
Welcome to Ahhh Music and Cynthia Radio
KCSA 95.7 Radio
with your host Cynthia
brought to you 9 to midnight every evening from the Cactus Hotel
San Angelo, Texas
\Born in Minden, LA, on August 21, 1939,
influential guitarist James Burton got his start in the 1950s as a backup
musician on the radio show Louisiana Hayride, where he met Dale Hawkins.
Hawkins' 1957 hit, "Suzie Q," was the first in a string of successes to
feature the young Burton. A six-year stint (1958-1964) recording and
touring in Ricky Nelson's band followed, subsequently landing him a couple
of cameo bits on Ozzie & Harriet. Because of his brilliant and unique
guitar skills -- he perfected a style he dubbed "chicken pickin'" --
Burton quickly landed jobs as a side musician for a diverse cast
including: Buffalo Springfield, the Monkees, Elvis Presley's band (from
1969 until Presley's death in 1977), Gram Parsons, Joni Mitchell, Judy
Collins, John Denver, Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard (with the latter two
he was an important catalyst in the fine-tuning of the Bakersfield sound).
He later lent his talents to several Elvis Costello recordings as well as
those by Gillian Welch, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and countless others. With
this schedule, it is no surprise that Burton has only cut two records of
his own over a 40-year career; both his 1969 debut, Corn Pickin' and Slick
Slidin', and his 1971 offering, The Guitar Sounds of James Burton, provide
spotlights on his legendary pickin'.
