American Guitarist
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Revered by the blues and rock communities alike, Stevie Ray Vaughan ushered in a distinctive style for mainstream music in the 80s. His tragic death in 1990 sealed his iconic status as one of the best guitarists of our time.
Some of Vaughan’s more notable pieces are covers of Jimi Hendrix’ Little Wing and Voodoo Child as well as original, heavy blues material like Crossfire.
Vaughan was born and raised in Dallas and he began his career as a musician and ultimate guitar legend from an early age. At the age of 17, he dropped out of high school to pursue music and started forming bands. By 1978, Vaughan was lead guitarist and vocalist for a band called Double Trouble which was creating sufficient buzz in the Texas music scene.
During a performance in 1982, the band caught the attention of David Bowie and Jackson Browne. Bowie asked Vaughan to play on his forthcoming album, while Browne offered free recording time in Los Angeles. Both were accepted and before long, Vaughan had secured a record deal and a debut album was released.
The album was titled Texas Flood and it received acclaim from both blues and rock critics. It featured the classic Pride and Joy. A second album, Couldn’t Stand the Weather was released in 1984 and by the end of 1985 it had reached gold status. In 1989, In Step won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues album.
After a gig with Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy, Vaughan boarded a helicopter that, after takeoff, crashed killing him and four other passengers. He was only 35 years old. The recordings he was working on before his death were released posthumously and were just as successful as those during his lifetime. One year later, an album featuring various studio sessions and outtakes, The Sky is Crying, went platinum. A further live album and greatest hits compilation were released in the 90s.
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Fender has released two special edition Stratocasters in honour of Vaughan including a replica of one of his most used guitars, lovingly dubbed “Lenny”. There is also a memorial statue erected in Austin, Texas which is a popular attraction with tourists and fans.
Juanita Appleby
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TED NUGENT
Ted Nugent is one of the more accomplished guitarists of the 20th and 21st centuries - not only as a solo artist but also for Amboy Dukes and Damn Yankees. He is a well-known and outspoken advocate for anti-drug, pro-hunting and conservative politics with numerous side projects including reality shows, radio programmes and books.
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His career started in the 60s as a member of the psychedelic rock band, Amboy Dukes best known for the hit, Journey to the Center of Your Mind. The group released three albums but shortly disintegrated leaving Nugent in the end as the only remaining original member.
In the 70s, Nugent had more recognized fame with a parade of hits including Great White Buffalo, Stranglehold, Free For All, Wang Dang Sweet Poontang, Dog Eat Dog and Cat Scratch Fever. By this time, Nugent adopts the nickname “Motor City Madman” as a reflection of his reputation for showmanship at his over 200 live shows per year.
Despite the chart and arena sell-out success, Nugent had problems holding on to band members and eventually went bankrupt due to poor non-music related business decisions. He went on to form a 90s super group, Damn Yankees which consisted of band members from other notable acts like Night Ranger and Styx. The group had a hit with their first 1990 release, High Enough but the band dissolved after a second album.
Nugent returned to his solo career concentrating once again on live performances which he used on albums and to promote re-mastered material. His 1995 release Spirit of the Wild produced another hit in the form of Fred Bear. This song paid homage to a close friend and bow hunter of North America. He also stepped into the limelight for his more controversial political views. He continues to tour and recently released an album of new material called Love Grenade.
To date, Nugent has released more than 34 albums which have collectively sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
Born December 13, 1949, in Redford Township, Mich.; married Sandra Jezowski, April, 1970 (deceased); married Shemane Deziel (a radio traffic reporter), December, 1988; children: Sasha Emma, Theodore Tobias.
Formed first band, the Lourds, at age 13; formed the Amboy Dukes in Chicago, Ill., 1965, group moved base of operations to Detroit, 1967, released first record, "Baby Please Don't Go," 1967, first album, The Amboy Dukes, 1968, group dissolved, 1975; solo career, 1975—; actor, including featured guest role in TV series "Miami Vice"; has made instructional video on bow hunting.
Addresses: Record company—Atlantic Records, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10023. Other—3101 East Eisenhower #3 , Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
By 1984, however, Nugent had gotten the hint (and a new label) and joined the club with Penetrator and 1986's Little Miss Dangerous, which showed he could compete with his contemporaries. He had previously employed singers to cover the vocals while occassionally belting out a song or two himself. But on his 1988 release, If You Can't Lick 'Em ... Lick 'Em, Nugent handled all the lead vocals. Although he has not regained his former position in the heavy metal hierarchy, he is still indeed a dedicated guitarist to be reckoned with. "All I can say is that if I didn't have the ulterior diversions, with my hunting, my outdoor activities and my family, I would stay on the road 360 days a year," he told Gett. I've never felt anything less than outrageous enthusiasm for my music."
Albums:
Ted Nugent, Epic, 1975.
Free For All, Epic, 1976.
Cat Scratch Fever, Epic, 1977.
Double Live Gonzo, Epic, 1977.
Weekend Warriors, Epic, 1978.
State of Shock, Epic, 1979
Scream Dream, Epic, 1980.
Great Gonzos/The Best of Ted Nugent, Epic, 1981.
Intensities in Ten Cities, 1981, CBS.
Penetrator, Atlantic, 1984.
Little Miss Dangerous, Atlantic, 1986.
If You Can't Lick 'Em ... Lick 'Em, Atlantic, 1988.
Sources: Juanita Appleby; Calen D. Stone
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
