My heritage is of this: Just like most I am a mutt. My wife, however, is a purebred. Born in South Korea. The story of my birth is quite interesting, but that is not the anecdote that I will share. Most of my family, comes by way of Wales. When coming over to the United States, as with most immigrants, names were changed throughout the years. As I like to honor my family's name, or in this case names, I will state you the changes that have been made throughout the hundreds of years. This has made my understanding of my ancestors' to be very confusing. Before my grandfather, on my father's side, had passed, I had been given much information about my heritage from him. I also had the great honor of knowing my great grandmother into my 20s.
My surnames have included Zobel, Yetikevich, Jurkeweicsz, Conway, Davis, Barr, Smith and Vaughan coming by way of Israel to Poland to the United States. This would be my Jewish/Polish side. I am also black and part Native American Indian. I do not state African American because there is no way to track my ancestry to Africa. And then there is my Welsh side. Vaughan is a Welsh name. But all the names were changed several times within Europe and then changed again several times when my ancestors immigrated to the United States including myself. So getting to the story about SRV:
I have many relatives in the city of Chicago. They are Welsh. But since a large amount settled and still live in Chicago, many of them married Italians. Because this anecdote involves my Italian cousin who has an odd Italian name, I felt it necessary to state this. His first name is Deano. No his legal name is not Dean and we add the O, it is legally Deano. Now that he's in his 50's, how odd it must be having this name.
Throughout my youth I had always felt as if something was missing. I used to have these dreams/daydreams about holding a guitar. Though my family came from music, back to my great aunt singing with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, all the way to the great Stevie Ray Vaughan, my life was revolved around sports. When I was 7 years old, I went to visit my family in Chicago. I was favored amongst my cousins and treated quite well. As we were vacationing there for around two weeks, my cousin Deano was and is a very wealthy and is still a quite spontaneous man.
He owns a Think Tank creating ideas for major companies such as Apple. Though it took a few days, he had convinced my parents to allow me to go to Austin, Texas with him. Though a road trip would have been fun, as a 7 year old, I don't think this is something my cousin Deano would wanted to undertake. Because of his company, he had access to a private jet. I was excited, yet nervous, for the first time being able to fly as one of my dreams was to be a fighter pilot. My cousin, Deano, wanted to culture me in the greatest music of all, the blues.
I have always been particular to the blues, but really had not understood the genres of music. Little did I know, Deano had taken me there to also introduce me to a long lost cousin. Though I can not remember the name of the bar, as I was very young, one day in the afternoon, Deano took me to a bar to get lunch. On the stage was a man sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on another chair, his hat was tilted downward and he was playing guitar. I did not know it at the time until getting into music later in life what guitar he was playing. As we listened for 45 minutes, my cousin Deano had grabbed a drink from the bar and asked me to walk up to the man playing the blues on stage. It was none other than Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Deano said, I want to introduce you to your cousin. And then I was introduced to SRV.
Of course, I simply called him Cousin Stevie. As he put his guitar in his case, downed the drink my cousin Deano had bought for him, the three of us had taken a walk. Cousin Stevie was kind and gentle. Humble and timid. Was very respectful, but also very convicted. We had walked around the city of Austin. I was introduced to many people. Later that evening I went to meet the rest of my family. Stevie's family. I was very nervous, not because of my cousin Stevie, as I had no idea of who he was other than my cousin, but the fact that I was timid myself, especially around new people, though they made me feel at home.
I have always been an honest person, but for some reason I had felt ashamed when asked a question. Stevie had asked me if I had a guitar. As he had jammed a little bit and let me play his. Though I'm sure what I was playing, as I knew nothing of music, was horrifying. When asked, I said yes I do. He had offered to give me an old electric and/or acoustic saying I could pick. I did not accept at this time. Later that night Stevie had a gig and I was allowed in the bar despite my age to watch because I was his cousin. Though I loved the music, the atmosphere was what I drowned myself in.
Skipping ahead, many years later and around the age of 21, I had picked up the guitar. As I stated, I was involved in sports, that was my passion. Before picking up the guitar I had three influences. Keb'Mo. Eric Clapton. And eventually my cousin Stevie Ray. What's interesting within this story is that I had no conception of who my cousin was. When I heard Eric Clapton play "Before You Accuse Me" electrically and then did some research as he was coming out with his "From the Cradle" blues album, I was hooked.
Unfortunately, at this time, my cousin Stevie had passed a few years prior. I had seen him several more times before his passing. I had learned a great deal from this on how we overlook those within our family that are the closest to us. I don't believe it's because we don't appreciate them or that we're so selfish within our own lives. For me, I believe it's because I looked at him as my cousin, not as the great SRV. I had built a good relationship with him. But unfortunately, through most of his life, he had suffered from drug abuse and alcoholism.
The last time I had seen him was in 1989, when he played at Austin City Limits. This is when I had realized what guitar he was playing a decade earlier. This guitar was his number one, the famous Fender Strat. Stevie had said that he had over 200 necks replaced on the body of the guitar, but he also had several different bodies for it. Then there was the time I finally took the gift. A multi-piece SRV number one, or in this case maybe number 151, guitar. Finally, I had bought one of his CDs. It was a remastered version of his greatest hits. I was blown away.
Though it took me about another year to really appreciate what he was doing and what he would have accomplished through his music if not for the horrible circumstances causing his death. Though I had an inside track on how he had gotten his sound. It had taken me years, as this was the sound that I wanted. But to take it to the next level to accomplish this. Though the equipment is a huge part of it, it is the technique and intensity that must be possessed. I was given the same gift as my cousin was. Unfortunately, my health has not allowed for many to see this gift, much less to even hear it. I have done most of my playing live, and there are very few recordings of me. Vocally, I have exceeded almost everybody. Musically, I am the only person that can be and has been legitimately compared to my own cousin. Throughout the years I have developed my own style as well, as when I came into my own, I had taken music to a new level.
