See Stevie Ray Vaughan Improvise an Acoustic 12-Bar Blues in 1983
Check out the video clip above from 1983, showing Stevie Ray Vaughan perform an improvised 12-bar blues on a road-worn vintage Gibson acoustic.
The clip, which was recorded for a Dallas radio station, begins with a snippet of Stevie telling the radio audience a bit about himself and his background, stating:
“I’ve done the best I can with carrying on a flame with rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Many many bar gigs, you know. Slept in ’em, lived in ’em, literally. And it’s paid off. Here we are.”
At the time, Vaughan was still pretty new to audiences with his debut, Texas Flood, set for release in June of that year. After the short interview, the clip then jumps straight to Stevie playing solo.
Jonathan Graham is an ACM UK graduate based in London studying under the likes of Guthrie Govan and Pete Friesen. He is the creator of the Forgotten Guitar Facebook page, a classic-guitar media website, and is completing his debut album, Protagonist, due for release in 2016. Updates also can be found at Graham's YouTube channel.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!

“You wanted me to come on your track and do something in a Spanish style. I thought, ‘I have to show him how I do it on the whole guitar’”: Marcin shows an astounded Will Smith his virtuosic guitar technique

“I probably hauled in 20 guitars. I listened to the record top to bottom, turned to him and said, ‘It doesn’t need anything’”: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter on the one studio session where he lugged a ton of guitar gear – and didn't use any of it