Feature Photo: Don Hunstein, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Stevie Ray Vaughan grew up in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas, where the sounds of blues and rock and roll echoed through the neighborhoods and into his soul. Inspired by his older brother Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie picked up the guitar at a young age and immersed himself in the music of legends like Albert King, Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix. By his teenage years, he was playing in local bands and dropping out of high school to focus entirely on music. He eventually made his way to Austin, where his band Double Trouble began attracting serious attention, laying the groundwork for a career that would change the trajectory of modern blues.
The turning point came in 1982 when Vaughan’s band performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, an appearance that caught the attention of David Bowie and Jackson Browne. Browne offered studio time, which led to the recording of Texas Flood, released in 1983 on Epic Records. Backed by bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton, Vaughan exploded onto the national scene with tracks like “Pride and Joy,” “Love Struck Baby,” and his jaw-dropping instrumental “Rude Mood.” His tone, touch, and phrasing reintroduced the blues to mainstream rock audiences and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Recording.
Vaughan released four studio albums during his lifetime: Texas Flood (1983), Couldn’t Stand the Weather (1984), Soul to Soul (1985), and In Step (1989). Each album built on his ferocious style and deepened his artistic scope. Songs like “Cold Shot,” “Look at Little Sister,” and “Crossfire” became signature tracks, combining Texas blues with funk, jazz, and rock influences. In Step, his final studio release before his death, was particularly personal, marking his first album after achieving sobriety. That record earned him a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album and is often regarded as a creative peak.
Despite his rising fame, Vaughan remained grounded in his roots. His live performances were electric, often featuring extended improvisations and emotionally raw solos. He recorded the acclaimed Live Alive (1986) and collaborated with his brother Jimmie Vaughan on Family Style, which was released posthumously in 1990. Tragically, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s career was cut short on August 27, 1990, when he died in a helicopter crash after a concert in East Troy, Wisconsin. He was only 35 years old. The shock of his sudden death reverberated across the music world, and tributes poured in from artists across genres.
Even after his passing, Vaughan’s legacy continued to grow. Posthumous releases such as The Sky Is Crying (1991) and Live at Carnegie Hall (1997) expanded his discography, introducing new generations to his powerful blend of technique and emotion. He has received six Grammy Awards (including posthumous wins) and ten Austin Music Awards, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 alongside Double Trouble. His influence can be heard in countless guitarists who came after him, and his Stratocaster tone remains one of the most admired in rock history.
Beyond the guitar, Vaughan’s personal story of battling addiction and reclaiming his life gave hope to fans dealing with similar struggles. His candidness about recovery, especially in his later interviews and the lyrics of In Step, made him a beacon for those seeking strength through change. While his life was brief, his message was lasting: the blues, when played with honesty and heart, can lift and heal.
Vaughan also made time to support fellow musicians, mentor younger artists, and promote the blues as a living, breathing art form. He helped bridge the gap between generations of blues artists, working with greats like Albert King and Buddy Guy, while also opening doors for modern players to embrace traditional roots. His performance with Jeff Beck on their co-headlining tour remains one of the most revered guitar partnerships ever captured onstage.
Stevie Ray Vaughan’s name remains etched in the granite of blues-rock history, not only for what he played but for how he played it—with intensity, grace, and soul. His recordings continue to resonate with those who believe that great music is more than sound—it’s truth, unfiltered and unforgettable.
