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Tag Archives: James Burton
“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
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
Posted in Music, On This Day
Tagged Elvis Presley, Howard Hawks, James Burton, Ricky Nelson, Rio Bravo
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Review: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026)
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
Posted in Movies
Tagged Baz Luhrmann, concert films, documentary, Elvis Presley, James Burton, reviews
24 Comments
“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
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
“I never bought a Ricky Nelson record. I bought a James Burton record.” — Keith Richards
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
“I couldn’t do no yodelin’, so I turned to howlin’ and it’s done me just fine.”– Howlin’ Wolf
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
Posted in Music, On This Day
Tagged Howlin' Wolf, James Burton, Sam Phillips, Sun Records, The Rolling Stones
3 Comments
Ricky Nelson and James Burton
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
“Play It, James!”
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