James Burton Memories Please

Bob Anderson · Post by **Bob Anderson** » 13 Feb 2003 11:54 am

Rick Barber wrote a geart story about his time with Nookie Edwards of the Ventures..I would like to know any updated story you might have about James Burton. Is he still recording? Is he still playing the dobro? is is still the nice guy he always was?

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 13 Feb 2003 12:06 pm

Man---I hate titles like that, Bob! I thought JB died! Sorry, I have no stories (although I know a guitarist here in NYC who has a shrine to Mr. Burton in his living room with a zillion photos and stuff.)

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Feb 2003 12:26 pm

JB is still playing, and playing great; in fact I did an album with him last month. He and his wife came out to L.A. from Lousiana where they have moved back to help their parents in their old age. JB played a red Telecaster which I think was some kind of James Burton signature model with 3 pickups. He sat in the booth and ran thru a Pod.

Eric Myers · Post by **Eric Myers** » 13 Feb 2003 12:40 pm

Man I thought he was dead by the subject title! Phew - I worked sound with JB playing guitar for Jerry Lee Lewis at ELVIS PRESLEYS MEMPHIS in 98? I believe was the last time I saw him - he played the paisley tele thru a big ole fender twin - in fact there were three twins onstage - him, the other guitarist, and Jerry lees used one as a monitor for his keyboard! JB was nice as always
Eric

Post by **Joey Ace** » 13 Feb 2003 4:37 pm

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 13 Feb 2003 8:18 pm

I know this isn't what you're looking for, but here's my only James Burton memory -- I remember watching the "Elvis Live from Hawaii" broadcast on TV and wondering who that cat was up there playing that pink guitar -- James Burton, of course.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 13 Feb 2003 8:40 pm

I only saw JB live 1 time, way back probably
late 70's maybe early 80's. He was with John Denver in New Haven Ct. I spoke with him for about 1 minute. I was thinking it was going to be a good show but when the band came out and JB was with them it turned into a great show, John Denver even introduced JB recognizing him for his great work and even talked up the Ricky Nelson years on the Ozzie and Harriet shows.

tp

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 Feb 2003 6:33 am

James was my hero back in the late-50s, so you can imagine what a thrill it was to meet him in London in 1976. Fellow steel-player Gerry Hogan and I broke through the rather lax security at sound-check at the Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith and introduced ourselves to James and Hank DeVito.

I asked who played what 'line' on that super intro to 'Amarillo' (on Emmy's 'Elite Hotel' album), and James, clearly still enjoying playing the lick, counted Hank in - we had a private demonstration right there on the stage! We talked guitars for a while, then JB offered me the paisley Tele to try out!!! To my shame, I can't recall my inpressions of it - it was all a bit of a blur - but I was so excited to get my hands on That Guitar!

Ultimately, a 'suit' came up to us and said that we'd have to go ("The guys have to get psyched-up for the performance..."

- his very words, I swear!); James and Hank rolled their eyes at this, but we took the cue and left after saying goodbye.

The show, as we expected, was terrific, but the best part of the day for us was our little private clinic! James and Hank couldn't have been nicer to us....

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 14 Feb 2003 8:01 am

I run into James,just about every year,at the Nashville NAMM Show.(I believe in July) If your lucky enough to snag a pass to it, you'll,most likely,see him there too.

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
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Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 Feb 2003 9:12 am

PS:

Joey - Great picture! When was that taken? It's the same model of Musicman that he had when I met him (I bet he had a truck-load of them, though)...

PPS:

'Earnest' - I'm jealous!

PPPS: Smiley - How do I 'snag a pass'

?[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 14 February 2003 at 09:14 AM.]

Peter Siegel · Post by **Peter Siegel** » 14 Feb 2003 3:06 pm

I was in New Orleans in '81 or '82 for the Jazz and Heritage Fair, Jerry Lee was performing. As I waited for the set to begin I noticed a paisley Tele on stage, then I had to explain to my brother who James Burton was and why I was so excited. and I thought, naaa, I can't be that lucky. But I was, there was JB, pickin with the Killer. He calmly laid out 2 or 3 solos that afternoon that had me on the ground! Jerry Lee busted the piano stool by tossing it about 10 feet across the stage.
That's entertainment!

Rich Paton · Post by **Rich Paton** » 22 Feb 2003 8:20 am

My first ever James Burton memory: ca. 1967, JB on dobro and Neil Young on a Bigsby-twanged Gretsch...trading tasty fours on the Richie Furay (later of Poco) tune "A Child's Claim to Fame". ("Buffalo Springfield Again" LP). They hooked me arly in the genre, before so many fine Country/Rock groups & tunes got much limelight. It was like, "Whoa"???Whatzzat?

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 22 Feb 2003 1:45 pm

Around 1973-4, I saw Emmylou Harris and her Hot Band opening for Joe Walsh at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. When it came time to introduce the band, she ran through the introductions, then said, "And now, the best guitar player in the world...James Burton!"
People in audience started booing, apparently fans of Joe Walsh who thought HE was the best. Suddenly Joe Walsh walked out on stage, took the mike away from Emmylou, and chastised the crowd. He said something along the lines of, "He really IS the greatest guitar player in the world - I'm not worthy to change his guitar strings."
It increased my respect for both Mr. Burton and Mr. Walsh. Of course, right after that, she gave the band a long instrumental and he flat tore it up.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 22 Feb 2003 2:17 pm

Rich, What i like about that album is their tribute on the back to the very diverse artists and friends whom they pay homage to. I wish artists today had such a diverse influence as theirs.

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Regards, Craig

[This message was edited by Craig Stock on 22 February 2003 at 02:19 PM.]

Peter Dollard · Post by **Peter Dollard** » 25 Feb 2003 7:21 am

On Childs Clain To Fame James is double tracking his solo on a fretted dobro and a slide dobro..Peter