Conversation so far:
In what year did Stevie Ray Vaughan start recording?
In September 1970, Vaughan made his first studio recordings with the band Cast of Thousands.
What songs were on his first album?
They recorded two songs, "Red, White and Blue" and "I Heard a Voice Last Night".
What other musicians did SRV play with on his first recordings?
feeling confined by playing pop hits with Liberation, Vaughan formed his own band, Blackbird.
How did critics receive his first recordings?
the album was rejected by A&M.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
In mid-1973, they signed a contract with Bill Ham, manager for ZZ Top.
Did SRV tour with ZZ Top?
played various gigs across the South.
What happened on the tour across the South?
Ham left the band stranded in Mississippi without any way to make it back home.

Question: Who is Ham?
Self-contained rewrite: Who is Ham?