| James Burton |
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James Burton
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Birth name: |
James Burton |
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Born: |
August 31, 1939 |
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Origin: |
Dubberly, Louisiana |
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Years active: |
1952–present |
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Labels: |
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Facebook: Twitter: Website: |
239
Phoots comi...
Early life and career
Burton was born in Dubberly in south Webster Parish near Minden, Louisiana, to Guy M. Burton (1909-2001) and the former Lola Poland (1914-2011), a native of rural Fryeburg in Bienville Parish. She was the daughter of James and Althius Poland. Burton's wife is Louise Burton. One of his sisters, Mary B. DeMoss, is deceased. His surviving siblings are Jim Burton and wife Amelia, Dorothy B. Martin, and Billie B. Pool.[4]
Self-taught, Burton began playing guitar in childhood.[citation needed] By the time he was thirteen, he was playing semi-professionally. A year later he was hired to be part of the staff band for the popular Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport. While he was still a teenager, Burton left Shreveport for Los Angeles, where he joined Ricky Nelson's band. There, he made numerous recordings as a session musician. Burton created and played the guitar solo on Dale Hawkins 1957 hit song "Susie Q", a record that would become one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[citation needed]
[edit] With Rick Nelson
Burton played lead guitar on all of Rick Nelson's recordings between 1958 and 1967. In 1965 he started working on the television program Shindig! and eventually left Nelson's band two years later. The television exposure led to continuous recording session work with a huge variety of artists, mostly as an unattributed sideman. Due to the volume of work, Burton turned down an offer to join Bob Dylan's first touring band, and another offer to play on Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback TV special Elvis.[5]
[edit] With Elvis Presley
In 1969, Presley again asked Burton to join his show in Las Vegas, and this time Burton agreed. Burton formed the TCB Band and backed Presley from 1969 until Presley's death in 1977. Over a thousand shows and Burton never missed one! A hallmark of Elvis' live shows in this period was his exhortation, "Play it, James," as a cue for the guitarist's solos. Elvis was also probably the first to play (to Burton's solos) air guitar. For the first season in Vegas 1969 James played his red standard telecaster. He shortly after purchased the now familiar pink paisley custom telecaster He was not sure that Elvis would like it...he did (of course) and James used it in every show.
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.[citation needed]
[edit] With John Denver
During 1975 and 1976, while still touring with Presley, Burton was one of the first members to join and tour with Emmylou Harris as part of her backing band, the "Hot Band", after the death of Gram Parsons. He was joined by a cast of talented musicians which included his bandmate with Presley, Glen D. Hardin, and newer musicians which included Rodney Crowell. However, once Presley was ready to return to the road, Burton returned to perform with him, although the others, including Hardin, elected to continue with Harris. Just before Presley died in 1977, Burton was called to play on a John Denver television special. During the taping, Denver asked if Burton would consider going on a European tour. Burton 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. The first album they recorded was I Want to Live.
During the sessions, Burton and Denver talked about a band. Glen Hardin and Jerry Scheff, from Presley's band, joined the new band too. Burton remained a member of Denver's band until 1994, but often toured in parallel with other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis. In the 16 years Burton worked with Denver, they recorded 12 albums and toured around the world. While touring with Denver, Burton carried several instruments, including backup Dobros and a spare 1969 Paisley Red Fender Telecaster he had used as a touring guitarist with Elvis Presley during the 1970s.[6] He rejoined Denver in 1995 for the Wildlife Concert. When Denver died in 1997, Burton spoke at his memorial service in Aspen, Colorado.[5]
[edit] Recent career
Statue of Burton at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
Burton's later career included work with Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, John Denver, Merle Haggard, Gram Parsons, Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris. Beginning with King of America (1986), Burton recorded and toured with Elvis Costello intermittently for about a decade. In 1988, he was a prominent part of the acclaimed Cinemax special, Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night.[citation needed] In 1990, Burton moved back to his hometown of Shreveport permanently.[citation needed]
In the fall of 2004, Burton recorded Matt Lucas-Back in the Saddle Again, a sequel to the Matt Lucas album The Chicago Sessions. The album features rockabilly and country music, and was released in May 2006 by Ten O Nine Records.[citation needed]
In 2005, Burton started the annual James Burton International Guitar Festival to raise money for his charitable foundation. The festival is held in the Red River District of Shreveport.[7]
In 2007 he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville as a member of the L.A. session player group known as The Wrecking Crew. In 2008, Burton was asked by Brad Paisley to play on his upcoming album Play. Burton went along for the ride and played on an instrumental track called "Cluster Pluck," as did Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, Redd Volkaert, Albert Lee, John Jorgenson, and Brent Mason. At the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, the song won Best Country Instrumental Performance.[citation needed]
On August 22, 2009, on stage at his James Burton International Guitar Festival, James Burton was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
On July 15, 2010 Rolling Stone Magazine announced Eric Clapton and James Burton will provide backup guitars on the track "You Can Have Her." for the new Jerry Lee Lewis album Mean Old Man, scheduled for release the fall of 2010.