- Ain’t Gone ‘n’ Give Up on Love – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Ain’t Gone ‘n’ Give Up on Love – Live Alive – 1986
- Ain’t Gone ‘n’ Give Up on Love – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Ain’t Gone ‘n’ Give Up on Love – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- All Your Love I Miss Loving (Live in Austin, 1980) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- All Your Love I Miss Loving – In the Beginning – 1992
- Ask Me No Questions – In Session – 1989
- Ask Me No Questions – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Baboom/Mama Said – Family Style – 1990
- Blues at Sunrise – In Session – 1989
- Blues at Sunrise – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- Boilermaker – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Boot Hill – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Boot Hill – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- Brothers – Family Style – 1990
- C.O.D. – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Call It Stormy Monday – In Session – 1989
- Change It – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Change It – Live Alive – 1986
- Change It – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Chitlins con Carne – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- Chitlins con Carne – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- Close to You – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Close to You – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- Cold Shot – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Cold Shot – Live Alive – 1986
- Cold Shot – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Cold Shot – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Cold Shot – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Cold Shot (Live in Houston, 1990) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Collins Shuffle – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Collins’ Shuffle (Live at Montreux Jazz 1982) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Come On (Part III) – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Come On (Part III) – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Come On (Pt. III) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Couldn’t Stand the Weather – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Couldn’t Stand the Weather – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Couldn’t Stand the Weather – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Couldn’t Stand the Weather – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Crosscut Saw (Live in Houston, 1981) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Crossfire – In Step – 1989
- Crossfire – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Crossfire (Live in Albuquerque, 1989) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- D/FW – Family Style – 1990
- Dirty Pool – Texas Flood – 1983
- Dirty Pool – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Dirty Pool – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Dirty Pool – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- Dirty Pool – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Don’t Lose Your Cool (Live in Houston, 1981) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Don’t Lie to Me – In Session – 1989
- Don’t Stop By The Creek, Son – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Empty Arms – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Empty Arms – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Empty Arms – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- Empty Arms – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Give Me Back My Wig – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Give Me Back My Wig – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Goin’ Down (Live in Albuquerque, 1989) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Gone Home – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Gone Home – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Good Texan – Family Style – 1990
- Hard to Be – Family Style – 1990
- Hide Away – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Hide Away – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Hillbillies from Outerspace – Family Style – 1990
- Honey Bee – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Honey Bee – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Hug You, Squeeze You (Live in Toronto, 1983) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- I’m Cryin’ – Texas Flood – 1983
- I’m Cryin’ – SRV Box Set – 2000
- I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town – In Session – 1989 (DVD only)
- I’m Leavin’ You (Commit a Crime) (Live at MTV Mardi Gras 1987) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- I’m Leaving You (Commit a Crime) – Live Alive – 1986
- Iced Over (aka Collins’ Shuffle) – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- If You Have To Know – SRV Box Set – 2000
- In the Open – In the Beginning – 1992
- Leave My Girl Alone – In Step – 1989
- Leave My Girl Alone – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Leave My Girl Alone – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- Leave My Girl Alone (Live at Alpine Valley, 1990) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Lenny – Texas Flood – 1983
- Lenny – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Lenny – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Lenny – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Let Me Love You Baby – In Step – 1989
- Let Me Love You Baby (Live at Alpine Valley, 1990) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Letter to My Girlfriend – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Letter to My Girlfriend – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Life by the Drop – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- Life Without You – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Life Without You – Live Alive – 1986
- Life Without You – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Life Without You – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Little Wing – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Little Wing (instrumental) – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- Little Wing / Third Stone From The Sun (Live in Honolulu, 1984) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Little Wing/Third Stone from the Sun (instrumental) – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Live Another Day – In the Beginning – 1992
- Long Way from Home – Family Style – 1990
- Long Way From Home – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Look at Little Sister – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Look at Little Sister – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Look at Little Sister – Live Alive – 1986
- Look at Little Sister – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Look at Little Sister (Live in Philadelphia, 1987) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Look at Little Sister (Live) – SRV Box Set – 2000 (DVD)
- Lookin’ Out the Window – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Lookin’ Out The Window (Live in Philadelphia, 1987) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Love Me Darlin’ – In Step – 1989
