I have always enjoyed listening to music since I was very young. My folks listened to many different types of music from 50's Rock to modern genres. I remember dancing to Rock Around the Clock and other 50's songs, it was a lot of fun too because even my folks would get up and dance right along with me. Music is important in my life for many reasons; it helps me to relax, helps me to get motivated when I have lots of tasks to do around the house, and cheers me up when I'm down. There are even instances where I completely relate to the song it and of itself. Currently one of my favorite performers is Stevie Ray Vaughn, a true virtuoso in the Texas Blues scene.
Stevie Ray Vaughn was born in Dallas TX in 1954 and became interested in music at a young age; in 1963 he was given a toy guitar for Christmas and it all took off from there. He was influenced by his older brother Jimmie in a big way. Of course that is to be expected though as younger siblings look up to their older ones. After a while he and his brother became started to me competitors in the music business as Stevie developed his own unique form.His first band was called Blackbird, a rhythm and blues band, which he stayed with from 1971 – 1972. A year later he joined a rock band only for a few months; this was because the group wanted to wear makeup on stage and Stevie wanted nothing to do with that. Several years after that, in 1977, Stevie formed the band Triple Threat Review with Lou Ann Barton as vocals, W.C. Clark on bass, Mike Kindred on keyboards, and Fredde Pharaoh on drums. Yet again Stevie, Fredde Pharaoh and two other musicians, a saxophone player by the name of Johnny Reno and a bassist by the name of Jackie Newhouse formed the band Double Trouble and the rest is, as they say, history. Double Trouble was the band that Stevie Ray stayed with until his tragic death in August 1990. Stevie Ray was influenced by many different musicians, some of whom are Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and Albert King.
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble fit into the Texas Blues genre, which is the one I chose to write this essay on. This specific genre is based in Blues music which branched off into many sub-genres. "Texas Roadhouse Music is a musical sub-genre that combines blues, c1assic rock, and outlaw country. It is categorized by heavy emphasis on lead guitar arrangements within the songs, and also encompasses folk-influenced singer-songwriter material." quoted from an article on texasbluesband.com. This from of music developed from the music that African American workers in the oil fields, ranches and lumber camps would sing and play when their work day was done. The instruments primarily used in this genre of music are the electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboards. However there have been at times some brass instruments also used, such as the saxophone and horns. Sometimes you can even detect jazz or swing type sounds in the music. This form of music places a high "emphasis on powerful lead guitar breaks".
When it comes to Stevie and Double Trouble influencing the American Music Scene, it has most definitely. Joe Bonamassa was greatly influenced by them and the first songs he played as a youth were those of Stevie Ray Vaughn. "By the age of seven, young Joe had moved up to a full-size guitar and was working out on Stevie Ray Vaughan songs." stated Reverend Keith A Gordon, About.com Guide in an article on the site titled Joe Bonamassa Profile. From listening to their music I have come to the conclusion that they don't have just one value expressed in their music, but many values, two of which are love and hardships. If you look-up information on them you will see what I mean.
Some of their best know songs include Tightrope, The House Is Rockin', and Couldn't Stand the Weather. Their music hasn't changed at all because, sadly, Stevie was killed in a helicopter crash back in 1990. He never had the chance to do or see what things would have been like for him or his band. I have included some of the lyrics to Couldn't Stand The Weather.
Comin' through this business of life
There's rarely time if I'm needed to
Ain't so funny when things ain't feelin' right
Then daddy's hand helps to see me through
Sweet as sugar love won't wash away
Rain or shine, it always here to stay
All these years you and I've spent together
All this, we just couldn't stand the weather
Like a train that stops at every station
We all deal with trials and tribulations
Fear hangs the fell
How that ties up his years
Entangled in yellow and cries all his tears
Changes come before we can go
Learn to see them before we're too old
Don't just take me for tryin' to be heavy
Understand, its time to get ready for the storm
This song relates the facts that everyone has something that they need to deal with in their life, specifically a relationship, and that sometimes it is very hard to work through it, hence the reference to stormy weather.
All this leads me to believe that this genre of music will always remain popular and that many people will continue to listen to it. I think that we will continue to see other forms of this music in the future and the proof lays in the fact that there are many new and upcoming musicians and groups such as Johny Lang and Joe Bonamassa to name two such people.
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