Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughan - Family Style

Tick - Tock

One night while sleeping in my bed
I had a beautiful dream
That all the people of the world got together
On the same wavelength
And began helping one another
Now in this dream universal love was the theme of the day. Peace and understanding and it happened this way.

May 15th - Bloggers Unite for Amnesty International

Coming together as a whole, coming together for a common cause is what get’s things done.  When we are passionate collectively we can accomplish the greatest things we imagined.  Learning from one another the barriers and road blocks in each others worlds and those worlds that we are not even aware of because we are so concerned with our own little corner of life, is what stops us from achieving. 

I am not versed well enough on many of the topics that Amnesty International is involved in, and only became aware of the May 15th Bloggers Unite Campaign just a few days ago, I would rather leave that to the probloggers and writers to drive all those points home. 

In 1983 “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie became his first #1 Hit, in the US and in the UK with Stevie Ray on Guitar.  Uniting here were two very different styles of people and musical talent, coming together to create. 

As a team people can create beautiful things, no matter what their goals are or what they set forth to accomplish. 

House of Texas Music was one of our favorite hang out’s down in Austin.   As mentioned in my previous post, one of my Stevie Ray sketches found a home with Ray Hennig.  Never did I imagine they would be as kind to display it front & center.

When we left the shop on Thursday, I figured Ray would hang the picture in the back of his store, he said he did not want it to get stolen. 

Well, we stopped in Saturday before we left, and when Buck held the door for me, there in the front of the store, is my Stevie.

My passion for drawing Stevie is like no other, the lines of his face and that boxer nose of his flow pretty freely with any type of pencil.  He has a unique nose, from a surgery from when he was a young child. 

I am completely honored that in Stevie’s favorite guitar store, hangs one of my sketches.   The store is filled with walls of guitars and nostalgia on the wall.  I spent hours walking around and reading about all the accomplishments of Ray and many of the players that have walked through House of Texas.  1002-1004 South Lamar Street, Austin!

Sitting in the aisle where Stevie found Number One, knowing he sat there for hours felt as if we were living a piece of true blues history.  A man that had a passion, but no cash, rose to fame because of his true love and dedication to what he knew he was supposed to do.  The feelings and emotions that were part of  Stevie’s soul, came out through his music, he left us with so much of it to enjoy. 

But, let’s not forget the man, listening to Ray’s stories, behind this player, was a compassionate, humble and loving person.  For those that knew him, he left a mark way beyond his music.  For those of us who didn’t, we could only hope to be as dedicated and humble to our passions, family & friends.

Yeah, I know, it’s a repeat Stevie Ray Vaughan Drawing.  I originally brought two with me to allow Cutter his choice for the SRV Memorial Ride, but on our second visit to House of Texas Music on South Lamar Street, and meeting Ray Hennig, I knew that this picture was to have a home in one of Stevie’s favorite hangouts, and the place he first layed his hands on his ‘59 Strat.  AKA Number One, the story behind that is a great one, I will share it the upcoming days.  Stevie was in Ray’s store each and every day.  It was great to hang out and just feel the nostalgia there.

Ray Hennig was one of Stevie’s closest friends, and what a kind southern gentleman he is.  Ray took the time to share stories about Stevie and several things that went on during those beginning years, and told us the story of how he would throw Stevie a pack of strings over the counter, when he would buzz in before he was going to do a show. 

As we were getting ready to leave, Ray asked Jake what strings he used, and set him up with a bag full.  I got one of the greatest compliments that I have in my life, being that Stevie is such a passion of mine to draw, Ray asked if I would inscribe it to him, as I was doing so, he put his hands over Stevie’s mouth, and said the mouth looks good, and I have seen a lot of drawings of Stevie, but you really captured his eyes, and that nose dead on.

Ray was going to hang this in the back, so no one stole it, and I inscribed it - To: Ray, thanks for sharing your stories.

Susie Kleiner

~ Soul to Soul from Austin !

After a long March, caulked full of bad news, the good news is, we will be in Austin, TX as you read this.  I am a huge fan of the book, Can’t Stop a Comet, by Cutter Brandenburg and have emailed with him back & forth since I purchased his book. 

Some will argue, it’s not all about SRV, but it is about life, and it is about dedication of what friends and people do for one another.  The book is full of information of Cutter’s life on the road, and the people he met, and how they touch his life.

Life is short, NO DOUBT, take that for what it is,  use it, live it, learn it, and continue to grow it.  There is no going back in life, you may be able to correct the wrongs, but you will not be able to re-live the moment. Cherish the people around you and enjoy life. 

Stevie Ray is an icon, he is a legend, his music will envoke in you a person you never knew existed, take the time to listen.  My friend Danny over at Guitar Players Center takes time, each and every night, not only playing his own stuff, but playing the licks, the riff’s and the melodies of those that have shaped our world with music as great as Stevie, Jimi, Lighting and Buddy Guy, plus many, many more. 

As you read this, I am hopeful that I will be meeting up with Cutter and will be able to give to him the piece above, so it can be auctioned off at the 14th Annual SRV  Memorial Ride, along with a brand new piece of Hei Matau Bone Art from New Zealand.   I worked on this piece in one afternoon, dedicated and decided, that this would be the one that I would donate, it shows off the fine Hei Matau Bone Art that Stevie worn later in his career. 

WOW.. that’s truly why I have been drawing this magnificient man.. his bone structure is like no other, the boxer nose, the fine eyes, and those to die for big, beautiful Vaughan hands! When you watch Stevie, take a peek at his arms.. the veins popping and the hands just don’t stop as they hit those notes and cords with astounding passion and love for the music he has left us with. 

~ Soul to Soul

Susie

Many years after Stevie’s death, Rolling Stone ranked him #7 out of 100, in their list of Greatest Guitarist of all time.

What makes a great musician? As in anything we do, I belive it is the passion behind what we are doing that drives us to greatness.  Life certainly can have it’s share of trials and tribulations, for some way more than others.  I wrote of Wellness Wednesday a few posts back, when you have the blues, winter blues or otherwise, remember your passions in life, and sink into one of them.  Even if it is only for a glimmer of a minute. 

I found this picture of Stevie many years ago and it has always been a favorite of mine.  Yes, I have always been attracted to “attitude”, this is a picture of Stevie that carries that attitude and the swagger of an outstanding musician.  The intesity that Stevie played with is incredible.   I have said it before, and I will say it again, if you have not watched Hug You, Squeeze You, go look it up on YouTube, at one point in the video the camera shoots him at an upward angle, and he glimpse’s directly into the camera, you can literally see the passion of the song in his eyes. 

I was working on this piece that was done with a woodless graphite, 97 4B with an extreme amount of shading.  I got to his muscular chest, and sat thinking, what the heck is wrong with this? I realized, I had his peacock tattoo drawing backwards, as well as his famed belt buckle, “The End of the Trail”, which still is backwards on the sketch above.

Take today to chase away your blues!

~ Soul to Soul - Susie