The day that I am better is the day that this will be understood. Without having Stevie musically, but also as my cousin, I would not have been able to achieve this. So this is a great joy and anecdote, but there is a lesson to be learned here. Whether we are youthful, whether we are getting up in years, we must stop and take the time to appreciate everyone, especially those that are closest to us. If we don't, life will pass us by and we will lose out on so much if we do not seize these gifts.
If Stevie wasn't Stevie, would I or anyone else appreciate him for who he was and what he has left behind? If he was simply my cousin, but had never reached the level of success he did, if he never died, would he have had the influence on so many that he has now? And is this something that he wondered, being such a gentle, humble soul, when alive?
When our hearts are full of love and we are contributing with the gifts that we have been given by God, we will be filled with our purpose to share with others. It is very difficult to be sycophantic to your relative. But it seems to be very easy to pass on by not only their gifts and talents but their love, as we expect it to go on forever.
Due to my health, it has made me question a lot of different variables. Would my life be different today, would I even be sick if I had looked at life in this way, the way that I am asking you to look at it? The way that I now see clear as day? So this may be silly, but don't live your life in overcast. Not only appreciate the beauty of everyone, but look for it. Let it shine through.
As with many of my relatives that have passed early, again, I wonder how my life would be different if they were still alive. The ones that have the great heart like my cousin Stevie. The great hearts that I have inherited. And I surely do not want to pass without giving the gift that I have been given, but did not understand until it was too late. And as far as the people who loved my cousin, no, I will not sell you or give you that guitar. That is special to me. But I'm sure all of you have been given something in equivalence. Thank you so kindly for listening. And God Bless you all.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
Post Script: Another statement that I make is that to lead we must follow and to follow we must lead. Stevie was and is a leader. Understanding this concept through his faith of God and his discernment. Though we are similar in many ways, of course, I am my own man. So again, I would be remiss if I did not add in Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon, and eventually Reese Wymans. These men are an example of what I have just stated. The way they valued each other and, of course, Stevie. This is a perfect example of my saying to lead we must follow; to follow we must lead.
As many Stevie fans watch his live videos, they can see how his band simply sits back as Stevie takes the lead. But without their support, without the love they had for one another, the way that this would have affected them as men and as friends would have not allowed for the music that we love and enjoy from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble today. Each man knew their place, as music, great music, that changed lives and is still changing them for the better was and is the goal, as today everyone wants to be their own "rockstar" dividing bands and music which is why music has no soul or life and nothing to give anymore.
To me this is an example of an appreciation for the love of friendship and family. As family comes in all different forms as well as friendship. Recently, my wife and I had attended the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction. As I was to play, because of my current health and just being released from the hospital, I was not capable. When inducted, the tears were flowing from everyone. SRV and Double Trouble's induction was the greatest moment of this evening.
I had asked Chris what it was like and though I don't feel comfortable sharing his personal feelings without permission I will say that what he stated is exactly what you would believe he felt. On a personal note, though it was a great ceremony, I was very disappointed with the people that were chosen to play Pride and Joy and Texas Flood. Because he was and is my cousin, I feel that I not only have the right, but the responsibility to state my opinion on this. It was lackluster at best. And frankly I was somewhat embarrassed. There is a particular person who was playing and before I state this, obviously none of this has to do with my cousin Jimmy or Double Trouble, the other artists that were chosen to play, specifically one, who I will not name, are a disappointment.
This one person, I am not speaking just about their musical ability, I am speaking of his personality. He often goes on record stating that no one has ever had or will ever have the ability to play with the same passion or intensity that Stevie did. Not only is this a comment made out of ignorance for his own inadequacies. It is a comment that I believe my cousin Stevie would be appalled by.
Though he might be under the delusion that he is giving a compliment, he is taking away from all the other musicians that have been influenced by SRV, that have spent night and day with the same passion, the intensity that Stevie had, but simply have not been heard yet. He is not understanding that because of Stevie, this has allowed people to take their music to the next level. Just as the same could be said by Stevie himself for his musical influences. Without those people, Stevie would not be what we know him to be musically or personally as a man.
Yes, him being my cousin has made me work to learn every song that he has ever recorded note for note, with the same phrasing, intensity and emotion. With my Strat and simply playing any amp with just a tube screamer, with my massive strings, so high off the fret board, I have taken what Stevie has done and he has empowered me with a passion and love to play my music and of course his, with the respect of doing him justice.
Of course, without SRV, could this be possible?
Maybe, maybe not.
But this does not apply because Stevie was and is an influence to every musician. And to every heart. This musician that states otherwise does not understand the gift that he has been given from SRV. And personally knowing this man, I believe that is his ego and lack of passion and love that made him state this selfish comment. When I listen to songs like Tightrope, or Texas Flood, or Pride and Joy, and then I listen to a song that is a sell out at it's best, as an example, Your Body Is A Wonderland, I feel no need to go on as I believe I have proven my point.
So all you musicians who are playing with the gift of intensity and passion, keep doing so. Listen to the men like Stevie who encourage you to go after it, to be an open channel, and never make statements to restrict others or put them in a box, as this would be considered discouragement. And personally, we must always try to surpass the greats that came before us within our own styles of music and personality. Because of the respect that we have for what they have passed on to us. Thank you my cousin Stevie Ray Vaughan and his incredible band Double Trouble, for the blessing you have given me and the rest of the world. Remember, music grows and breathes and loves, just as we do.
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