1. James Burton was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024.
36 Facts About James Burton
1. 2.
James Burton is one of the best guitar players to ever touch a fretboard.
3.
Since the 1950s, James Burton has recorded and performed with an array of singers, including Bob Luman, Dale Hawkins, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Claude King, Elvis Costello, Joe Osborn, Roy Orbison, Joni Mitchell, Hoyt Axton, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Young, Vince Gill, and Suzi Quatro.
4.
James Burton was the daughter of James and Althius Poland.
5.
James Burton was hired to be part of the staff band for the popular Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport.
6.
James Burton created and played the guitar riff 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.
7.
James Burton had originally written the song as an instrumental before Hawkins wrote lyrics for it; Burton never received credit or royalties for his contributions to "Susie Q".
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Ricky Nelson's original band included Burton and double bassist James Kirkland; Kirkland was later replaced by Joe Osborn on electric bass.
9.
However, James Burton continued contributing to his friend's studio albums through the Perspective sessions in April 1968.
10.
In 1967 James Burton played Dobro on the Richie Furay song, "A Child's Claim To Fame" on Buffalo Springfield's second album, Buffalo Springfield Again.
11.
In 1969, Presley again asked James Burton to join his show in Las Vegas, and, this time, James Burton accepted.
12.
James Burton organized the TCB Band, serving as its leader, and backed Presley from 1969 until Presley's death in 1977.
13.
James Burton was not sure that Elvis would like it; however, since Elvis did, James Burton used it for every show.
14.
James Burton was joined by a cast of talented musicians which included his bandmate with Presley, Glen D Hardin, and newer musicians which included Rodney Crowell.
15.
However, once Presley was ready to return to the road, James Burton returned to perform with him, although the others, including Hardin, elected to continue with Harris.
16.
Just before Presley died in 1977, James Burton was called to play on a John Denver television special.
17.
James Burton said he was working with Elvis, but if scheduling permitted, he would be glad to go.
18.
Shortly after Elvis' death, James Burton began a regular collaboration with Denver.
19.
James Burton remained a member of Denver's band until 1994, but often toured in parallel with other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis.
20.
James Burton rejoined Denver in 1995 for the Wildlife Concert.
21.
When Denver died in 1997, James Burton spoke at his memorial service in Aspen, Colorado.
22.
In 1990, James Burton moved back to his hometown of Shreveport permanently.
23.
Between 1998 and 2013, James Burton played lead guitar in Elvis: The Concert which reunited some of Elvis' former TCB bandmates, background singers, and Elvis' orchestral conductor Joe Guercio live on stage.
24.
In fall 2004, James Burton recorded Matt Lucas-Back in the Saddle Again, a sequel to the Matt Lucas album The Chicago Sessions.
25.
In 2008, James Burton was asked by Brad Paisley to play on his upcoming album Play: The Guitar Album.
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Jerry Lee Lewis Elvis Costello Emmylou Harris Merle Haggard Elvis Presley Joni Mitchell Glen Campbell Judy Collins Ricky Nelson Gram Parsons John Denver Johnny Cash Roy Orbison Steve Young Suzi Quatro Claude King Vince Gill Hoyt Axton Joe Osborn Richie Furay Rodney Crowell Matt Lucas Brad Paisley John Jorgenson Steve Wariner Brent Mason Albert Lee Eric Clapton Danny Fox 26.
James Burton was featured on an instrumental track called "Cluster Pluck", which featured Vince Gill, Albert Lee, Steve Wariner, John Jorgenson, Brent Mason, and Redd Volkaert.
27.
On July 15,2010, Rolling Stone Magazine announced that Eric Clapton and James Burton would provide guitars on the track "You Can Have Her" for Jerry Lee Lewis' album Mean Old Man, scheduled for release in fall 2010.
28.
James Burton joined Jerry Lee Lewis on "Swinging Doors" on the same album.
29.
In 2011, James Burton was named one of "Five Living Legends of Shreveport" by Danny Fox of KWKH radio.
30.
On June 9,2012, James Burton appeared in Shreveport at the Municipal Auditorium for a presentation of Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion.
31.
In 2022 and early 2023, James Burton was sidelined due to contracting the coronavirus, being diagnosed with kidney cancer, and breaking his hip.
32.
In September 2023, James Burton contributed to recordings for Brad Paisley's upcoming album Son of the Mountains.
33.
In January 2024, James Burton participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, riding on a Louisiana-themed float.
34.
Also in 2024, James Burton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
35.
James Burton can be seen playing am early model Fender Jazz Master in a circa 1961 live television version of "Hello Mary Lou" with Nelson.
36.
On this record [starting with his performance on Nelson's "Believe What You Say"], James replaced his first 4 strings with banjo strings and moved the A and D string up to D and E This allowed him to bend the strings up a lot more.