Born in Minden, Louisiana, on August 21, 1939, James Burton began
playing guitar at the age of thirteen, and turned professional the
following year. His first recorded track was the
Dale Hawkins hit, "Susie Q", in
1957. His dynamic rockabilly style of playing brought him to the
attention of television star-turned-singer
Ricky Nelson, who hired Burton as
his regular band member. Apart from this high profile exposure on all
of Nelson's hit records, James Burton became one of the most in-demand
Los Angeles session guitarists during the 1960s, playing on recordings
by artists, ranging from Frank Sinatra to
The Monkees, as well as regularly appearing
on the popular music show,
Shindig! (1964).
It was at the end of the decade that
Elvis Presley, recently returned to live
performing, was in the process of putting together a band for his Las
Vegas shows. Elvis knew a remarkable talent when he heard one, and
hired James Burton as lead guitarist of his band. This lasted until
Presley's death in 1977, and James Burton can be seen appearing with
Elvis in the movies,
Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970),
Elvis on Tour (1972) and the
television satellite-broadcasted,
Die Elvis-Presley-Show: Aloha from Hawaii (1973).
James Burton has, since then, worked with many other artists, and is
regarded, amongst guitar players, as a legendary figure whose skill and
technique has always been balanced by his consummate restraint and good
taste.
