R. L.

Burnside

For the stage director, see R. H. Burnside. Three years after coming to Chicago,[10][14] Burnside
went back south. He married Alice Mae Taylor in 1949
or 1950,[17][18][16] his second marriage.[7][n 2] .
Robert Lee Burnside, known as R. L. Burnside
(November 23, 1926 September 1, 2005) was an Amer- He moved several times In the 1950s, between Memphis,
ican blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He played Tennessee, the Mississippi Delta and the hill country
music for much of his life but received little recognition of northern Mississippi.[19][20][21] During his time in the
before the early 1990s. In the latter half of the decade, Delta, he met bluesmen Robert Lockwood, Jr. and
Burnside recorded and toured with Jon Spencer, garner- Aleck Rice Miller.[7][8] It seems it was around that time
ing crossover appeal and introducing his music to a new that Burnside killed a man, possibly at a craps game,
fan base in the punk and garage rock scene. was convicted of murder and incarcerated in Parchman
Farm.[18][22] He would later relate that his boss at the
time had arranged to release him after six months, as he
needed Burnsides skills as a tractor driver.[n 3]
1 Life and career

1.1 19261959: Early years 1.2 19601990: Part-time musician

Burnside was born in 1926[1] to Earnest Burnside and He spent the next 45 years, not unlike his early years,
Josie,[2] in either Harmontown,[3] College Hill,[4][5] or in Panola and Tate counties, in northern Mississippi. At
Blackwater Creek,[6] all of which are in the rural part rst he kept to particularly remote dwellings,[17] work-
of Lafayette County, Mississippi, close to the area that ing into the 1980s as a sharecropper growing cotton and
would be covered by Sardis Lake a few years later. His soybean, as a commercial sherman on the Tallahatchie
rst name is variously given as R. L., Rl, Robert Lee, Ru- River, selling his catch from door to door,[7][24] and
ral, Ruel or Rule. His father left the family early on, and as a truck driver.[25] Later he moved closer to Holly
R. L. grew up with his mother, grandparents, and several Springs. After coming back to Mississippi, and espe-
siblings. cially after marrying,[12] he picked more local gigs,[14]
He played the harmonica and dabbled with playing the playing guitar in juke joints and bars[3] (some under his
guitar beginning at the age of 16, He reported that he rst management),[2][9][20][26] at picnics and at his own open
house parties,[21][n 4] and at an occasional festival. His
played in public at age 21 or 22.[7][8] He learned mostly
from Mississippi Fred McDowell, who lived nearby since career boomed in the last twenty years of his life.
Burnside was a child. He rst heard McDowell playing at His earliest recordings were made in 1967 by George
age 7 or 8[9] and eventually joined his gigs to play a late Mitchell, then a graduate student of journalism. Mitchell
set.[8][10] Other local teachers were his uncle-in-law Ranie and his wife went on a 13-day summer trip in Missis-
Burnette,[9] who was a popular player from Senatobia,[11] sippi, which resulted in the rst recordings of several
and the mostly unknown Henry Harden,[12] Son Hibbler, country blues artists.[27] He came to Burnsides house
Jesse Vortis, and Burnsides brother-in-law.[7] Burnside near Coldwater on the advice of fe player and maker
cited church singing[10][13] and fe and drum picnics as Othar Turner.[28] Mitchell wrote that Fred McDowell
elements of his childhoods musical landscape, and he had not told him about Burnside, likely because Burn-
credited Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins and John Lee side posed big-time competition.[29] Six of the songs,
Hooker as inuences in adulthood.[7][8][9] played on an acoustic guitar lent by Mitchell, were re-
In the late 1940s[14] he moved to Chicago, where his fa- leased on Arhoolie Records after two years; nine others
ther had lived since he separated from his mother,[8] in are on later records. Another album of acoustic material
the hope of nding better economic opportunities.[8] He was recorded in 1969 for Adelphi Records, not to be re-
found jobs at metal and glass factories,[9][15][16] had the leased until thirty years later. Recordings from 1975 had
company of Muddy Waters (his cousin-in-law),[8] and en- a similar fate.[30][31]
joyed the blues scene on Maxwell Street.[2][14] But things These recordings featured Burnside playing acoustic gui-
did not turn out as he had hoped; within the span of one tar and singing, and a few tracks had harmonica accom-
year his father, two brothers, and two uncles were all mur- paniment by W.C. Veasey or Ulysse Red Ramsey. Al-
dered in the city.[10][n 1] though not recorded, by that time Burnside also played

