Tag Archives: James Burton

“I couldn’t do no yodelin’, so I turned to howlin’ and it’s done me just fine.”– Howlin’ Wolf

Posted on June 10, 2026 by sheila

Chester Burnett, who would eventually become the legendary Howlin’ Wolf, was born on this day in 1901. He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “early influences” category. He is in the Memphis Music Hall of … Continue reading →

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“A lot of people try to equate me with guys like Frankie Avalon and Fabian, but in the old days I sold a lot of records over a period of time, and you can’t sustain that by being just another pretty face.” — Ricky Nelson

Posted on May 8, 2026 by sheila

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (Nelson) was a popular radio show in the 1940s, and an even more popular television show in the 1950s. It was a family affair. Their son Ricky was a beautiful child, and he grew … Continue reading →

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Review: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026)

Posted on February 27, 2026 by sheila

My review of Baz Luhrmann‘s EPiC (Elvis Presley in Concert) is now up at Ebert . As someone intimately familiar with the two original concert films – the restoration-resurrection knocked me out. Last summer I introduced Elvis: That’s the Way … Continue reading →

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“The thing I really wanna say is—and really, really mean is that real things last. Any way you look at it. Real things last.” — Dale Hawkins

Posted on August 22, 2025 by sheila

Dale Hawkins, 1957, playing on the Louisiana Hayride radio show (just a year after Elvis completed his world-shaking run on the program) It’s his birthday today. Time moved really fast in the mid-50s rock-rockabilly world. Elvis exploded and made everyone … Continue reading →

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“I never bought a Ricky Nelson record. I bought a James Burton record.” — Keith Richards

Posted on August 21, 2025 by sheila

James Burton (born on this day) is still alive. He turns 85 today. He’s in every music Hall of Fame there is (just a couple months ago he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame). His style is … Continue reading →

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2024 Year in Review

Posted on December 27, 2024 by sheila

Here’s a roundup of most of the things I’ve written this year: here on my site, for Rogerebert.com, for my newsletter, and for my new column at Liberties Journal. Every year it’s the same thing. I spend so much time … Continue reading →

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Ricky Nelson and James Burton

Posted on April 13, 2015 by sheila

James Burton, of course, is known for being Elvis’ guitarist throughout the 1970s, but he played with everyone, most notably Ricky Nelson. Listen to some of that old Ricky Nelson stuff. Listen to Burton’s guitar solos. Astonishing stuff. Completely contemporary, … Continue reading →

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“Play It, James!”

Posted on August 10, 2013 by sheila

Last night, Charlie and I went to see James Burton, legendary guitar player, Rock and Hall Hall of Famer, guitarist for Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, Merle Haggard, Elvis Costello and … the other Elvis, of course. On all … Continue reading →

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