Iconic Austin: Stevie Rae Vaughan Statue

Stevie Ray Vaughan was a blues guitarist and an original member of the band Double Trouble, along with his brother Jimmie Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan fought his way to fame in Austin, and fans claim he created the genre “blues rock” with his blues guitar style of play mixed with the traditional power-chords often seen in rock music. Throughout his career, Vaughan was nominated for 12 Grammys, 6 of which he won, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000. Vaughan is often praised as the best guitarist of all time, due to his original sound and passion for music. 

Stevie Ray Vaughan became Austin’s hero after working in downtown bars and playing music no matter what the circumstances. In 1994, Austin erected a statue in honor of his memory. The statue resides in Auditorium Shores Park, in Central Austin where Vaughan hosted many concerts for his fans. The statue represents Austin’s own personality: hard-working, friendly, courageous, and welcoming. Stevie Ray never gave up on playing guitar and, as a bronze statue, he reminds the people of Austin to go for their dreams as well.

Vaughan’s fans often visit the statue, and memorials are sometimes placed at the foot of the statue. He is depicted in a long signature cape holding a guitar in his left hand. The statue’s right hand is curved slightly, and flowers are placed in his bronze fingers almost daily. Vaughan’s date of death also is remembered every year by fans bringing flowers. It has become one of Austin’s most popular tourist attractions, as it is the only Stevie Ray Vaughan statue in the country.

The bronze statue is a part of iconic Austin due to its message to the city, the remembrance of a hard-working citizen of Austin, and the effect the city had on Vaughan’s music career.

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