My friend, the extraordinary guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan
Back in the 70's and 80's there was a jet-setting world party going on. It was the era of mega-clubs, mega-optimism, and the soirees at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion, were actually cutting-edge and fun. Those days are long gone, the innocent days before air marshals, shoe and underwear bombers and the TSA.
I've logged millions of miles since then and know airline personnel whom I consider to be friends for life. One such person is Captain Scott Roper, of Delta Airlines. He's a music lover and a guitar player. The day we met he knew I was the dude who'd produced David Bowie's Let's Dance and the Vaughan Brother's Family Style.
I've known Scott for many years now and he called me yesterday and said, "Hey Nile, I'd like to donate my Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature model guitar to the We Are Family Foundation. It's autographed by Buddy Guy who told me, The finish is nicer than the one I bought, so let me sign on a piece of clear tape.""
I was blown away and couldn't thank him enough. I could tell Scott loves this instrument and from the pictures it looks like some serious SRV #GuitarPorn.
Back in the 70's there was a jet-setting world party going on - Here's Hugh Hefner's jet called The Big Bunny
Captain Scott Roper, of Delta Airlines is a music lover and a guitar player
Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan in the background while we were recording Family Style
Recording Family Style with the Vaughan Bros
David Bowie, Stevie Ray Vaughan & me
Scott's SRV Signature Strat. It's autographed by Buddy Guy who told me, "The finish is nicer than the one I bought, so let me sign on a piece of clear tape."
I could tell Scott loves this instrument and from the pictures it looks like some serious SRV #GuitarPorn
Me playing factory Gold Plated Strat on The Vaughan Bros Family Style
Vaughan Brothers Tour Shirt
Part of the Vaughan Brothers guitar arsenal
More parts of the Vaughan Brothers' guitar arsenal
Dawn Ciolfi & Scott Roper at Delta JFK
Some of my platinum albums that Stevie Ray Vaughan played on - Let's Dance and Family Style