WTMJ Archive: Stevie Ray Vaughan Killed in Helicopter Crash
Click "watch the video" to see TODAY'S TMJ4 archive footage of the death of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
EAST TROY - 20 years ago today, one of the great guitarists of the latter half of the 20th century passed away in a helicopter crash in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and four others died when the helicopter he was riding in crashed early that morning at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy.
Vaughan had just ended a concert at Alpine Valley when the helicopter slammed into a hill in dense fog.
The concert of legendary blues guitarists included Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Stevie Ray's brother, Jimmy Vaughan.
"I just wanted to pay my respects, throw some flowers onto the hill for a great guy, a great musician," said one mourner.
Pilot error was to blame.
A writer for Straight.com, based in Vancouver, Canada, said that Vaughn had told him this in their last interview - also in 1990:
"You never can tell what kinda turns a gig¹s gonna take, but I try to play the best that I possibly can every night. And besides, I would hate to get caught playing my last gig not trying, you know what I mean? If it was the last one it sure would be a drag if I didn¹t try.""
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