Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan was a highly skilled blues guitar player from Texas. He won admiration from many of the most influential blues and rock musicians, and is still celebrated in guitar playing circles today. At least once a year, Guitar World will put him on the cover, put him in as a centerfold, or tabulate one of his many songs. Stevie Ray Vaughan, like many musicians against air travel, died way before his time.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was born in 1954, and is guitar player Jimmie Vaughan's younger brother. Stevie is quoted as saying that his biggest guitar influence was his older brother. Stevie got his first guitar at age 7, and by the time he was 13, he was already playing music in clubs.

Stevie got his big break in the early 1980's when Mick Jagger and Keith Richards discovered him and his band, Double Trouble, playing at a club. Jagger and Richards invited the band to play a private party in New York City, where they made some great connections. Before they knew it, they were playing the world famous Montreaux jazz festival in France, where Jackson Browne invited the band to record in his studio, and David Bowie invited Vaughan to play lead guitar on his album Let's Dance. In 1983, Double Trouble released their debut album "Texas Flood".

Texas Flood was a milestone album. It brought the blues to a wide audience, and established Stevie as a guitar virtuoso. During the mid 1980's, Stevie released several albums, including "Couldn't Stand The Weather", "Soul to Soul", "In Step", and "Family Style" which was a collaboration between himself and his brother Jimmie. During the 80's, the stress of being out on the road and maintaining a rigorous schedule helped Stevie become addicted to alcohol and cocaine. However, he eventually got treatment and kicked his addictions.

In the few short years from his debut on Texas Flood, Stevie Ray Vaughan established himself as a hugely influential and respected guitar player--even amongst his own influences. Stevie's guitar style is heavily influenced by many of the great blues guitar players such as Albert King, Buddy Guy, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Stevie also is heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Much like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie played both rhythm and lead guitar parts in his songs, effortlessly switching back and forth between them. Stevie is the type of guitar player that leaves you in awe with how easy he makes it sound, then makes you want to give up the instrument forever because his skill is so humbling.

Unfortunately, for the world, Stevie Ray Vaughan died tragically before his time in a helicopter crash in 1990. He is buried in the Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. His legacy has yet to be matched in guitar, blues, and rock and roll circles. Stevie's ingenious guitar playing and skill lives on through his albums. If you're a fan of blues, rock or guitar music, you have to hear Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Randy Rhoads

So the other day I was listening to a classic: Blizzard of Ozz by Ozzy Osbourne, and I was reminded that the virtuoso guitar player Randy Rhoads died tragically in a plane crash back in 1982.

Now, I know Randy Rhoads has fallen into obscurity by 2008, but this young musician was truly poised to make a huge impact on 1980's heavy metal...if he hadn't died in a totally stupid plane crash.

Apparently scared of flying, Randy Rhoads somehow ended up on a small plane with a few other people, and a pilot who was either high on cocaine or had used it in the recent past. The pilot apparently flew the plane close to a tour bus where the rest of Ozzy's band were sleeping. After doing this a few times, and going back for another run, the plane hit the bus causing it to crash, killing everyone on board.

Randy Rhoads was only 25 when he died, and yet in his short life, he was able to secure his place in rock history. Born in 1956, Randy started playing guitar at age 7. He learned guitar by playing folk music, but his style of lead guitar playing also shows a heavy influence of classical guitar. Most notable is the song "Dee" (Also on Blizzard of Ozz), which Randy named after his mother. At age 14, Randy Rhoads formed the band that would eventually become Quiet Riot. Playing around the LA area, Quiet Riot never achieved much success, and was never signed to a record label in the US. However, CBS/Sony did sign them, and released two albums in Japan in the late 1970's.

In 1979, Randy Rhoads' name was passed on to Ozzy Osbourne who was putting together a new band after being fired from Black Sabbath. Ozzy reportedly hired Randy Rhoads while he was still warming up for his audition with Ozzy. What followed were two of the greatest heavy metal albums ever recorded: Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. Shortly before his death, Randy Rhoads had expressed interest in retiring from rock music temporarily to pursue a degree in classical guitar. Sadly, he never was able to pursue that musical path.

Randy Rhoads' legacy lives on, especially amongst heavy metal guitarists. Randy's guitar playing is shreddy, skilled, and technical. The Crazy Train riff is classic. He is #4 on Guitar World's list of greatest heavy metal guitarists. It is so sad that a musician with such talent and technique had such a short life. If he had lived, it is no doubt that Randy Rhoads could have influenced so many more people on a much deeper level. However, what Randy Rhoads left behind is something to celebrate. Pick up a copy of Ozzy's Blizzard of Ozz or Diary of a Madman to hear the amazing musical talent of this amazing guitar player. Ozzy's album "Tribute" also features several live performances, and is essential listening for any lover of great guitar playing.

Randy Rhoads: 1956-1982. RIP. We miss you.