AUSTIN, Texas — Aug. 27, 2025, marks 35 years since Dallas-born but Austin-claimed blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash.

The 1990 incident occurred shortly after a concert at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin. Vaughan, who was 35 years old at the time, was traveling with members of Eric Clapton's crew.

Born on Oct. 3, 1954, Vaughan and his brother, Jimmie, both developed a love for the guitar. Vaughan's unique style made him a legend in the electric blues genre.

He had a strong connection to Austin, where he lived for many years and was celebrated and loved. If you go downtown to Auditorium Shores, you will be able to find an 8-foot-tall bronze statue of the musician that the city of Austin placed there in 1993 in his honor.

In a testament

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