"Stevie Ray Vaughan is the ultimate guitarist," said Mayer. "He had incredible courage because he fought to overcome the evils of drug and alcohol addiction, and when he did, he returned to the stage as an even better guitar player for it.

"There's a term that gets thrown around in conversation, especially about guitar payers, where someone is called a 'wannabe.' It means you're a fake, a fraud, a phony. But if you straighten the words out, it means 'want to be.' Wanting to be something is very important, it's meaningful, it's a great way to live. I'm a Stevie Ray Vaughan wannabe."

Double Trouble were joined by Stevie's brother, Jimmie, at the podium and for a live performance that saw the lineup include guitarists Doyle Bramhall II and Gary Clark Jr.

The group delivered versions of "Pride and Joy" and "Texas Flood" before Jimmie stepped to center stage to play a solo rendition of his 1994 tribute to his brother, "Six Strings Down."