James Burton

Rockabilly legend Billy Swan goes digital with we7

Becca Hutson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:32:58 +0000

Legendary singer songwriter, country and rockabilly artist Billy Swan has made his back catalogue and a new album of Sinatra covers available digitally on music platform we7.

Alongside the release of Billy’s back catalogue, the long awaited album of Frank Sinatra covers ‘SUNatra’ will be available to fans exclusively on we7. The new album includes the classic tracks ‘I Get A Kick Out Of You’ and ‘It Was A Very Good Year’ recorded at the legendary Sun Studio, in Billy’s unique style with the hottest Memphis musicians.
‘SUNatra’ isn’t available on any other platform nor on CD, making we7 the only place where you can listen to, and buy, the album. The collection of new tracks can be accessed here – http://www.we7.com/#/album/SUNatra!albumId=414961&play=true

Billy has a long experience of the music industry, having worked with artists including Kris Kristofferson, Kinky Friedman and Billy Joe Shaver. He has scored hit singles and albums in the US Charts since 1974, including his huge international hit “I Can Help” which has been covered by Elvis Presley and many other artists.
To accompany the release of his music, Billy has also pulled together a we7 playlist of his favourite tracks with appearances from Johnny Cash, Elvis and even The Police. The playlist can be accessed at the following address – http://www.we7.com/#/user/view-playlist!playlistId=824451

Clive Gardiner, we7’s senior vice president of digital music, comments, “It’s great to be able to host a true country music legend on the we7 site. Making Billy’s new albums, ‘SUNatra’ and “HOME DEMOS” and his back catalogue available on we7 will hopefully open his music to a new audience, whilst providing access to albums like “Bop to Be” and “I Can Help” – Live In Dublin, which have long been out of print. It’s important that online music platforms focus on more than simply the new releases, hosting artists like Billy ensures that we7 is relevant to a wide range of users.”

Guitar Hero

Aliyah Naeem — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:33:25 +0000

James Burton has a charitable foundation in his name, and in 2005 he performed a benefit for the first time in his hometown of Louisiana to raise money for children to buy instruments. As further evidence of his utmost belief in the importance of music education, James also bought a programme called ‘Little Kids Rock’ and gave it to all the teachers so that they could teach it at their school. The benefit was a success, raising enough money to buy 600 guitars!

James explains to t5m about how important fundraising and philanthropy is to him – as he also went on to donate instruments and funds to the Shriners and St. Judes’ hospitals.

James meets a Swan

Aliyah Naeem — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:59 +0000

American guitarist James Burton joined t5m at London’s 100 club, accompanied by friend and bandmate Billy Swan who he first met at an Elvis Presley show in Memphis. Billy tells us that his first memory of James was when he was doing the ‘Ozzie and Harriet show ‘and he was playing with Ricky Nelson.

They first got together in Billy’s house in Sherman Oaks, California where they had a recording session. And it seems that the pair have nothing but kind words for one another, with James describing Billy as a ‘great singer and songwriter, a great talent’ and telling us that he has enjoyed playing all the songs that Billy has written.

James picked up his first guitar when he was very young, after he managed to talk his parents into buying him one. He started playing when he was 13, and went professional at 14. He has played in venues all over the world, like The Sydney Opera House, Madison Square Garden and played with the legendary Elvis Presley.