Back in the late 1940's when B.B.'s career was in its infancy, one of his stops on the road was in Twist, Arkansas. It used to get quite cold in Twist in the evenings, and in order to keep the dance hall warm, kerosene was used for heat. A large barrel was placed in the center of the room and was filled about half way up with the fuel. The kerosene was then lighted to heat the room, a practice which was not uncommon in those days.

One cold night in 1949, two men started fighting and knocked over the barrel of burning kerosene. The burning fuel spilled over the floor like a river of fire. Every one, including B.B., ran out the front door. Once outside, B.B. realized that he left his guitar, a Gibson acoustic, inside the inferno. He went back inside the collapsing building to save his guitar, almost losing his life in the process. The blaze that night claimed two fatalities.

The next morning, B.B. discovered why the two men were fighting the night before. It seems as though they were fighting over a lady, and although he never met the woman, B.B. learned her name was Lucille. B.B. named that guitar Lucille, and also every guitar he has owned since that night, "to remind me never to do a thing like that again." 

 B.B. King has influenced the guitar playing of Eric Clapton, the late Mike Bloomfield, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert Collins, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix and many others. He is one of his country's living, national treasures, a humble but proud, spiritual and beautiful human being, 

King of the Blues

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      In 1963 at the age of  8, Stevie began playing the guitar (under brother Jimmie's influence ), and was playing in local teen combos a few years later. Stevie didn't do well in high school, as He would sit at the back of the classroom and doze off due to his playing music all night. As a result, his grades suffered.

      In 1972, Stevie dropped out of high school and moved to Austin Texas to play music full-time. Doyle Bramhall, a songwriting partner of Stevie's and longtime friend, was the first one to tell Stevie that he had potential as a guitar player.

     In the early seventies, Stevie played in a band with Doyle called the Nightcrawlers. During the mid-seventies, Stevie played with a popular Austin band called the Cobras.

      In 1976, Stevie formed a blues-R&B band called Triple Threat Revue, starring himself, Lou Ann Barton, W.C. Clark, Fredde Pharoah & Mike Kindred.

This band evolved into Triple Threat with Stevie, Lou Ann, Chris Layton and Jackie Newhouse. When Lou Ann left in 1980 to go to the Roomful of Blues, Stevie spoke up and renamed the group to Double Trouble. In January 1981, Tommy Shannon replaced Jackie Newhouse on bass.

      On December 20 1979, Stevie married Lenora (Lenny) Baily in between sets of a gig at the Rome Inn in Austin Texas. Sometime later Stevie wrote an awesome instrumental song and titled it "Lenny". 1982 proved to be Stevie's most eventful year. David Bowie saw him at the Montreaux Festival and asked him to play on Bowie's LET'S DANCE album.Also, Jackson Browne gave him studio time at his Studio in Los Angeles. In addition, John Hammond from Epic Records signed Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble to their label. This was the beginning of Stevie's worldwide touring and international stardom.

      In 1983, TEXAS FLOOD Stevie and Double Trouble's debut album, was released and the band appeared on Austin City Limits for the first time. Meanwhile,the El Mocambo video was recorded in Toronto Canada.

      In 1984,COULDN'T STAND THE WEATHER was released.

      In 1985, SOUL TO SOUL was released. In addition, Stevie played 5 songs and produced Lonnie Mack's comeback album STRIKE LIKE LIGHTNING.

      In 1986, LIVE ALIVE was released. Later that year, Stevie entered rehabilitation to rid himself of his drug problems. He stayed away from people who could supply him with drugs, and rebuilt his relationship with his mother Martha. Stevie remained sober and drug free for the rest of his life.

      In 1987, Stevie appeared in a movie called Back to the Beach as himself. In the movie, he played a duet with Dick Dale and they performed the song "Pipeline". Also in 1987, Stevie filed for a divorce from Lenny.

      In 1988, Stevie performed an acoustical set on MTV. Later that year, his divorce became final with Lenny.

      In 1989, IN STEP was released. Stevie also toured with Jeff Beck, and recorded his 2nd Austin City Limits performance. Both Austin City Limits performances were released some time later on a single video called LIVE FROM AUSTIN TEXAS.

      In 1990, Stevie toured with Joe Cocker, and recorded FAMILY STYLE with his brother Jimmie.

      On August 27 1990 Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash right after leaving a concert he performed with Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and his brother Jimmy held at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin.