A Happy Birthday to Guitar Legend James Burton

It's difficult to think of a lead guitarist who has played with more legends than James Burton, who turned 85 this past week. A professional guitarist by age 14, Burton entered the world stage as lead guitarist for actor and rock idol Rick Nelson on his parent's television program, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." Burton's work can be heard with Nelson on such hit songs as: "Stood Up/Waitin' In School", “Hello Mary Lou” and “Travelin’ Man”. The show aired on ABC Television from 1952 - 1966.

In between filming and recording studio commitments to Nelson, Burton became increasingly in-demand as a member of studio musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew". One of many viewers of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" was Elvis Presley, a good friend of Rick Nelson. Presley was keen to wrap up his contractual obligations of appearing in 33 films by 1968 and had become an admirer of James Burton. On April 23, 1966 the Nelson Family television show ended it's 14-year run. Rick Nelson quickly adapted to changing musical tastes away from his rockabilly sound of the 1950s and formed the country rock "Stone Canyon Band". James Burton was already committed to other recording projects that rendered him unavailbale to both Rick Nelson and Elvis Presley, including the NBC Television "comeback" concert of Presley in 1968. However, in 1969, Presley placed a telephone call to Burton and asked him to assemble a band to tour the United States, beginning with two months of sold out concerts in Las Vegas, Nevada at The Hotel International (today renamed The Westgate).

From his Las Vegas return to the performance stage, Elvis Presley launched nine years of a relentless concert schedule. James Burton was once again introduced on television -- this time to a worldwide audience on January 14, 1973 during "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii" -- the first rock concert ever transmitted by satellite to 36 countries around the world. James Burton remained with Elvis until his death in 1977.

During his work with the famous "Wrecking Crew" of top studio musicians in Los Angeles, Burton worked with Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Gram Parsons and Sonny & Cher. While on hiatus from Elvis' touring schedule, he also performed and recorded with Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard, John Denver, Waylon Jennings, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Brad Paisley and Emmylou Harris. He appeared on the Cinemax concert special in 1988, "Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black & White Night". Presley's TCB Band (an acronym Presley coined for 'Taking Care of Business') included bassist Jerry Scheff, pianist Glen D. Hardin and Ronnie Tutt on drums for the show. Filmed in Black and White at The Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove, the Orbison concert lineup also teamed Burton with Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, J.D. Souther, Jackson Browne, Steve Soles, k.d. lang, Jennifer Warnes and Bonnie Raitt. “It’s not every day that you get to sing harmony with Roy Orbison and play guitar next to James Burton. That’s a dream,” said Bruce Springsteen after the show.

Someone said it: "The Elvis sideman took what Merle Travis and Carl Perkins started, stuffing the King’s songs with tasty guitar licks."

James Burton continues to remain active and resides in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.