Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Vaughan played in several bands in the early to mid-1970’s, many of which gained serious attention. After playing backup guitar in those bands, Vaughan created his own band Triple Threat. His band later became known as Double Trouble, after the band’s female lead singer quit. The band name remained for the rest of Vaughan’s career. Double Trouble became one of the most popular bands on the Texas nightclub circuit in the early 1980’s and received their first international recognition at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1982. Videos of this concert can still be seen on Youtube.

Their performance at Montreux attracted attention from two famous musicians, David Bowie and Jackson Browne, both of whom reached out to Vaughan and the band with offers (Bowie invited Vaughan to play on his upcoming album “Let’s Dance” and Browne offered Double Trouble recording time at his LA recording studio for free). These partnerships led to a recording contract with Epic Records and Double Trouble’s first album, “Texas Flood” (recorded in 1983).

During his career, Vaughan played with a who’s-who of accomplished musicians, such as Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Robert Plant and many others. His career also generated a stream of awards and recognitions, but Vaughan’s work ethic also led to health and drug problems, and the break up of his marriage in the early 1980’s. Vaughan’s recording of “Cold Shot”, recorded in 1984, may have been his response to the breakup; the song was written for him by a friend and former bandmate, WC Clark.

Vaughan voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation program to get help but then returned to work afterwards. He continued to rack up critical and commercial recognition, and accolades from his peers. During a concert with famed blues guitarist Eric Clapton, Clapton left the concert in a fit of jealousy over how talented Vaughan was, a fact he would later publicly admit to after Vaughan’s death. Stevie Ray Vaughan died later that evening in a helicopter crash after leaving the concert and heading to the tour’s next venue in Chicago. Vaughan was at the peak of what many believed would be an inspirational career. His fame only increased following his death and Stevie Ray Vaughan fans can be found worldwide, still taking in any opportunity to listen to and enjoy his music.