# What Blues Players Are Similar To Stevie Ray Vaughn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043 "2011-06-10T23:53:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/1 "2011-06-10T23:53:12Z")
I think Stevie Ray was one of the most talented bluesmen that ever lived. I am asking Multivac here if there are other players I am unaware of that are comparable to Stevie’s level of virtuosity, of which I think an important component is speed. Stevie managed that threshold where speed somehow didn’t compromise feel. And then there’s the dude’s tone. And his sustain and bluesy screechiness. So…is there anyone of any blues generation really comparable to the style and ability of Stevie Ray’s? I want to be awed. I need distraction due to an impending divorce. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/2 "2011-06-11T00:11:26Z")
I’m thinking Buddy Guy at this point. I really like the blues, but there are variants that I find extremely boring if it gets too repetitive or if there are too many one-note bends and a lack of variation. Which explains the appeal to me of Stevie Ray Vaughn. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/3 "2011-06-11T00:15:44Z")
Have you tried Jimmy Vaughan? Also, you might try popping SRV’s name into Pandora and see what floats to the top ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/4 "2011-06-11T00:20:08Z")
I haven’t really listened to Jimmy much, my impression is that he kinda always took second seat to his brother in terms of people judging talent (I agree). But my exposure to Jimmy is limited to the Fabulous Thunderbirds and the songs like “Tick Tock People” that he did in collaboration with Stevie on their “Brothers” album or whatever its called. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/5 "2011-06-11T00:41:53Z")
Ever listened to any [Kenny Wayne Shepherd](http://www.kennywayneshepherd.net/)? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/6 "2011-06-11T00:47:20Z")
Leafing through my blues albums, Johnny Winter and Lonnie Mack both strike me as having similarities to the late great SRV. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/7 "2011-06-11T00:53:01Z")
There’s a guy named **Tinsley Ellis** who I think has a sound similar to SRV. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/8 "2011-06-11T01:01:43Z")
Husband suggests Johnny A and seconds Kenny Wayne Shepherd. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/9 "2011-06-11T01:26:15Z")
[Johnny Lang.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxpwqIzpaLY) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/10 "2011-06-11T01:59:56Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Husband suggests Johnny A and seconds Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Yep. And given your criteria check out John Mayer’s bluesy stuff. He’s a great SRV-ist. Srv was heavily influenced by albert king, Freddie king, t-bone walker and Jimi Hendrix. None were into speed - And actually,fwiw neither was SRV, but the taste of each was, well, tasty. YouTube those guys and get back with impressions. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/11 "2011-06-11T02:20:15Z")
Yeah, KWS was always written off as an SRV wannabe but all these years later I’m much more likely to pull out one of my KWS albums. (Early) Ian Moore. One of my favorites. Gary Moore. (RIP) His blues albums are spectacular. Walter Trout. A little too wheedly-deedily for me but he can really play. Tommy Castro. Coco Montoya ETA: How could I forget Joe Bonnamossa?! The best of the bunch, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/12 "2011-06-11T02:27:32Z")
“Stevie’s level of virtuosity, of which I think an important component is speed.” Rereading the OP…check out Walter Trout. He can cram in a LOT of notes. If it’s fast you’re looking for, he may be the best. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/13 "2011-06-11T03:03:24Z")
Jeff Healey. Colin James. Robert Cray. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/14 "2011-06-11T03:12:21Z")
How about Rory Gallagher? ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/15 "2011-06-11T03:15:51Z")
[Chris Duarte](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYDMDpO3S4A) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/16 "2011-06-11T03:33:15Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Husband suggests Johnny A and seconds Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Thirded, it was the first person that came to mind when I saw the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/17 "2011-06-11T03:36:19Z")
Gary Clark Jr. is a great guitarist. He used to play a weekly show at The Continental Club in Austin. Should maybe hold some cachet for the fact that SRV used to play there as well. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/18 "2011-06-11T03:45:25Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > [Chris Duarte](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYDMDpO3S4A) Saw him live a couple times, he is good! Talked to him once after a show, seemed like a down to earth type. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/19 "2011-06-11T03:53:33Z")
You may also like Warren Haynes/Government Mule and Derek Trucks Band. Old Robin Trower may also fill the bill but is more like Hendrix than SRV. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043/20 "2011-06-11T04:20:38Z")
Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys displays a fair amount of SRV influence: [Crazy Dream](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9alqMpoDV0) [Velvet Sky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27KZTrXaamI) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-blues-players-are-similar-to-stevie-ray-vaughn/585043.md?page=2)