Born again! Backed by a new band, The Towering Cranes, Stevie Ray Vaughan appears daily on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas—to the delight of locals and SXSW music visitors alike. Rumor has it Stevie was overheard telling admirers he hardly recognized the ‘home of the blues.’

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s popularity grew in Austin with a weekly gig playing at Antone’s, self-described as the Home of the Blues. So we like to claim him as our own, and our statue of him on the shore of Lady Bird Lake is one of Austin’s most enduring landmarks. (Unlike many other Austin icons, Stevie’s statue is hardly endangered.)

Stevie got his musical start in his hometown, Dallas, before abandoning it, like many who’ve followed him, for Austin’s more relaxed vibe.

Austin, never shy about claiming the musical limelight, owes one to Stevie for lending credence to its title as The Live Music Capital of the World.

His statue makes a pretty fine tribute, don’t you think? ♣

Wondering where things stand, or don’t?

Take a look at my Vanishing Austin series: While many Austin landmarks are lost, many are survivors still. Admire them all in a slideshow, HERE. Prints start at $35.

You can marvel at what’s lost and what’s survived in my Endangered Species of Austin poster, featuring 16 Austin icons, and sized at a handsomely large 24 x 36,” available for $25, HERE.

• How the Vanishing Austin project began
• The 99+ photographs in the Vanishing Austin series
• More articles in Vanishing Austin blog series
• The Endangered Species of Austin

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