Austin: Lou Ann Barton and the Triple Threat Revue

Lou Ann Barton arrived in Austin in the mid-1970s and quickly found her place among the city’s most electric performers. In September 1977, she joined guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and bassist W.C. Clark in the Triple Threat Revue. The band immediately became one of the most talked-about acts on the Austin circuit. As a result, Barton found herself at the center of a movement that was about to transform Texas blues forever.

The Triple Threat Revue played clubs across Texas, building a reputation for raw, powerful performances. Barton’s voice was the emotional core of every set. Furthermore, she brought a soulfulness and authority that complemented Vaughan’s blazing guitar work perfectly. Consequently, the group earned a devoted following stretching far beyond Austin. Moreover, their performances at Antone’s drew serious attention from music industry figures who understood they were witnessing something extraordinary.

Moving On from Triple Threat

Barton stayed with the Triple Threat Revue until November 1979, when Vaughan began moving the band toward what would become Double Trouble. She had already established herself as one of the most powerful voices in Texas blues.

The end of the Triple Threat Revue was not a setback — it was the launch point for a solo career that would produce some of the most celebrated recordings in Austin music history. Lou Ann Barton had absorbed everything the Triple Threat had to teach. Now she was ready to step out on her own.