BOOKS: TEXAS FLOOD: THE INSIDE STORY of STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN

Photo by Jim Steinfeldt

Eric Clapton once said that Stevie Ray Vaughan played guitar as though “it all just came straight from him, seemingly without any effort.” And it did sometimes seem as if performing came as naturally to him as breathing. During a televised concert in 1989, for example, Vaughan broke a string in the midst of a solo—but continued playing for a full half minute, then swapped guitars and finished the song without missing a note.

That apparent effortlessness, however, was actually the fruit of intense discipline.

Roddy Colonna: Stevie always had a guitar in his hands—he played all of the time. As soon as he woke up in the morning, he’d get the yogurt, put it on the table, and play to an Earl Hooker or Albert King record, whoever his idols were that day. He was completely dedicated to the instrument, and he’d work on his playing constantly. He was real sincere about it—there was nothing phony-baloney about him. Listening to music and playing guitar were the biggest things in his life. He’d always be saying, “Listen to this!” Whatever he was into, he was into it all the way.

Quote from Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan

By Alan Paul, Andy Aledort

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