James Burton
b. 21 August 1939, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. One of the most distinguished of rock and country-rock guitar players, Burton toured and recorded with Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley and numerous other artists. His first recording was the highly influential Suzie Q sung by Dale Hawkins in 1957. Burton also performed with country singer Bob Luman before moving to Los Angeles where he was hired to work with Nelson, then the latest teen sensation. For six years he toured and recorded with Nelson, perfecting a guitar sound known as ‘chicken pickin’’. This was achieved by dampening the strings for staccato sounding single-string riffs and solos. Among the best examples of this style are Hello Mary Lou, Never Be Anyone Else But You and the more frantic, rockabilly-flavoured Believe What You Say. During the late '60s and early '70s, Burton was much in demand as a session guitarist, working with Dale Hawkins on a comeback album as well as various artists including Buffalo Springfield, Judy Collins, John Phillips, Joni Mitchell, Michael Nesmith and Longbranch Pennywhistle, a group featuring future Eagles member Glenn Frey. Burton also played dobro on albums by P.F. Sloan and John Stewart. In addition, Burton's powerful rockabilly-influenced guitar work made a major contribution to the harsher country sound developed at this time by Merle Haggard. Burton made two albums of his own during these years, one in collaboration with steel guitarist Ralph Mooney. 
During the '70s, Burton's work took him in contrasting directions. With pianist Glen D. Hardin (a former Crickets’ member), he was a mainstay of Elvis Presley's touring and recording band from 1969-77, but he also played a leading role in the growing trend towards country/rock fusion. Burton's most significant performances in this vein came on the solo albums of ex- Byrds member Gram Parsons, GRIEVOUS ANGEL (1972) and GP (1973). After Parsons’ death, Burton and Hardin toured with Emmylou Harris and backed her on several solo albums. More recently he has toured with Jerry Lee Lewis. As a session guitarist, Burton played on albums by Jesse Winchester, Ronnie Hawkins, Rodney Crowell, Phil from the The Everly Brothers, J.J. Cale and Nicolette Larson.