Stevie Ray Vaughan left us 35 years ago today -- August 27th, 1990 -- when the helicopter he was riding in went down after a show at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin.
He'd opened for Eric Clapton that night, and three members of Clapton's entourage were also killed when the chopper hit a ski mountain on its way to Chicago. Vaughan was just 35 years old.
Also on the bill were his brother, Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray. The four posed for photos before the show, one of which is on the Stevie Ray Vaughan website.
The last song he played that night with his band, Double Trouble, was a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," and the last song he ever played was "Sweet Home Chicago" with Clapton, his brother Jimmie and Buddy Guy.
Vaughan was laid to rest on August 31st, 1990 at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. Among those who attended were ZZ Top, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt and Buddy Guy.
His tombstone reads: "Thank you... For all the love you passed our way."
Vaughan had overcome a lot and was probably in the best place he'd been in years at the time of his passing. In an interview the year before, he addressed his recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.