James Burton Foundation

 

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The James Burton International Guitar Festival was created to help raise funds for the James Burton Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to raising money to provide technical training, music lessons and free guitars to young musicians.

James was fortunate that his parents sacrificed to purchase his first Fender guitar. Through his humble beginnings, James learned that a quality instrument is very important. It's been James' dream to give back to the community by helping young musicians realize their potential. Your participation in the James Burton International Guitar Festival and donation to the James Burton Foundation enables future generations of musicians to keep the music alive!

http://www.jamesburtonmusic.com/foundation.htm

 

Keith Richards Donates To James Burton Foundation

 

Shreveport, Louisiana is all about the guitar this weekend. The Master of The Telecaster is putting up his second guitarfestival in his hometown. Main purpose is to raise money for the James Burton Foundation that will donate guitars to children. The kick-off could not be better! Keith Richards, legendary guitar player from the Rolling Stones and good friend of James will donate $20.000. A Houston business man donates the same amount. Before the festival has started, the foundation can already donate 1200 guitars: twice as much as after the first festival!

 

I've been reading Scotty's book That’s Alright Elvis and Keith Richards tells of when he first heard Heartbreak Hotel on Radio Luxembourg at the age of 13 and it changed his life forever. He said ‘When I heard it, I knew that was what I wanted to do in life. It was as plain as day. I no longer wanted to be a train driver or a Van Gogh or a rocket scientist. All I wanted to do in the world was to be able to play and sound like that. The early records were incredible. Everyone else wanted to be Elvis. I wanted to be Scotty!’ He dreamed of playing on a record with his hero and forty years later, in 1996,he went to Woodstock for a recording session with Scotty and D.J.Fontana.

 

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Scotty with Keith Richards, D.J. and Ron Wood

 

It's great to hear he's helping another Elvis guitarist in donating to the James Burton Foundation :dance:

 

Here is Clip from the JAMES BURTON Guitar Festival with James performing with "Believe What I Say" with the Nelson Twins :dance: