News

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s childhood home has been included in a list of At Risk Architecture by the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League. The list is intended to draw attention to local landmarks to protect them from degradation or demolition in the future. You can read more about the League’s work in The Dallas Morning News, and find out more about Stevie Ray’s childhood home and other properties on the list at OOCCL.org.

On August 2nd, Roadrunner Records/Loud & Proud will release The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band’s new album, “How I Go,” featuring new songs and covers of music by Albert King, Bessie Smith and The Beatles. The band, which includes Kenny, Chris Layton, Noah Hunt and Riley Osbourn, was joined by Tommy Shannon as a special guest. The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band is planning a U.S. tour to begin in July. You can read more at ArtistDirect.com.

If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, there are last-minute tickets available to see the Stevie Ray Vaughan 20 Years Double Trouble Reunion at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley rock club on March 31st. The event will include Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton, Reese Wynans, Kenny Greenberg, Mike Henderson, Jack Pearson, Pat Buchanan, Mike Farris, Tom Britt, Gary Nicholson, Jonell Mosser, Ashley Cleveland, Bart Walker, and other special guests. Buy your tickets now at TicketWeb!

A live performance of “Little Wing/3rd Stone From The Sun” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble will be re-released on the first Jimi Hendrix tribute album curated under the auspices of Experience Hendrix LLC. The album, “Power Of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix,” will be reissued by Legacy Recordings on Tuesday, April 12th. “Power Of Soul” also includes recordings by Santana, Prince, Bootsy Collins, Eric Clapton, Lenny Kravitz, Cee Lo Green, John Lee Hooker and more. In addition, this year’s lineup of the Experience Hendrix concert tour will launch in May featuring Chris Layton. More information about the Hendrix tribute album and tour can be found at JimiHendrix.com.

Steel guitar bluesman Sterling Koch recently released his new album, “Slide Ruler,” featuring Tommy Shannon on bass and Chet McCracken on drums. In an interview with RepublicanHerald.com, Koch said, “When we set out to make this album, [we] all set out to make what turned out to be a sort of a ‘bucket list’ CD. They asked me, ‘If you could work with anyone to make an album who would that be?’ It was Tommy Shannon from the start on bass and I was hoping to work with his rhythm section partner, drummer Chris Layton, both of whom formed Double Trouble with Stevie Ray Vaughan.”

“Chris was tied up touring with Kenny Wayne Shepherd for the Experience Hendrix Tour at that time. Chris then went right into the studio with Kenny Wayne to do an album and I didn’t want to wait so I immediately contacted Chet. Chet was very interested in the project and agreed to do it,” he said.

“Slide Ruler” is available for purchase at CDBaby.com and Amazon.com. You can read more about the album at RepublicanHerald.com.

In its March 2011 issue, Cowboys & Indians magazine has interviewed Stevie Ray Vaughan’s brother, Jimmie Vaughan, and bassist Tommy Shannon. In his interview, Tommy calls playing in Double Trouble “the best 10 years of my life.” The magazine also gives a rave review to the Legacy edition of “Couldn’t Stand The Weather,” noting: “You’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who questions Vaughan’s virtuosity on the instrument … I find it hard to believe that anyone could find fault with the kind of dynamic musicianship and unbridled passion he brought to the guitar.”

You can read the Jimmie Vaughan interview, 10 of Jimmie’s favorite albums and songs, the interview with Tommy Shannon, and the review of “Couldn’t Stand The Weather” at the Cowboys & Indians website.

PBS is airing “Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan – In Session” at various times through December across the United States. You can check your local television listings for air times. If you’d like to watch this performance without interruption, you can also purchase it as a deluxe DVD/CD.

PBS writes: “In 1983, when legendary blues guitarist Albert King, age 60, was joined by his disciple Stevie Ray Vaughan, age 29, on a Canadian soundstage for the live music TV series ‘In Session,’ magic took place. This is not simply a television program: it is a summit of two master musicians. The only known recording of King and Vaughan performing together, this is the concert that blues fans in general, and Stevie Ray Vaughan fans in particular, have been waiting for.”

In a recent interview, Jimmie Vaughan discussed teaching his brother Stevie Ray how to play the guitar, and how much he misses him. Jimmie said, “You know most people talk about and miss Stevie Ray Vaughan the guitarist. Not me, man. He was my little brother. Older brothers carry a chip on their shoulder trying to protect their younger siblings. I miss my little brother, man. That’s who I miss.” You can read more of the interview at Seacoastonline.com.

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble are featured in a blog series about favorite performances at Carnegie Hall. In a review after their performance, The New York Times said there “were moments when the staid auditorium became a whistling, stomping roadhouse.” The concert, which put Carnegie Hall’s acoustics to the test, was later released as the live album “Live At Carnegie Hall.” You can read more at CarnegieHall.org.

Sunday, October 3rd marks what would have been Stevie Ray Vaughan’s 56th birthday. Birthdays are for celebration, so we remember Stevie Ray for all the pride and joy that he generated through his incredible music and amazing talent. There will never be another like SRV. Happy birthday to an all-time great artist, who has inspired countless musicians and fans.