Stevie Ray Vaughn Is No Imitator

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     For years, I considered Stevie Ray Vaughn a Hendrix imitator. I dismissed him and wouldn't even listen to him. Some of my friends felt the same way back in the 80s. I have never been a Blues aficionado, but there have been a few players who have really made an impression on me. Eventually, I came around to giving credit where credit is due regarding Stevie Ray.

    So what brought me to this conclusion? I saw a video of SRV on TV one day. It was a video of him playing Austin City Limits. I saw the video years after the performance. Seeing him playing made a huge difference because there was no way he was posing or acting the part. He was channeling. He wasn't present with the audience. He was in his own world. There was never any indication of forethought on a single note or phrase he played. His hands were moving so fluidly. He was a technical master who didn't need to pay attention to himself. He weaved every influence he ever had into unique and masterful phrasing. You could hear little bits and pieces of all the kings in the phrasing and note choices. Freddie King, Albert King, B.B. King.

    For anyone who has never SEEN Stevie Ray play, please reconsider any short-sightedness about SRV. Don't dismiss him as a Hendrix imitator. As a matter of fact, he is a superior player to Hendrix. Technically speaking. Hendrix had the flash and performance, pioneered electric rock blues, and had some great chops of his own. If Hendrix had lived to see SRV, he would have agreed. Especially because he said Terry Kath of Chicago was better than him.

    Watch the master play. Thanks to "SRVGuitarist" on YouTube

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