An interview with guitarist James Burton by Ann Moses
Have you ever wondered who the great sounding guitarist is on Bobby Sherman’s records and albums? Or who edits those groovy sounds to the recordings of Dino Desi and Billy? His name is James Burton, the most in demand session guitarist in Hollywood! Not only does he play for Bobby, but for such great entertainers as Sammy Davis Junior, Tom Jones and of course, the King, Elvis Presley!
James didn’t always know Elvis personally, nor did he even meet this much-admired star until Elvis’ recent Las Vegas opening. But during the two months James rehearsed and worked with Elvis, the two became fast friends and excellent coworkers! In fact, it seems probable that Elvis won’t settle for anyone else on the lead guitar now!
ENJOY PEOPLE
It’s not difficult, upon meeting James, to realize how he and Elvis hit it off so great together. They both enjoy talking with people and both possess those outasight Southern Gentlemen manners!
“I remember seeing some of Elvis’ shows back in Louisiana when he was starting out,” says James. “To me, he was fantastic! I’ve never seen anything like that in my life, and now, it’s even more of an experience to work up there with him–he’s a fantastic person!”
James can remember back to when he was a fan of the Elvis and purchased all his records, never dreaming he would someday be playing the guitar for Elvis himself!
DOWN TO EARTH
Of course, James was a little apprehensive when the time came for him to finally meet Elvis. “I’ve always had the feeling that he might be a little cool, with his importance and prestige and everything,” James reflects. “I thought one had to really know him well in order to communicate with him.”
But James was in for a big surprise! At the very first rehearsal and meeting with Elvis, they talked and shook hands like they’d known each other for years! “It happened so fast I couldn’t believe it,” laughs James. “He is so down to earth he’ll talk to anybody. He just loves people and he could just talk to them for hours!”
When James and Elvis met, it was the start of a fantastic and warm relationship. Though there was much to do at rehearsals and Elvis had a lot of work to do getting the material for the shows together, he was always friendly and relaxed and James felt right at home. “We always had fun at the rehearsals. We just did whatever we wanted to do–we worked and we helped each other.”
One of the nice things James found about working with the King was the whole mood present at the rehearsals. “At a big recording session you have charts, you have an arranger, but at our rehearsals, Elvis just sat and listened to the songs and put them together with his musicians. He might sit down at the piano and run through some songs. It was also very casual!”
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Of course, there were many moments in Las Vegas when there was time to just sit around and talk about the good old days. Everyone liked to listen to Elvis go on about things that happened in his earlier years.
Like the time he was riding his motorcycle and it had been raining. There were some kids standing around, so Elvis was showing off a bit. He wasn’t really watching where he was going and the streets were very slippery. He wasn’t looking at the road and by the time he looked up there was a car stopped right in front of him! He hit the brakes and slid right under the car. For a few minutes he just laid there catching his breath, then he got up laughing. Nothing happened to him and he wasn’t scared until later when the whole thing hit him!
Always in these discussions of the old days, Elvis would be asked to give some of his experiences during the many tours he did, according to James. “He was telling us about one show he did that the audience turned the stage over! It was very exciting. He remembers the policemen were dragging him off the stage and he still had the mic in his hand and was trying to sing! As they dragged him off the stage, about 10,000 kids were turning the stage over!”
SAME EXCITEMENT
Today there is still this kind of excitement when the King comes on the stage. Maybe there isn’t the rush and confusion present in the early days of Elvis career–the rush we remember with the Beatles, the Stones, the Monkees–but excitement clings to the air!
During the opening night in Las Vegas, James recalls how great Elvis was. “He turned the show on and didn’t stop! Every night was a different night completely, even though we were doing generally the same songs. Each one of his songs had a different feeling, and once or twice a couple of people would jump on the stage to shake his hand. Every night he would stay on stage at least half an hour over his regular time for the show. I don’t think there was one night that we closed on time!”
QUITE AN EXPERIENCE
For James, working with Elvis is quite an experience. Both are tops in their field and when two great artists get together you’ve got to have a smashing success! The two plan to work together whenever they can and Elvis is looking forward to it as much as James!
Part of James success is due to the fact that he is such a dedicated artist. “I look at my job as the most important thing. I’m not there to make myself look good just because I’m working with so-and-so. I think basically, if you do a good job for anybody, it’s going to help you just that much more!”
And James does do a great job. Whether he’s working with the King, Nancy Sinatra, or Bobby Sherman, he always puts forth the really great sounds he excels at!
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