Stevie Ray Vaughan, born Stephen Ray Vaughan on October 3, 1954, in Dallas, Texas, grew up in a turbulent household marked by his father's alcoholism and frequent relocations. The younger brother of guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, he was a shy child who discovered his passion for music early. At age seven, he received a toy guitar as a birthday gift and began learning by ear, heavily influenced by his brother's records. By his teens, Vaughan was immersed in the blues, drawing from legends like Albert King, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, and Guitar Slim, as well as rock icons Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Mack, and jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell. He acquired his first electric guitar—a hand-me-down Gibson ES-125T from Jimmie—in 1963 and started performing publicly at age 11. Alcoholism crept into his life young, starting at age six, which would later impact his career.

Vaughan's professional journey began in 1965 with local Dallas bands like the Chantones and the Brooklyn Underground, where he played in bars despite his youth. He dropped out of high school in 1972 and relocated to Austin, Texas, the heart of the burgeoning blues scene, joining acts such as the Southern Distributor, Liberation, Blackbird, Krackerjack, and the Nightcrawlers. In 1975, he gigged with Paul Ray and the Cobras at iconic venues like Antone's and Soap Creek Saloon, jamming with idols like Buddy Guy and Albert King. His first single, "Other Days"/"Texas Clover," came in 1976.

By 1977, Vaughan formed the Triple Threat Revue with singer Lou Ann Barton, bassist W.C. Clark, and drummer Chris "Dr. Z" Layton, recording early tracks like "I'm Cryin'." Lineup shifts in 1978 led to the band's rename as Double Trouble (after an Otis Rush song), with Jackie Newhouse on bass. They secured a residency at Austin's Rome Inn and, in 1980, added bassist Tommy Shannon after a pivotal jam session. This core trio—Vaughan, Shannon, and Layton—would define his signature sound: fiery Texas blues-rock infused with soul and Hendrix-esque flair. Early struggles included a 1979 cocaine possession charge, resulting in probation and mandated rehab, though Vaughan's substance use persisted.

Double Trouble's explosive rise ignited at the 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival, where their raw, high-volume set of covers ("Hide Away," "Texas Flood") and originals ("Pride and Joy," "Love Struck Baby") initially drew boos but captivated David Bowie and Jackson Browne. Browne invited them to record demos, while Bowie recruited Vaughan for guitar duties on his 1983 blockbuster Let's Dance (including the title track and "China Girl"). This exposure led to a deal with Epic Records under legendary A&R exec John Hammond.

Their debut, Texas Flood (June 1983), blended covers and originals like the title track (Larry Davis), "Lenny" (an instrumental tribute to Vaughan's wife, Lenora "Lenny" Bailey, married 1979–1988), and peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard 200, eventually going double platinum with over 2 million U.S. sales. Follow-ups solidified his stardom: Couldn't Stand the Weather (1984) hit No. 31 and platinum status, featuring Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and "The Things (That) I Used to Do" (Guitar Slim); Soul to Soul (1985, No. 34, gold) introduced keyboardist Reese Wynans and tracks like "Change It"; and the live Live Alive (1986) captured Austin energy, though criticized for studio overdubs.

Vaughan's addictions peaked in the mid-1980s—a quart of whiskey and quarter-ounce of cocaine daily—leading to a life-saving rehab stint in 1986. Sober and revitalized, In Step (1989) became his commercial pinnacle, reaching No. 33, earning gold certification, and snagging a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. It yielded his lone No. 1 hit "Crossfire" and standouts like "The House Is Rockin'" and a Howlin' Wolf cover, "Love Me Darlin'." Vaughan's gear—primarily Fender Stratocasters like his sunburst "Number One" (with 1959 pickups) and "Lenny" (1965 model), paired with heavy strings, Fender Super Reverb amps, and an Ibanez Tube Screamer overdrive—became as iconic as his blistering, thumb-picking style.

Vaughan's stage presence was electric, blending virtuosic solos with sweat-soaked showmanship. He opened for The Moody Blues (1983), sold out the Beacon Theatre (1983, attended by Mick Jagger and others), and headlined Carnegie Hall (1984) with guests like Jimmie, Dr. John, and the Roomful of Blues horn section—the show later released as Live at Carnegie Hall (1997, gold-certified). Other highlights: a slide-guitar national anthem at the 1985 Astrodome All-Star Game, Sydney Opera House (1984), Farm Aid inaugural (1985), Robert Plant tour opener (1988), Madison Square Garden headline (1989), and Beale Street Music Festival (1990). He jammed with Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Albert King on the 1987 In Session album and performed a rare acoustic set for MTV Unplugged in 1990.

Awards poured in: five W.C. Handy Awards, honorary Texas Navy admiral (1985), and six Blues Music Awards, including Contemporary Male Artist of the Year (1984). In Step's Grammy capped his lifetime accolades. Rolling Stone later ranked him No. 7 (2003) and No. 3 (2023) among greatest guitarists; Guitar World dubbed him the top blues axeman. His U.S. album sales surpassed 15 million.

Tragically, Vaughan's life ended on August 27, 1990, at age 35, in a helicopter crash in East Troy, Wisconsin, en route from a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theatre (where he'd jammed with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray). Foggy conditions and pilot error caused the Bell 206B JetRanger to collide with a ski hill, killing Vaughan, pilot Jeff Brown, agent Bobby Brooks, bodyguard Nigel Browne, and tour manager Colin Smythe. Toxicology confirmed he was clean. His Dallas funeral drew 3,000, including Stevie Wonder and Jackson Browne.

Posthumously, Family Style (1990, with Jimmie) won a 1991 Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Compilations like The Sky Is Crying (1991) and In the Beginning (1992) kept his fire alive, with over 5.5 million U.S. albums sold in the year after his death. Texas declared October 3 "Stevie Ray Vaughan Commemoration Day" (1991); a statue rose in Austin (1993); and the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award aids musicians in recovery (1999). Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (2000) and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2015, with Double Trouble), plus a Hollywood Walk of Fame star (2019), Vaughan's influence endures in artists like John Mayer, Gary Clark Jr., and Kenny Wayne Shepherd—reviving blues for generations with his raw, soulful Stratocaster howl.