This morning, I listened to my blues playlist in iTunes. One of the songs was Hank Ballard’s Little Sister performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Every time I listen to Stevie, I get goose bumps. I think he was one of the most amazing electric blues guitarists.
In addition to Little Sister, which was included on Stevie’s 1985 album Soul to Soul, some my favorite tunes from him include Pride And Joy (from Texas Flood, 1983), Cold Shot (Couldn’t Stand the Weather, 1984) and Tin Pan Alley. The latter, which also appeared on the Couldn’t Stand the Weather album, is one of the best slow blues tunes ever, in my opinion.
Sadly, Stevie died in a helicopter crash in August 1990. He was only 35 years old. But his music undoubtedly continues to live on.
The other day, Guitar World had a cool clip of Stevie and Jeff Healey, playing Little Sister together back in 1987. Jeff, another terrific electric blues guitarist, also passed away in the meantime (March 2008). Check out the clip at http://www.guitarworld.com/stevie-ray-vaughan-and-jeff-healey-play-look-little-sister-video/25997.
Christian's Music Musings 
Thanks so much for sharing that clip of SRV with Jeff Healey. I always wondered if they shared a stage but hadn’t seen it happen until today. I was fortunate to see SRV twice, the first time during the Soul To Soul tour when he was stoned/drunk out of his mind (but still played brilliantly) and then on the In Step tour after he had cleaned up (where he was light years better, much to my amazement). I was devastated the day he died. I literally couldn’t work the rest of the day. I had been a fan of the Jeff Healey Band when their first album came out, and after SRV died I had hoped Jeff would pick up where Stevie left off. He never quite delivered on that promise although I still love his first two albums, and did manage to see him once, sometime in the ’90s, I believe opening for the Allman Brothers Band. The songs you chose as favorites are among mine as well. I would also add “Couldn’t Stand The Weather” to that list.
Also, not to be nit-picky, but the song title is actually “Look At Little Sister,” not to be confused with the Pomus/Shuman song immortalized by Elvis Presley, and once covered (for the Concerts For Kampuchea) by Robert Plant with Rockpile.
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That’s cool you got to see both of these guys. I would see them in a heartbeat, if that would still be possible! When I started out playing the bass, I was in a blues band for a short time. Two of the tunes we played were Scuttle Buttin’ and Tin Pan Alley, which I dig both. That’s actually how I initially was introduced to SRV.
As for musicians who were killed on planes/ helicopters, it’s really crazy, if you think about it: Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Ronnie Van Zant and other members of Skynyrd, SRV – so many great artists lost! Obviously, when you add drugs to it, the picture becomes even bleaker.
Sometimes I wonder how much more great music we would have seen from Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, etc.
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Plane/helicopter crashes have resulted in the loss of some incredible musical icons. I think Buddy Holly was an especially big loss considering how much he had accomplished by the age of 22. It’s hard to imagine how much he could have accomplished. In addition to the names on your list, off the top of my head there’s also Otis Redding, Patsy Cline, Randy Rhoads, Rick Nelson and Jim Croce.
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Oh, wow, you’re right. While I didn’t intend to provide a complete list, I like Otis Redding and Jim Croce, so should have at least included them!
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