Burton was born in Dubberly in south Webster Parish near Minden, Louisiana, to Guy M. Burton (1909-2001) and the former Lola Poland (1914-2011), a native of rural Fryeburg in Bienville Parish. She was the daughter of James and Althius Poland. Burton's wife is Louise Burton. One of his sisters, Mary B. DeMoss, is deceased. His surviving siblings are Jim Burton and wife Amelia, Dorothy B. Martin, and Billie B. Pool.[4]
Self-taught, Burton began playing guitar in childhood.[citation needed] By the time he was thirteen, he was playing semi-professionally. A year later he was hired to be part of the staff band for the popular Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport. While he was still a teenager, Burton left Shreveport for Los Angeles, where he joined Ricky Nelson's band. There, he made numerous recordings as a session musician. Burton created and played the guitar solo on Dale Hawkins 1957 hit song "Susie Q", a record that would become one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[citation needed]
[edit] With Rick Nelson
Burton played lead guitar on all of Rick Nelson's recordings between 1958 and 1967. In 1965 he started working on the television program Shindig! and eventually left Nelson's band two years later. The television exposure led to continuous recording session work with a huge variety of artists, mostly as an unattributed sideman. Due to the volume of work, Burton turned down an offer to join Bob Dylan's first touring band, and another offer to play on Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback TV special Elvis.[5]
[edit] With Elvis Presley
In 1969, Presley again asked Burton to join his show in Las Vegas, and this time Burton agreed. Burton formed the TCB Band and backed Presley from 1969 until Presley's death in 1977. Over a thousand shows and Burton never missed one! A hallmark of Elvis' live shows in this period was his exhortation, "Play it, James," as a cue for the guitarist's solos. Elvis was also probably the first to play (to Burton's solos) air guitar. For the first season in Vegas 1969 James played his red standard telecaster. He shortly after purchased the now familiar pink paisley custom telecaster He was not sure that Elvis would like it...he did (of course) and James used it in every show.
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.[citation needed]
[edit] With John Denver
During 1975 and 1976, while still touring with Presley, Burton was one of the first members to join and tour with Emmylou Harris as part of her backing band, the "Hot Band", after the death of Gram Parsons. He was joined by a cast of talented musicians which included his bandmate with Presley, Glen D. Hardin, and newer musicians which included Rodney Crowell. However, once Presley was ready to return to the road, Burton returned to perform with him, although the others, including Hardin, elected to continue with Harris. Just before Presley died in 1977, Burton was called to play on a John Denver television special. During the taping, Denver asked if Burton would consider going on a European tour. Burton 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. The first album they recorded was I Want to Live.
During the sessions, Burton and Denver talked about a band. Glen Hardin and Jerry Scheff, from Presley's band, joined the new band too. Burton remained a member of Denver's band until 1994, but often toured in parallel with other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis. In the 16 years Burton worked with Denver, they recorded 12 albums and toured around the world. While touring with Denver, Burton carried several instruments, including backup Dobros and a spare 1969 Paisley Red Fender Telecaster he had used as a touring guitarist with Elvis Presley during the 1970s.[6] He rejoined Denver in 1995 for the Wildlife Concert. When Denver died in 1997, Burton spoke at his memorial service in Aspen, Colorado.[5]
[edit] Recent career
Statue of Burton at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
Burton's later career included work with Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, John Denver, Merle Haggard, Gram Parsons, Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris. Beginning with King of America (1986), Burton recorded and toured with Elvis Costello intermittently for about a decade. In 1988, he was a prominent part of the acclaimed Cinemax special, Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night.[citation needed] In 1990, Burton moved back to his hometown of Shreveport permanently.[citation needed]
In the fall of 2004, Burton recorded Matt Lucas-Back in the Saddle Again, a sequel to the Matt Lucas album The Chicago Sessions. The album features rockabilly and country music, and was released in May 2006 by Ten O Nine Records.[citation needed]
In 2005, Burton started the annual James Burton International Guitar Festival to raise money for his charitable foundation. The festival is held in the Red River District of Shreveport.[7]
In 2007 he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville as a member of the L.A. session player group known as The Wrecking Crew. In 2008, Burton was asked by Brad Paisley to play on his upcoming album Play. Burton went along for the ride and played on an instrumental track called "Cluster Pluck," as did Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, Redd Volkaert, Albert Lee, John Jorgenson, and Brent Mason. At the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, the song won Best Country Instrumental Performance.[citation needed]
On August 22, 2009, on stage at his James Burton International Guitar Festival, James Burton was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
On July 15, 2010 Rolling Stone Magazine announced Eric Clapton and James Burton will provide backup guitars on the track "You Can Have Her." for the new Jerry Lee Lewis album Mean Old Man, scheduled for release the fall of 2010.
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