James Burton

Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 (under the category Side-Men).

In 1969, Elvis Presley asked him to put together a band for his comeback to live performances. Burton agreed to do it and went on to create Elvis' famed "TCB Band", with whom he played lead guitar in more than 1000 Presley concerts, between 1969 and 1977.

Apart from this high profile exposure on all of Nelson's hit records, James Burton became one of the most in-demand Los Angeles session guitarists during the 1960s, playing on recordings by artists, ranging from Frank Sinatra to The Monkees, as well as regularly appearing on the popular music show, Shindig! (1964). It was at the end of the decade that Elvis Presley, recently returned to live performing, was in the process of putting together a band for his Las Vegas shows. Elvis knew a remarkable talent when he heard one, and hired James Burton as lead guitarist of his band.

His first recorded track was the Dale Hawkins hit, "Susie Q", in 1957. His dynamic rockabilly style of playing brought him to the attention of television star-turned-singer Ricky Nelson, who hired Burton as his regular band member.

Born in Minden, Louisiana, on August 21, 1939, James Burton began playing guitar at the age of thirteen, and turned professional the following year.