. He won five W. C. Handy Awards and was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000. He is widely considered one of the most respected and influential guitarists of all time.
On January 30, 1990, Vaughan appeared on MTV Unplugged. In March, the Vaughan brothers decided to record an album together at Ardent Studios in Memphis, working with producer Nile Rodgers. Naming the album Family Style, Vaughan said, "We've probably gotten closer making this record than we have been since we were little kids at home. And I can honestly say I needed it". Vaughan and Double Trouble went on a summer tour with singer Joe Cocker, performing with B.B. King for the Benson & Hedges Blues Festival at the Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre in Dallas. By August 13, all five of the band's albums were certified gold. On August 22, Sony Records arranged a party in Dallas for a preview of Family Style, though Vaughan was on vacation in Hawaii with Lapidus. Upon their return, they rented an apartment in New York, where Lapidus started working regularly as a model. Vaughan left for Chicago and checked into the Four Seasons Hotel.
At around 1:00 a.m. on August 27, 1990, Vaughan was flying by
helicopter from East Troy, Wisconsin to Chicago with members of Eric
Clapton's tour crew. The helicopter crashed into the side of a
300-foot–high hill. Vaughan was killed, along with Nigel Browne and
Colin Smythe. Earlier that evening, Vaughan had played with Double
Trouble at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, featured as a special guest
with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Jimmie Vaughan. Vaughan
was interred at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. Martha and
Jimmie Vaughan sued the helicopter company, Omniflight, based in
Addison, Texas, for negligence in allowing the unqualified pilot, Jeff
Brown, to fly and for allowing the flight in dense fog.
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