Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kenny Vaughan are two of the most acclaimed guitarists in the history of American music. Stevie Ray Vaughan was a blues-rock icon who influenced generations of musicians with his fiery and soulful playing. Kenny Vaughan is a country-rock virtuoso who has been a long-time member of Marty Stuart’s band, The Fabulous Superlatives. But are these two guitar legends related by blood or by name?
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The Family Tree of Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan was born on October 3, 1954, in Dallas, Texas. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan, another renowned guitarist who played with bands such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds and The Vaughan Brothers. Their father, Jimmie Lee Vaughan, was an asbestos worker, and their mother, Martha Jean Vaughan, was a secretary. They grew up in a musical household, listening to blues, rock, and jazz records. Stevie Ray Vaughan began playing guitar at age seven, inspired by his brother and by guitar heroes such as B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, and Jimi Hendrix.
Stevie Ray Vaughan dropped out of high school at age 17 and moved to Austin, Texas, where he started his professional career as a guitarist. He formed his own band, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, in 1978, with bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. He gained fame after performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982, where he caught the attention of David Bowie and John Hammond. He signed with Epic Records and released his debut album, Texas Flood, in 1983. The album was a critical and commercial success, showcasing his powerful vocals and guitar skills.
Stevie Ray Vaughan became one of the leading figures in the blues revival of the 1980s, releasing four more studio albums: Couldn’t Stand the Weather (1984), Soul to Soul (1985), Live Alive (1986), and In Step (1989). He also collaborated with other artists such as Bowie, Jackson Browne, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Albert King, and his brother Jimmie. He won six Grammy Awards and sold over 15 million albums worldwide. He was also known for his energetic and charismatic live performances, often playing his guitar behind his back or with his teeth.
Stevie Ray Vaughan struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction for most of his life. He also had a turbulent marriage with Lenora “Lenny” Bailey, whom he married in 1979 and divorced in 1988. He later dated Janna Lapidus, a model from New Zealand, who helped him overcome his substance abuse problems. He went to rehab in 1986 and remained sober until his death.
Stevie Ray Vaughan died on August 27, 1990, at age 35. He was killed in a helicopter crash near East Troy, Wisconsin, along with four other people: his agent Bobby Brooks, his bodyguard Nigel Browne, his assistant tour manager Colin Smythe, and the pilot Jeff Brown. They were flying from Alpine Valley Music Theatre to Chicago after performing with Eric Clapton’s band. The helicopter crashed into a hillside due to foggy weather conditions.
Stevie Ray Vaughan was buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas. His funeral was attended by thousands of fans and fellow musicians. He was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Background of Kenny Vaughan
Kenny Vaughan was born on September 7th (year unknown) in Oklahoma City but raised in Denver Colorado. His guitar instructor was Bill Frisell. In the late 1960s, Kenny Vaughan played in a number of rock bands in the Littleton area (where he lived), including a progressive rock group called Amos. Soon after, Kenny Vaughan joined a local progressive jazz band then began playing country music in local bars.
Kenny Vaughan moved to Nashville in the 1980s where he became known as a country music guitarist. Along with Greg Garing, Kenny Vaughan was in part responsible for the revitalization of Nashville’s historic Lower Broadway district. They drew crowds of listeners while playing in the back room of Tootsie’s. Kenny Vaughan was briefly a member of McBride & the Ride in 1994, and later of Trent Summar & the New Row Mob.
Kenny Vaughan has been a member of Marty Stuart’s band, The Fabulous Superlatives since its inception in 2002. He has also toured with Lucinda Williams, Allison Moorer, and Kim Richey. He released his only solo album, V, in 2011. The album is a mix of country, rockabilly, and blues songs written by Kenny Vaughan, and includes three instrumental tracks.
Kenny Vaughan has won several awards for his guitar playing, including the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year award and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist. He was also inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.
Kenny Vaughan is married to Carmella Ramsey, a singer and fiddle player who has performed with him and Marty Stuart. They have one son together.
The Answer to the Question
So, is Kenny Vaughan related to Stevie Ray Vaughan? The answer is no. They are not related by blood or by name. They just happen to share a common surname and a passion for guitar playing.
However, they do have some connections in the music industry. For example, Kenny Vaughan has played with Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s brother, on several occasions. He also recorded a tribute song for Stevie Ray Vaughan called “Country Music Got a Hold on Me”, which appeared on his solo album V.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kenny Vaughan are both respected and admired by their peers and fans for their contributions to American music. They have different styles and genres, but they both have a distinctive sound and a mastery of their instrument. They are both guitar legends in their own right.
