James Burton - Legendary Guitarist
Master of the Telecaster |
A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 (his induction speech was given by longtime fan, Keith Richards), James Burton's pioneering contributions have also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Critic Mark Demming writes that "Burton has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest guitar pickers in either Country or Rock... [Burton is] one of the best guitars players to ever touch a fretboard."
Since the 1950s, Burton has recorded and performed with an array of notable singers, including Rick Nelson, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dale Hawkins, John Denver and Elvis Costello.
Born in Minden, Burton moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, with his family in 1949. He is self-taught, and was playing guitar from his childhood.
By the time he was thirteen years old, Burton was playing guitar semi-professionally. A year later was hired to be part of the staff band for the enormously popular Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport. Burton left Shreveport for Los Angeles, California while in his teens after joining Ricky Nelson's band. In L.A., he made numerous recordings as a session musician. Burton moved back to Shreveport permanently in 1990.
The early years |
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Burton played the guitar solo on Dale Hawkins' 1957 hit song "Suzie Q," a record that would become one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Burton's later career included work with Merle Haggard, Gram Parsons, and Emmylou Harris, among others. In 1988, he was a prominent part of the acclaimed Cinemax special, Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night.
Beginning with King of America (1987), Burton recorded and toured with Elvis Costello intermittently for about a decade.
In the Fall of 2004, Burton recorded Matt Lucas - Back in the Saddle Again - a sequel to the album The Chicago Sessions, by Matt Lucas. The album features rockabilly and country music, and was released in May of 2006 under Ten-O-Nine records.
Burton formed the James Burton International Guitar Festival and he also has his own official website simply called, The Official James Burton Website.
In Good Company
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Burton led Presley's TCB band |
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Burton played lead guitar for most of Rick Nelson's major hits between 1958 and 1965 after which Bob Dylan reportedly wanted to hire Burton for his first touring band, but Burton was under contract to the television program, Shindig!.
James Burton was also a guitarist and the band leader of Elvis Presley's "TCB Band" from 1969 until Presley's death in 1977. A hallmark of Elvis' live shows in this period was his was exhortation, "Play it, James," as a cue for the guitarist's solos.
Since 1998, Burton has played lead guitar in "Elvis: The Concert" which reunited some of Elvis' former TCB bandmates, background singers and Elvis' orchestral conductor (mostly from the "concert years" 1969-1977) live on stage with a state of the art video-projected Elvis.
James Burton began working with John Denver in 1977. The first album they recorded was 'I Want To Live'. Just before Presley died, James was called to play on a John Denver television special. During the taping, Denver asked if Burton would consider going out on a European tour. He said he was working with Elvis, but if scheduling permitted, he would be glad to go. Shortly after Elvis' death, Burton began a regular collaboration with Denver.
During the sessions, Burton and Denver talked about a band. Glenn D. Hardin and Jerry Scheff, two other Elvis Presley band members, joined the band too. Burton remained a member of Denver's band until 1994. In the 16 years Burton worked with Denver, they recorded 12 albums and toured around the world. While touring with Denver, James carried several instruments, including backup dobros and a spare Telecaster.
He rejoined Denver in 1995 for the Wildlife Concert, and when Denver died in 1997, Burton was a speaker at his memorial service in Aspen, Colorado.
Article courtesy of www.wikipedia.org
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