James Edward Burton (born August 21, 1939, in Dubberly, Louisiana, United States)[1] is an American guitarist.

[5] Since the 1950s, Burton has recorded and performed with an array of singers, including Bob Luman, Dale Hawkins, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley (and was leader of Presley's TCB Band), The Everly Brothers,[6] Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, John Denver, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Claude King, Elvis Costello, Joe Osborn, Roy Orbison, Joni Mitchell, Hoyt Axton, Townes Van Zandt,[7] Steve Young, Vince Gill, and Suzi Quatro.

[9] He had originally written the song as an instrumental before Hawkins wrote lyrics for it; Burton never received credit or royalties for his contributions to "Susie Q".

A hallmark of Elvis' live shows during this period was his exhortation, "Play it, James", as a cue for the guitarist's solos.

Burton remained a member of Denver's band until 1994, but often toured in parallel with other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis.

[11] Burton's later career included work with John Denver,[15] Merle Haggard,[15] Rodney Crowell, and Emmylou Harris.

In 1988, he was a prominent part of the acclaimed Cinemax special, Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night.

[17] In 2007, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN as a member of the L.A. session player group known as The Wrecking Crew.

[19] On July 15, 2010, Rolling Stone Magazine announced that Eric Clapton and James Burton would provide guitars on the track "You Can Have Her" for Jerry Lee Lewis' album Mean Old Man, scheduled for release in fall 2010.

[22] On June 9, 2012, Burton appeared in Shreveport at the Municipal Auditorium for a presentation of Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion.

In March 2020, it was announced that Burton and producer T-Bone Burnett were collaborating with Jerry Lee Lewis and recording a new album of gospel covers.

In 2022 and early 2023, Burton was sidelined due to contracting the coronavirus, being diagnosed with kidney cancer, and breaking his hip.

The event featured Burton joined by Sir Brian May of Queen, Albert Lee, Van Morrison, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Ronnie Wood, and Elvis Costello.

[29] In January 2024, Burton participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, riding on a Louisiana-themed float.

[33] Five years later his 1953 Candy Apple Red Telecaster was the inspiration for a standard version Artist Signature model featuring two Fender Texas Special Tele single coil pickups and a vintage-style 6-saddle bridge.

[34] He can also be seen playing am early model Fender Jazz Master (possibly a prototype) in a circa 1961 live television version of "Hello Mary Lou" with Nelson.

[35] According to the biography on Burton's official website, his style of lead playing is unique, as "[he] uses a straight pick and a fingerpick on his middle finger.

[36] With Hoyt Axton With The Beach Boys With The Beau Brummels With The Byrds With J. J. Cale With Glen Campbell With Shawn Camp With Kim Carnes With Carlene Carter With Johnny Cash With Rosanne Cash With David Cassidy With Mark Collie With Judy Collins With Elvis Costello With Marshall Crenshaw With Rodney Crowell With Delaney & Bonnie With John Denver With Cass Elliot With Phil Everly With Bobbie Gentry With Arlo Guthrie With Hager Twins With Emmylou Harris With Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell With Dale Hawkins With Ronnie Hawkins With Chris Hillman With Jan & Dean With Sammy Johns With Nicolette Larson With Jim Lauderdale With Drake Milligan With Ronnie Milsap With Joni Mitchell With The Monkees With Michael Martin Murphey With Michael Nesmith With Randy Newman With Harry Nilsson With The Oak Ridge Boys With Tom Pacheco With Brad Paisley With Gram Parsons With Michael Parks With John Phillips With Elvis Presley With Johnny Rivers With Kenny Rogers With Evie Sands With Billy Joe Shaver With Frank Sinatra With Nancy Sinatra With Tom Snow With Buffalo Springfield With The Tractors With Tina Turner With Townes Van Zandt With Sammy Walker With Gillian Welch