Double Trouble (band)

For the UK dance act, see Double Trouble (dance music producers).

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.

History

In 1978, Vaughan and singer Lou Ann Barton 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).^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.

Discography

With Stevie Ray Vaughan

see: Stevie Ray Vaughan discography

After Vaughan's Death

• Been a Long Time (2001)

References

1. ^ Double Trouble at Allmusic
2. ^ Shannon's career was significantly interrupted in the 1970s, due to drug and alcohol abuse; see Tommy Shannon.
3. ^ Billboard, Allmusic