Stevie Ray Vaughan performing The House is Rockin is today’s YouTube addition to Top Rock Music Videos.
20 years ago today on August 27, 1990, Stevie Ray Vaughan and 4 other people that were with him died in a helicopter crash after performing a live concert at the Alpine Valley Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin. The helicopter crashed into a hillside while there was a thick fog. Stevie was 35 years old at the time.
Stevie Ray Vaughan began his early career as a sideman in the Austin, Texas area (and is a well known Austinite) prior to forming his own band Double Trouble in 1978-1979. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame posthumously in 2000 and is known among the greatest guitar players of all time.
Hard to believe it’s been 20 years. SRV is still a God in Austin.
I was working in Yellowstone National Park that summer (lowly food service) when I heard about the helicopter crash. But back then, I was still a fledgling and wouldn’t come to fully appreciate the blues in general or SRV in particular for several more years.
Austin Monthly’s Aug-2010 issue was dedicated to “Rembering Stevie Ray” – among other things it includes a terrific piece on “The Back Page” by local DJ Dale Dudley.
Thanks for posting the video -
You’re welcome Brad.
While doing some research I came across some info on the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue at Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake in Austin. I browsed your site (which appears to be a great resource on all things Austin, Texas by the way) but couldn’t find any info on the statue?
Maybe I missed it though. Could you post a link to your page with info on the statue for my site visitors to learn more about? (no pressure)
No pressure indeed!
The Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue page is here.
I’m tempted to tell you that you simply overlooked the page, but alas, I was remiss. There was no page until this afternoon.
Which is a shame, really – how can a self-respecting Austin, Texas website not include a page about the SRV Statue?
Thanks for keeping me honest – hope the information is useful.