A natural guitarist without professional training, James Burton started playing seriously by the time he was thirteen years old and a year later was hired to be part of the staff band for the enormously popular Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport. Burton played on wrote the licks for Dale Hawkins' 1957 hit song ''Suzie Q,'' a record that would become one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

As part of his early work, Burton played lead guitar for most of Rick Nelson's major hits between 1958 and 1965 after which Bob Dylan reportedly wanted to hire him for his first touring band, but Burton was under contract to the television program Shindig!. James Burton was also a guitarist and the band leader of Elvis Presley's ''TCB Band'' from 1969 until Presley's death in 1977. A hallmark of Elvis' live shows was when he would turn to James as particular songs reached their bridges and say, ''Play it, James,'' and Burton would begin his masterful lead guitar solos. Burton's later career included landmark work with Merle Haggard, Gram Parsons, and Emmylou Harris, among others.

In 1988, he was a prominent part of the acclaimed Cinemax special, Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night. James Burton began working with John Denver in 1977. The first album they recorded was 'I Want To Live'. Just before Elvis died, James was called to play on a John Denver television special. During the taping, John asked if James would consider going out on a European tour. He said he was working with Elvis, but if scheduling permitted, he would be glad to go. Shortly after Elvis' death, James was contacted about the album. During the sessions, James and John talked about a band.Glenn D. Hardin and Jerry Scheff, two other Elvis Presley band members, joined the band too. James remained a member of the band until 1994. He rejoined John in 1995 for the Wildlife Concert. In the 16 years James worked with John, they recorded 12 albums and toured around the world.While touring with Denver, James carried several instruments, including backup dobros and a spare Telecaster.

When John died, James was a speaker at his memorial service in Aspen, Colorado in 1997. Burton left Shreveport for Los Angeles, California while in his teens after joining Ricky Nelson's band. He moved back to Shreveport permanently in 1990. Also in the 1990s, Burton recorded and toured with Elvis Costello. Since 1998, Burton has played lead guitar in ''Elvis: The Concert'' which reunited some of Elvis' former TCB bandmates, background singers and Elvis' orchestral conductor (mostly from the ''concert years'' 1969-1977) live on stage with a state of the art video-projected Elvis.