Jimmie Lawrence Vaughan was born on 20 March 1951, in Dallas County, Texas USA, to Martha Jean Cook and Jimmie Lee Vaughan. He is a guitarist and singer, best known as the lead guitarist of the blues rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds, as well as for being the brother of the late legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
So just how loaded is Jimmy Vaughan at present? According to sources, Vaughan’s net worth reaches $1.5 million, as of early 2017. The main source of his fortune has been his career in music which began in the 1960s.
Jimmie Vaughan Net Worth $1.5 million
Vaughan grew up in Dallas. His childhood years were quite a difficult time for him, as his father struggled with alcohol and was frequently violent and abusive. He developed an interest in music and took up the guitar in his early childhood, and went on to play in numerous garage bands during his teenage years. At 19 he moved to Austin, where he played in bar bands and with musicians such as Paul Ray and WC Clark, performing in the opening for The Jimi Hendrix Experience in Texas in 1969. In the early ’70s, he founded his own group called the Storm, supporting many touring blues musicians. Paving his way to recognition, Vaughan’s wealth was at its start.
In 1974 he met vocalist and harmonica player Kim Wilson, and the duo founded a blues rock band called The Fabulous Thunderbirds. With Vaughan as its lead guitarist and Wilson as its lead singer, the band was expanded by bassist Keith Furguson and drummer Mike Buck. They performed in local clubs, gathering a firm following, before n the late ’70s signing a recording deal with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, releasing their debut album “Girls Go Wild” in 1979. Three more albums followed by 1982, however, poor sales saw the band dropped by Chrysalis at the end of ‘79.
In 1985, they signed with Epic/Associated, releasing the album “Tuff Enuff” the following year, which became a great hit, selling over a million copies and reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the single the same-titled song scored a Top 40 hit. As the band’s popularity was boosted, Vaughan established a formidable reputation as a guitar player, and his net worth increased.
For the rest of the decade, The Fabulous Thunderbirds went through several changes in lineup and musical style, which led Vaughan to leave the band in 1989 and to join his brother Stevie, who meanwhile achieved worldwide success and fame. They went on to record a duet album called “Family Style” in 1990, but Stevie died in a helicopter crash before the album was released.
Jimmie then pursued a solo career, releasing his first album, “Strange Pleasure”, in 1994, under Epic, which received positive reviews, reinforcing Vaughan’s popularity. He has released several albums since, cementing his status as a talented artist and improving his fortune.
A noted singer and guitarist, Vaughan has become known for developing a recognized sound in the ’70s and ’80s blues and rock world. His contributions to music have earned him four Grammy Awards, and enabled him to reach stardom and to amass a sizable net worth.
Aside from his music career, Vaughan has also been involved in the film and television industry. In 1989 he appeared in the biographical film “Great Balls of Fire!”, playing Roland Janes. In 1998 he made a cameo appearance in the musical comedy film “Blues Brothers 2000” as a member of a blues band. He has also performed in television series such as “Entourage”, “Conan” and “Austin City Limits”, all of which have contributed to his wealth.
When it comes to Vaughan’s private life, he is married to Robyn, and they have twins. He is reported to have suffered a heart attack in 2013, from which he has fully recovered.
