When I was going to school at the University of Texas in Austin, from 1985 to 1989, I loved hanging out in the music stores for fun on Saturday afternoons. I was living on my own, in a super cool town, with music all around. I had no money, so I couldn’t buy anything, but I just liked to play the instruments and dreamed of buying awesome gear one day.
One of the legendary music stores in town, at the time, was Ray Hennig’s Heart of Texas Music. I would visit Ray’s store at least twice a month for strings, guitar straps, picks etc. things I could afford to purchase plus I would play all of the cool guitars and basses he had on display.
Ray’s store was one of kind and an early hang out for Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother Jimmie Vaughan. Ray would often say how, Stevie, would come in daily to play whatever guitars had come in the day before. In fact, Stevie’s number one ax, a beat up old strat, was purchased from Ray Hennig’s Heart of Texas Music. See below!
So, I’m hanging out one afternoon, by myself, no other customers were in the store but me. Ray was at the counter trying to get me to buy something and in walks this guy, dark hair slicked back, guitar on his back, dark shades on, a box of smokes literally rolled up in the sleeve of his T shirt, tapered jeans, and boots, someone out of a 50’s movie. I recognized him immediately. It was Jimmie Vaughan!
This was probably sometime in 1987 or 1988 so Jimmie was still in the T birds and was still in his 30’s. I was stunned, to say the least, but tried to remain cool. He walked right past me, shot me a smirk and a glance with his shades pulled down on his nose a bit, and headed straight to the amp room to test a few tube amps out.
I had been a fan of his brother for a few years and I loved the T birds as well but didn’t know much about Jimmie’s guitar style. Stevie always would say in interviews that his brother was the best guitarist he had ever known. So, Jimmie plugs into this classic Fender Twin Reverb and cranks it up to 11 and pretty much blows the windows out of Ray’s place. I had never heard a guitar so loud, clean and dirty at the same time. He was just sitting on the amp, by himself, jammin’ away. I had only felt that way once before, in 1985 when I saw his little brother, Stevie, at South Padre Island.
I must say, though, up close and personal, that I was surprised to hear what I was hearing. Jimmie has a unique style when playing live in his band, a Texas blues style using pull offs, which is why uses a capo when he has to change keys, so he can pull his licks off and get the same sound he wants in whatever key he’s in.
Anyway, he was doing all of that and more…I believe what I witnessed that afternoon was the raw power of a true guitar master/genius. When Jimmie plays live, it’s all about style, finesse and the subtleties in his playing. The day I saw him he was letting it all hang out, so to speak. It was loud/rude and so so great! He sounded a bit like his brother, which kind of freaked me out, it lead me to believe that Stevie had picked up much of his style from Jimmie to begin with, it’s just Jimmie doesn’t necessarily play like that in public but he can if he wants to.
So, I’m acting as cool as I can be, I was already there when Jimmie walked in the store so I kind of felt like we had bonded, lol. After a while, I just walked over and sat on an amp nearby and watched him play. I was just a few feet away from him yet he kept his head down, foolin’ with the amp some and lettin’ her rip. Every now and then, he would just glance up at me and shoot me a smile, did I mention he was wearing shades indoors, cool, huh? I had my own free private concert with just me and Jimmie. Ray eventually came in the room and they started doing some business so I excused myself. What a great day….an afternoon I’ll never forget!
I had a few more local musician run-ins at Ray’s store…I saw Chris “Whipper” Layton, from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band, Double Trouble, in the parking lot one day when I was there getting into his truck, that was loaded down with firewood of all things…also, Omar Dykes was in the store one day, at the height of his fame, settling up a bill with Ray. It was funny hearing his regular speaking voice talk some business, same deep voice that sings that growling, gravely style, just lower volume. Everybody has got to pay up sooner or later I suppose, even Omar. After he left, I asked Ray what was going on, and he basically said Omar just has a never ending equipment tab with him and makes payments as he plays gigs. Ray was always there to help the local musicians out. Later, when I moved back to Austin in 1996, Ray’s Heart of Texas Music was one of my first stops. I purchased a Schaller Vibrato guitar pedal from him directly…what a salesman, he opened the box for me, tried it out, and then closed the sale, he guaranteed it and after having some issues with it, I took it back to him and he fixed right there on the spot.
I saw Jimmie one other time out and about town. It was around the same time, in the late 80’s. I was driving up north on I35 near the UT football stadium, on the upper deck of I35, and I glanced over to my right and there was a 1956 or 1957 Chevy 2 tone 2 door, windows down, with Jimmie, by himself, in the front seat, shades on, hair slicked back, smokin’ a cigarette, listening to music, cruisin’ along. I just had to smile at that…only in Austin!