Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan was born on October 3, 1954, at the Methodist Hospital in Dallas. Together with his parents and older brother, 3 years old, they led a nomadic lifestyle. It was related to my father’s work. In the end, however, the family settled for longer in Dallas. Stevie Ray Vaughan had contact with music from an early age.
His teaching had an interesting course. He was an opponent of the game lesson. He listened to then great guitarists and played with his ear(even Jimi Hendriks). Then, thanks to his brother, he became interested in blues music, listening to B.B. Kinga or Otis Rush. Once, when Jimmy Vaughan, played a concert with his first band, The Chessmen, Doyle Bramhall appeared on it. He saw Stevie playing the guitar. Doyle was the first who recognize the talent of the future music star. At the age of 17 the “youth rebellion” of Stephen Vaughan began – he dropped out of school and took his first tattoo.
It is worth mentioning that the guitarist started playing very early. Already at the age of 12, he was active in the band A Cast of Thousands. Then he began to play his first concerts. with the brother’s band, and then with Blackbird. In the end, he decided to quit school and move out of the house. At the same time, he took a job in a car wash. He took on a variety of activities before he decided to become a musician. Often you could see him and listen on local bars. In terms of the beginnings of his career, he did not differ from other artists at this time. Many were playing at Soap Creek Saloon or Vulcan Gas Company. Often for the free beer and a roof overhead. One of the club owners, who believe in the talent of a young guitarist, persuaded the famous Albert King to play with him. Later King repeatedly emphasized the positive impression that Vaughan had made on him.
Jeff Healey
The famous blind rock-blues guitarist died on March 2, 2008, 10 years ago.
Canadian guitarist and vocalist, blind since early childhood as a result of a rare type of eye cancer. In the 80s and 90s, enjoyed great popularity and sold millions of CDs around the world.
Despite losing sight, Jeff Healey started playing the guitar while holding it on his lap.
In 1988, he released his debut album The Jeff Healey Band – “See the Light”, which was nominated for the Canadian Juno Award.
It comes from hits “Angel Eyes” (he reached the 5th place on the Billboard list). His version of the blues standard “Hideaway” was Grammy nominated.
During the session to “See the Light” Healey and his band played in the movie with Patrick Swayze. Four tracks by The Jeff Healey Band – “Roadhouse Blues” by The Doors, “Dylan’s Bob Coming Falling from the Sky”, “(I’m Yours) Hoochie Coochie Man” by Willie Dixon and “I’m Tore Down” by Sonny Thompson.
The singing guitarist collaborated with B. B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Erik Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Jimmy Rogers and the ZZ Top group. In 2006, he appeared on the album “Gillan’s Inn” by Ian Gillan from Deep Purple.
On his second album “Hell to Pay” (1990) he recorded his own version of the hit “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles, in which he was supported by the author of the song – George Harrison, as well as Jeff Lynne from Electric Light Orchestra.
Healey also recorded jazz albums under the Jeff Healey’s Jazz Wizards (he also played the trumpet), referring to the beginnings of this genre. He was an avid vinyl collector, above all jazz music – he collected over 30,000 records. He reminiscent of the old sounds in his radio program “My Kind of Jazz”.
Jeff died of lung cancer at the age of only 41.
