James Burton

Biography

James Burton is an American guitarist who began as a teenage staff musician on the Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport and went on to a long career as a session player and bandleader. He created the guitar riff for Dale Hawkins's 1957 hit Susie Q and, in 1965, began work on the television program Shindig!, which led to years of session work. In 1969 he accepted Elvis Presley's invitation to play in Las Vegas, organized the TCB Band, and led it while backing Presley until 1977, appearing on records such as That's the Way It Is (1970) and Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite (1973). He later toured with Emmylou Harris and John Denver and was prominent in the Cinemax special Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and, in 2024, entered the Country Music Hall of Fame.

87years old

Turns 88 on August 21in 284 days

Born August 21, 1939Dubberly
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as James Edward Burton

Movie Career

Films: 4
Career span: 56 years1970 to 2026

Every film, newest first

2026EPiC: Elvis Presley in ConcertIMDb rating 8.1
1988Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White NightIMDb rating 8.8
1973Elvis - Aloha from HawaiiIMDb rating 8.5
1970Elvis - That's the Way It IsIMDb rating 8.0

Genres

Did you know?!

First role
Still a teenager, Burton joined the staff band of Shreveport's Louisiana Hayride radio show. He then moved from Shreveport to Los Angeles, where Ricky Nelson's band took him on.

James Burton movies on Netflix

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert2026IMDb rating 8.1as Himself
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night1988IMDb rating 8.8as Self - Guitar
Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii1973IMDb rating 8.5as Self - Guitar
Elvis - That's the Way It Is1970IMDb rating 8.0as Self - Musician

Most often with

Glen D. Hardin appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Glen D. Hardin

Elvis Presley

Charlie HodgeJerry ScheffRonnie Tutt

Cary Grant

Films together

Glen D. Hardin4 films together, 1970 to 2026
Glen D. Hardin's page
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert2026IMDb rating 8.1Burton as HimselfHardin as Himself
- Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night1988IMDb rating 8.8Burton as Self - GuitarHardin as Self - Piano
- Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii1973IMDb rating 8.5Burton as Self - GuitarHardin as Self - Piano
- Elvis - That's the Way It Is1970IMDb rating 8.0Burton as Self - MusicianHardin as Self - Musician
Elvis Presley3 films together, 1970 to 2026
Elvis Presley's page
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert2026IMDb rating 8.1Burton as HimselfPresley as Himself
- Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii1973IMDb rating 8.5Burton as Self - GuitarPresley as Himself
- Elvis - That's the Way It Is1970IMDb rating 8.0Burton as Self - MusicianPresley as Himself
Charlie Hodge3 films together, 1970 to 2026
Charlie Hodge's page
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert2026IMDb rating 8.1Burton as HimselfHodge as Himself
- Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii1973IMDb rating 8.5Burton as Self - GuitarHodge as Self - Rhythm guitar, Background Vocals
- Elvis - That's the Way It Is1970IMDb rating 8.0Burton as Self - MusicianHodge as Self - Musician
Jerry Scheff3 films together, 1970 to 1988
Jerry Scheff's page
- Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night1988IMDb rating 8.8Burton as Self - GuitarScheff as Self - Bass
- Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii1973IMDb rating 8.5Burton as Self - GuitarScheff as Self - Bass Guitar
- Elvis - That's the Way It Is1970IMDb rating 8.0Burton as Self - MusicianScheff as Self - Musician
Ronnie Tutt3 films together, 1970 to 1988
Ronnie Tutt's page
- Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night1988IMDb rating 8.8Burton as Self - GuitarTutt as Self - Drums(Ron Tutt)
- Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii1973IMDb rating 8.5Burton as Self - GuitarTutt as Self - Drums
- Elvis - That's the Way It Is1970IMDb rating 8.0Burton as Self - MusicianTutt as Self - Musician
Cary Grant2 films together, 1970 to 2026
Cary Grant's page
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert2026IMDb rating 8.1Burton as HimselfGrant as Himself
- Elvis - That's the Way It Is1970IMDb rating 8.0Burton as Self - MusicianGrant as Himself
Also two films together6 more actors
- Sammy Davis Jr.EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Cissy HoustonEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Tom ParkerEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- J.D. SumnerEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii (1973)
- John WilkinsonElvis - Aloha from Hawaii (1973) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Kathy WestmorelandEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii (1973)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

Two awards and honors from 1999 to 2001.

Top

James Burton's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Other honors
2001	Rock and Roll Hall of Fame	Won
1999	Keats-Shelley Prize for Poetry	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top