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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. 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 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 of Elvis Presley's "TCB Band" from 1969
until Presley's death in 1977, not missing even a single show.
A hallmark of Elvis' live shows in this period was his exhortation,
"Play it, James," as a cue for the guitarist's solos. Since 1998,
Burton has played lead guitar in Elvis in 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.
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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 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.
Official Website James Burton
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