Double Trouble (band)
Encyclopedia
Double Trouble was the backing rhythm section for Texas blues rock guitarist and lead vocalist Stevie Ray Vaughan
. Originally consisting of drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon
, Reese Wynans
would later join the outfit on keyboards.
were both in a band called "Triple Threat", when they left to form their own band with bassist Jackie Newhouse, saxophonist Johnny Reno, and drummer Chris Layton. The group's name comes from the Otis Rush
song "Double Trouble", but originally referred as much to the double strengths of Vaughan's guitar and Barton's powerful singing. Barton toured with the band in 1978 and 1979. During this period, Vaughan would often announce the five member's names, following with "And we're 'Double Trouble'", but when Reno and then Barton left the band, the unit was most often referred to as "Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble", with the two-piece rhythm section becoming the 'Double Trouble' (though there are recordings of Vaughan using the "we're Double Trouble" intro when the line up was himself, Layton & Newhouse).
Newhouse was replaced by Tommy Shannon in 1980, and he and Vaughan played together until Vaughan's death in 1990. Shannon had previously been a bass player with Johnny Winter
, particularly during the earlier part of Winter's career, in the 1960s.
Layton and Shannon then helped form two "semi-supergroups
" in Austin, Arc Angels
and Storyville
in the 1990s, and worked with W. C. Clark
, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
, and Doyle Bramhall
before releasing an album under their own name, entitled Been a Long Time, on Tone-Cool Records in 2001. This album featured appearances from Doyle Bramhall, Lou Ann Barton, Reese Wynans, Jonny Lang
, Willie Nelson
, Dr. John
, and Jimmie Vaughan
. The album hit #1 on the U.S. Blues charts and peaked at #126 on the Billboard 200
.
Double Trouble later worked as the rhythm section for Jimmy D. Lane, and they play on his most recent CD It's Time (2004). They play on two albums by Brazilian blues guitarist Nuno Mindelis
, and also toured with Joe Bonamassa
.
After Vaughan's Death
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
. Originally consisting of drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon
Tommy Shannon
Tommy Shannon is an American bass guitarist best known as a member of the blues-rock group Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and as an early bass player in Johnny Winter's band.-Biography:...
, Reese Wynans
Reese Wynans
Reese Wynans is a keyboard player who has done session work and has been a member of Double Trouble and progressive rock band Captain Beyond.- Personal life :Reese Wynans grew up in Sarasota, Florida during the 1950s...
would later join the outfit on keyboards.
History
In 1978, Vaughan and singer Lou Ann BartonLou Ann Barton
Lou Ann Barton is an American blues singer based, out of Austin, Texas since the 1970s.-Biography:...
were both in a band called "Triple Threat", when they left to form their own band with bassist Jackie Newhouse, saxophonist Johnny Reno, and drummer Chris Layton. The group's name comes from the Otis Rush
Otis Rush
Otis Rush is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow burning sound and long bent notes...
song "Double Trouble", but originally referred as much to the double strengths of Vaughan's guitar and Barton's powerful singing. Barton toured with the band in 1978 and 1979. During this period, Vaughan would often announce the five member's names, following with "And we're 'Double Trouble'", but when Reno and then Barton left the band, the unit was most often referred to as "Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble", with the two-piece rhythm section becoming the 'Double Trouble' (though there are recordings of Vaughan using the "we're Double Trouble" intro when the line up was himself, Layton & Newhouse).
Newhouse was replaced by Tommy Shannon in 1980, and he and Vaughan played together until Vaughan's death in 1990. Shannon had previously been a bass player with Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, particularly during the earlier part of Winter's career, in the 1960s.
Layton and Shannon then helped form two "semi-supergroups
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
" in Austin, Arc Angels
Arc Angels
Arc Angels are a blues rock band formed in Austin, Texas in the early 1990s. The band was composed of guitarist and singers Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton and two former members of Stevie Ray Vaughan's band Double Trouble, drummer Chris Layton. and bassist Tommy Shannon...
and Storyville
Storyville (band)
Storyville was a blues-rock band formed in 1994 in Austin, Texas, USA. Drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon, former members of Arc Angels and the rhythm section for Stevie Ray Vaughan's band Double Trouble, formed the band with Malford Milligan after a jam session at Antone's...
in the 1990s, and worked with W. C. Clark
W. C. Clark
W. C. Clark is an American blues musician. He is known as the "Godfather of Austin Blues" for his influence on the Austin, Texas blues scene since the late 1960s.-Biography:...
, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has released several studio albums and experienced a rare level of commercial success both as a blues artist and a young musician.-Biography:Shepherd graduated Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, Louisiana...
, and Doyle Bramhall
Doyle Bramhall
Doyle Bramhall was an American singer-songwriter and drummer, closely associated with the music of Austin.-Biography:...
before releasing an album under their own name, entitled Been a Long Time, on Tone-Cool Records in 2001. This album featured appearances from Doyle Bramhall, Lou Ann Barton, Reese Wynans, Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang is a Grammy award-winning American blues, gospel, and rock singer, songwriter and recording artist. Lang's music is notable for both his unusual voice, which has been compared to that of a forty-year-old blues veteran, and for his guitar solos...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, and Jimmie Vaughan
Jimmie Vaughan
James Lawrence "Jimmie" Vaughan is an American blues rock guitarist and singer from Dallas, Texas, United States. He is the older brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan....
. The album hit #1 on the U.S. Blues charts and peaked at #126 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Double Trouble later worked as the rhythm section for Jimmy D. Lane, and they play on his most recent CD It's Time (2004). They play on two albums by Brazilian blues guitarist Nuno Mindelis
Nuno Mindelis
Nuno Mindelis , nicknamed "The Beast", is an Angolan-born Brazilian blues guitarist and singer-songwriter....
, and also toured with Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist and singer.-Early life:Bonamassa was born and raised in New Hartford, United States. His parents owned and ran a guitar shop. He is a fourth-generation musician...
.
Discography
With Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
- see: Stevie Ray Vaughan discographyStevie Ray Vaughan discographyStevie Ray Vaughan was an American guitarist and the frontman for Double Trouble. It starts with his studio album discography with Double Trouble from 1983 through 1989, followed by live albums, compilations, singles, videos, and contributions.-Studio albums:...
After Vaughan's Death
- Been a Long Time (2001)