Tommy Shannon

At 78 years old, Tommy Shannon physical status not available right now. We will update Tommy Shannon's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Tommy Shannon (born Thomas Lafitte Smedley, 1946) is an American bass guitarist who is best known as a member of Double Trouble, a blues rock band led by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Shannon, a native of Tucson, Arizona, moved to Dumas, Texas, where he first started playing bass at the age of 21.

In 1969, he appeared with Johnny Winter at Woodstock.

He joined Double Trouble in 1981 and became a permanent member of Double Trouble until Vaughan's death in 1990.

Shannon and his bandmate Chris Layton formed Arc Angels and Storyville, which later became supergroups.

Early life

Shannon was born in Tucson, Arizona, and when he was nine, he went to the Texas Panhandle. He grew up in Dumas, Texas, north of Amarillo on Highway 287. Shannon formed The Avengers, his first band, around age 13. Shannon (guitar), Tim Easley (vocals), Jim Love (guitar), and David Davis (drums).

Shannon was a member of the band Ekos during high school. He moved to Dallas and formed The New Breed and later The Young Lads, a soul cover band. Shannon performed two 45s with this band, which also featured Tim Easly on vocals and Uncle John Turner on drums.

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Music career

Shannon attended the first of two significant meetings at The Fog in Dallas in the late 1960s. Johnny Winter was the first time he met him. Shannon grew fond of Winter and established The Progressive Blues Experiment in 1968. They cut one album for Sonobeat Records titled The Progressive Blues Experiment before Clive Davis signed to Columbia Records in 1969. Shannon appeared on both of these Columbia LPs, one of whom was released in 1969; Johnny Winter (self-titled); and Second Winter. Johnny's brother Edgar appeared onstage at Woodstock. Johnny Winter joined Rick Derringer in early 1970, only to a rhythm section, and there was no space for Shannon or Turner. They debuted in a San Francisco band called Krackerjack, which included Uncle John Turner, drums; Mike Kindred, piano; Shannon, bass; and John Staehely, guitar. Jesse "Guitar" Taylor performed lead guitar with the band for a time in 1970 (there is a band snapshot as proof). Stevie Ray Vaughan, also known as "Skeeter," appeared on Tommy's website when the band's later Austin iteration, as well as Robin Syler on guitar. Shannon eventually departed the company and was replaced by Dwight Davis amid other staff moves, but among other things, he was promoted to Dwight Davis. Krackerjack was a member of 1970 to 1973.

Shannon became involved with opioids in the 1970s and began a life of imprisonment, probation, and rehabilitation that would last a long time. He appeared with the Austin band The Fools for a brief period. Shannon was finally sent to a "farm" in Buda after his release from jail, but he was not allowed to join any bands due to the pervasiveness of opioids in the music scene. Shannon was a bricklayer for a few years before he was able to return to music in 1977. He was in a few unknown bands before receiving a call from Rocky Hill, the brother of ZZ Top's Dusty Hill. He moved to Houston to play with Hill and Uncle John, and in the late 1970s, he joined Alan Haynes in the "Texas Boogie Band" (Shannon later appeared on Haynes' "Wishing Well" in the "Wishing Well" series. Shannon performed at the Warehouse in New Orleans, opening Bachman-Turner Overdrive and for KISS.

Shannon moved between Dallas and Austin, and he met Stevie Ray Vaughan at The Fog with Vaughan's group Blackbird. Vaughan formed Double Trouble in 1980, and Shannon wound up replacing Jackie Newhouse in the place of the bassist after watching Double Trouble at Rockefellers in Houston. Vaughan was selected to play some guitar for David Bowie (including guitar on "Let's Dance") and then given the opportunity to tour with Bowie, casting the new band's future into doubt. Ultimately, though, Vaughan's boss turned down the bid. As Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Shannon, and drummer Chris Layton will remain together as one of the most well-known blues bands of all time.

Shannon met his future wife Kumi shortly after joining Double Trouble in 1986 and they eventually married in 1986. His opioid use recovered, and in increasing amounts, most with band leader Vaughan. Both knew they needed to change their lifestyle, and sober and clean. The newly healthy band was on the rise, making popular music and gaining greater recognition until, on August 27, 1990, a helicopter carrying Vaughan crashed into a hillside near East Troy, Wisconsin, killing all aboard.

Shannon's musical career continued after a period of remembrance. In The Mighty Zor, he worked with Doyle Bramhall, Denny Freeman, and Chris Layton. Shannon was asked by The Rolling Stones to perform Bill Wyman, but he didn't get the role. Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton played in the Arc Angels, and Malford Milligan's Storyville was one of several notable projects. Susan Tedeschi performed with Susan Tedeschi and Chris Layton, who along with Chris Layton, toured and recorded with Kenny Wayne Shepherd. On Jimmy D. Lane's "It's Time" (It's Time), he and Layton appeared. He has performed with Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Hubert Sumlin, Jonny Lang, Jonny Lang, Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Mato Nanji, Jeff Beck, Lou Gramm, and John Mayer.

Tales From the Austin Motel was released in 1999 by Shannon, who worked with Chris Layton.

Double Trouble reformed in 2001, releasing their first album to date without Vaughan. During Vaughan's frontman role, it was named Been a Long Time.

He was a battered Arctic White 1962 Fender Jazz Bass with a red tortoise shell pickguard. He has been seen playing Yamaha BBs, Music Man StingRays, other Fender Precision and Jazz basses (mostly American, American Deluxe, and Custom Shop models) and custom Fodera basses.

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