JAMES BURTON AND HIS MUSIC

 

Article from the Shreveport Times submitted by LeVerne Langheld Kidd October, 12, 2007

 

Burton Festival showcases guitar legends August 19, 2005
 

Guitar legend James Burton hosted the first James Burton International Guitar Festival on the riverfront this weekend, 2005 James Burton International Guitar Festival Party on the Promenade Concert begins 4 p.m. today under the Texas Street bridge in the Red River District, 450 Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway. Admission is free. Donations accepted. Casual dress.

Time 4p.m. 5:00 p.m.

 DeArmond; 5p.m. DeArmond;

6p.m. Overdrive; 7p.m.

JoeNadeau;7p.m. Joe Nadeau

8p.m. Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs

 9p.m. Meredith Landry

9:30p.m. Jason Ashley and Divided Highway

10:30p.m. Queen for a Day

11:30p.m. James Wages, Elvis tribute singer

Midnight: The Jerry Beach Band

1: a.m.: All-star jam hosted by Jerry Beach

2:30p.m. Saturday James Burton statue unveiling MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, 705 ELVIS PRESLEY AVENUE

10:00 a.m. FESTIVAL TRADE SHOW today and Saturday 10a.m. - 4p.m. Sunday Expo Hall 400 Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway

Admission was $5. free for children younger than 12. Schedule of Events: Friday

10:00 a.m.trade show opens. Release of James Burton's new album "God Loves You."

Admission was $50., $75, $100, $25, military. 

James Burton turned 66 years old this month but it was no excuse for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum inductee to hang up his Fender. Much to the contrary, he celebrated his birthday in style with two concerts and a music industry trade show at the James Burton International Guitar Festival at the Municipal Auditorium. In all, roughly 20 acts played about four or more songs each. Burton and Shreveport's famous bass man, Joe Osborn joined performers thorough out the night. James Burton, now a Shreveport native and resident, once lived and attended school in Minden, Louisiana.

Burton got his start at Municipal Auditorium at age 14 in the mid-1950s, playing for the Louisiana Hayride, a widely syndicated radio show broadcast on KWKY. During his career, he was the lead guitarist for Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, John Denver and Jerry Lee Lewis. He also played anonymously on records for the Beach Boys, Merle Haggard, and Sonny and Cher. Today, he still does session work for artists like Paisley.

Do you suppose James Burton remember those days when he grew up and was a member of Miss Winn's 4th grade class and lived in Minden, Louisiana? We all have fond memories of him and his big sisters.

                             Way to go Jimmy Burton! We are proud of you and proud for you too.

                                                                        Your Minden Friends.

 

James Burton was in

 

 

                           Mrs. Marie Winns' 4th grade class  1948
 
back row l-r-- boy?, boy?, Mrs Winn, Monette Grounds, Jo Ann Williams, Sadie Byrd,    Marcelee Robinson
 
2nd row l-r-- Norman McGuire, Joe Wallace, Rebecca Perryman, Patrica Ryan, Joyce Humphries, LeVerne Langheld
 
3rd row l-r-- Molly Ford,  Faye Cardwell, Yvonne Simmions, Sara Blevins, Nancy Stewart, Janie Sue Turner, Dinky or Birdie Barns (This girl could make up her mine what her name was! One year in the Grig is was Birdie and the next year she was named Dinky).
 
4th row l-r-- girl ? (all I remember, she had the prettest RED hair), Virgia Hefner, Lola New, Norman Winterton, Pierce Hefner, boy ?, Vermer Nesbitt 
 
5th row l-r--kneeling-- "The"James Burton,(so says Janie Turner),  James Reed,  Richard Jerrell,  Allen Duncan, Darcy Ambrose, Excell Langley, boy ?

Submitted by LeVerne Langheld Kidd

 

                   THE DAY JAMES BURTON ALMOST DIDN'T GET TO BECOME A FAMOUS GUITAR PLAYER

When D Sharpling was young he use to play with James Burton, Bobby and James
Morehead a lot. He remembers that James Burton could squint his eyes and look as
if he could see right through you.

There was a day that James Burton almost didn't get to be a famous guitar player. D and
Bobby were up at the store and they were playing Cowboys. They came out of the store to
find James and another kid had hanged James Burton from a small tree near the branch that ran near the cotton gin. As luck may have it the rope did not tighten up and they were
able to get him down.

Submitted by W.D. Sharpling

 

                                HE WAS PLAYING HIS GUITAR, OF COURSE

I have been told James was born in Minden, Louisiana in 1939 and moved to Shreveport when he was ten years old. It is possible the above picture may have been his last year at Minden Elementary school.

James Burton may not remember me, but I do remember him. Christmas, 1957 we were both  at the Walter's home in Calhoun, Louisiana. I was spending the holidays with my friend, Joyce Walters. James was playing his guitar, of course. Not long after that I ran into him at Boyle's Drug store in Minden. He was drinking a milkshake  made in one of those metal mixers. It does not surprise me that he made it to the big time. He was awesome.

Sherry Gresham Gritzbaugh

 

                                             JAMES BURTON LEARNED HOW TO WELD

 

Sherry,  I read with interest the story on James Burton.  I did not know that James was born in Minden.  My family moved from Minden (Dixie Inn) in 1955 to Bossier City.   In my senior year at Bossier High we could go to school half of the day and to trade school the last half of the day.  It was at trade school that I met James.  We were both learning how to weld.  Not sure why we did because neither one of us went into that kind of work.  At that time James told me that he was playing on the Louisiana Hayride every Sat. night.  He said that they paid him twenty-five dollars a night.  Not bad pay for 1957.
 
It was not long after that, that he started playing with Ricky Nelson.  After Ricky Nelson, I think he started playing for Elvis.
 
Hope this bit of info helps,  

                                                               James Reed

Not sure what he is doing, but I heard that he owns a restaurant is Shreveport.  I think it is called "That 50s Restaurant" or something like that.  

JAMES BURTON

JAMES BURTON

              

                                                                     JAMES BURTON TODAY

 

WANTED GRADES 1-3 WHICH INCLUDE PICTURES OF JAMES BURTON or James Burton Memorbelia

E-MAIL TO MindenMemories@AOL.Com or Mail to Sherry Gresham Gritzbaugh at 4507 Verone Street, Bellaire, TX77401