- Love Struck Baby – Texas Flood – 1983
- Love Struck Baby – In the Beginning – 1992
- Love Struck Baby – Live Alive – 1986
- Love Struck Baby – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Love Struck Baby – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Love Struck Baby – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Love Struck Baby (Live on Austin City Limits) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Manic Depression (Live in Houston, 1981) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Mary Had a Little Lamb – Texas Flood – 1983
- Mary Had a Little Lamb – Live Alive – 1986
- Mary Had a Little Lamb – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Mary Had a Little Lamb – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Mary Had a Little Lamb (Live) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Mary Had a Little Lamb (Live) – SRV Box Set – 2000 (DVD)
- Match Box Blues – In Session – 1989
- May I Have a Talk with You – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- May I Have a Talk with You – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- May I Have a Talk with You (Live) – SRV Box Set – 2000 (DVD)
- Overall Junction – In Session – 1989
- Pride and Joy – Texas Flood – 1983
- Pride and Joy – Live Alive – 1986
- Pride and Joy – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Pride and Joy – In Session – 1989
- Pride and Joy – Live at Montreux – 2001 (1982)
- Pride and Joy – Live at Montreux – 2001 (1985)
- Pride and Joy – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Pride and Joy (From MTV Unplugged) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Riviera Paradise – In Step – 1989
- Rude Mood – Texas Flood – 1983
- Rude Mood – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Rude Mood – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Rude Mood (From MTV Unplugged) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Rude Mood / Pipeline (Live at MTV Mardi Gras 1987) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Say What! – Soul to Soul – 1985
- Say What! – Live Alive – 1986
- Say What! – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Say What! – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Scratch-N-Sniff – In Step – 1989
- Scuttle Buttin’ – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Scuttle Buttin’ – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Scuttle Buttin’ – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Scuttle Buttin’ – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Scuttle Buttin’ – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Shake ‘N Bake – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Shake for Me – In the Beginning – 1992
- Slide Thing – In the Beginning – 1992
- Slip Slidin’ Slim (instrumental) – Soul to Soul – 1985
- So Excited – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- Stang’s Swang – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Superstition – Live Alive – 1986
- Superstition – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Taxman – Greatest Hits – 1995
- Tell Me – Texas Flood – 1983
- Tell Me – In the Beginning – 1992
- Telephone Song – Family Style – 1990
- Testify – Texas Flood – 1983
- Testify – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- Testify (From MTV Unplugged) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Texas Flood – Texas Flood – 1983
- Texas Flood – Live Alive – 1986
- Texas Flood – In Session – 1989 (DVD only)
- Texas Flood – Live at Montreux – 2001 (1982)
- Texas Flood – Live at Montreux – 2001 (1985)
- Texas Flood – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Texas Flood – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Texas Flood – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- Texas Flood (Live at Montreux Jazz 1982) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- The House Is Rockin’ – In Step – 1989
- The House Is Rockin’ – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- The House Is Rockin’ – SRV Box Set – 2000
- The Sky Is Crying – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- The Sky Is Crying – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- The Sky Is Crying – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- The Sky Is Crying (Live at Carnegie Hall) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- The Things (That) I Used to Do – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- The Things (That) I Used to Do – Live at Carnegie Hall – 1997
- The Things (That) I Used to Do – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- The Things (That) I Used to Do (Live at Alpine Valley, 1990) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- These Blues Is Killing Me – SRV Box Set – 2000
- They Call Me Guitar Hurricane – In the Beginning – 1992
- They Call Me Guitar Hurricane (Live) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Thunderbird – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Tick Tock – Family Style – 1990
- Tightrope – In Step – 1989
- Tightrope – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Tightrope (Live in Houston, 1990) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town) – Texas Flood – 1983
- Tin Pan Alley – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town) – In the Beginning – 1992
- Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town) – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Tin Pan Alley – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Tin Pan Alley (aka Roughest Place in Town) – Blues at Sunrise – 2000
- Travis Walk – In Step – 1989
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Live Alive – 1986
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Live at Montreux – 2001
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Live in Tokyo – 2006
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live at Carnegie Hall) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live) – SRV Box Set – 2000 (DVD)
- Voodoo Chile – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Wall of Denial – In Step – 1989
- Wall of Denial – The Fire Meets The Fury – 2012
- Wall of Denial – SRV Box Set – 2000
- Wham! – Couldn’t Stand the Weather – 1984
- Wham – The Sky Is Crying – 1991
- White Boots – Family Style – 1990
- Willie the Wimp – Live Alive – 1986
- Willie the Wimp (Live in Philadelphia, 1987) – SRV Box Set – 2000
- You’ll Be Mine – Soul to Soul – 1985
- You’re Gonna Miss Me Baby – SRV Box Set – 2000
Albums
Texas Flood (1983): 11 songs
Couldn’t Stand the Weather (1984): 18 songs
Soul to Soul (1985): 12 songs
Live Alive (1986): 13 songs
In Step (1989): 10 songs
In Session (1989): 10 songs
Family Style (1990): 10 songs
The Sky Is Crying (1991): 10 songs
In the Beginning (1992): 9 songs
Greatest Hits (1995): 1 new song
Live at Carnegie Hall (1997): 14 songs
Blues at Sunrise (2000): 10 songs
SRV Box Set (2000): 52 songs (including 5 DVD-only tracks)
Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985 (2001): 19 songs
Live in Tokyo (2006): 10 songs
The Fire Meets The Fury (2012): 11 songs
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