1
2 1 LIFE AND CAREER

electric guitar.[20][21] His early repertoire came from hill times.[7] Recordings from his time with Morris were even-
country and Memphis favorites, Hooker, Waters,[32] hits tually released on two records, both produced by M.C.
by Howlin' Wolf and Elmore James, and sides by Yank Records and Louis X. Erlanger: Acoustic Stories (a ses-
Rachell, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Lonesome Sundown. sion from 1988) and Well, Well, Well (a 2001 compilation
[9]
In 1969 he performed for the rst time outside the United of informal recordings provided by Morris).
States, at a program in Montreal with Lightnin' Hop-
kins and John Lee Hooker.[7][8] As a solo performer, he 1.3 19912005: Commercial success and
made three tours in Europe, appearing before enthusiastic
physical decline
audiences.[21] In 1974 he played at the New Orleans Jazz
& Heritage Festival, the rst of nine of these festivals at
which he performed.[33] Also in 1974, Tav Falco lmed
Burnside in the Brotherhood Sportsmens Lodge, a juke
joint he ran at the time near Como.[34][35][n 5] His perfor-
mance featured the slide guitarist Kenny Brown, Burn-
sides friend and understudy, whom he began tutoring in
1971 and claimed as his adopted son.[39][40] In 1978
Burnside was lmed by Alan Lomax in what remained
mostly outtakes of the television documentary The Land
Where the Blues Began.[n 6]
A series of recordings in 1979 by the musicologist David
Evans for his record label, High Water, was the rst to
feature Burnsides Sound Machine, which included his
sons Duwayne and Daniel on guitar, his son Joseph on
bass, and his son-in-law Calvin Jackson on drums.[17] The
band was active mostly in home settings but also joined
Burnside in Europe in 1980[21] and 1983. They oered
a rare fusion of rural and urban blues, funk, R&B and
soul,[20][n 7] which appealed to young Mississippians;[21]
their sets included covers of songs by Jimmy Rogers,
Little Walter, Albert King and Little Milton. An EP,
Sound Machine Groove, was released by Evanss label
in the US but had next to no distribution.[41][42] Apart
from it, one full album of the same title, a debut of sorts,
was licensed for prompt European release by Disques
Burnside at the Liri Blues Festival, Italy, in 1992
Vogue,[21] and another hours worth was released by the
Memphis label Inside Sounds in 2001.[43] In the late seventies or early eighties Burnside was in-
From 1980 to 1986, Burnside recorded for the Dutch la- troduced and struck a partnership with Junior Kim-
[14]
bel Old Swingmaster label and for the French label Arion, brough. Roughly a decade later, his own Burnside
[26][n 8]
mostly solo or with harmonica accompaniment: Johnny Palace had shut down and the family lived next
Woods served on some occasions (he also recorded as to the Kimbroughs new Juniors Place in Chulahoma,
a lead artist, with guitar accompaniment by Burnside); Mississippi and collaborated with the counterpart musical
[9][41][49]
Curtis Salgado served once in a New Orleans session. Se- family. The music writer Robert Palmer, teach-
lections focused on hill country material and starker, less ing for a time in the University of Mississippi in Ox-
danceable songs by Hopkins, Waters and Hooker. The ford, frequented the scene with some celebrity musicians,
results were four more LP releases and a videotape under which led to the making in 1990 of the documentary Deep
his name, all in European markets.[44][45] Blues, in which Burnside was prominently featured.
In the mid-1980s Burnside retired from farm work and Burnside began recording for the Oxford, Mississippi,
became more busy with the music.[14] For about 12 label Fat Possum Records in 1991.[1] The label, dedi-
years he worked with New Orleansbased harpist Jon cated to recording aging north Mississippi bluesmen such
(Joni) Morris Neremberg (or Nuremberg).[7][17][20] He as Burnside and Kimbrough,[18][50] was founded by two
appeared before American crowds at such occasions as students who had been attending their performances for
the 1982 Worlds Fair, the 1984 Louisiana World Ex- some years[51][52] Peter Redvers-Lee, editor of Living
position,[17] and the 1986 San Francisco Blues Festi- Blues magazine, and Matthew Johnson, a writer for the
val,[46] between international tours.[17][47] By the mid- magazine. Burnside remained with Fat Possum from
1980s he toured about once a year or maybe twice,[14] that time until his death. Their rst output was Bad
and by one report in 1985 he had been to Europe 17 Luck City (1992), featuring the Sound Machine. The
next, Too Bad Jim (1994), was recorded at Juniors Place
1.3 19912005: Commercial success and physical decline 3

and produced by Palmer, with support from Calvin Jack- and young musicians were attracted to Juniors Place, but
son and Kenny Brown.[49][53] After Jackson moved to it burned down in 2000.
Holland,[39][40] Burnside found a new stable band and Documentary coverage of his current life and work ex-
would usually perform with Brown and drummer Cedric panded too. Bradley Beesley lmed the 60-minutes Hill
Burnside, his grandson. Stomp Hollar, a lm about Burnside and other Fat Pos-
In a New York concert around the release of Deep Blues, sum artists, that received positive response[63] at the 1999
he attracted the attention of Jon Spencer, the leader of SXSW Film Festival premiere,[64] but was not approved
the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.[54] He started touring for release by the label.[65] Much of Beesleys footage
with this group in 1995, both as an opening act and sitting and interviews became part of a 77-minutes, You See Me
in,[54] gaining much new audience.[55] The 1996 album A Laughin', directed by Mandy Stein; it was released by Fat
Ass Pocket of Whiskey was recorded with Spencers band Possum in 2003. A 1999 date in Paris "New Morning",
and was marketed for their audience, but was credited to with Brown and Cedric, was an occasion for French blues
Burnside.[54] It gained critical acclaim and praise from singer Sophie Kay (Kertesz) to lm a 52-minutes docu-
Bono and Iggy Pop; Billboard magazine wrote that it mentary.
sound like no other blues album ever released[54] and an In short time, however, Burnside was in declining
author there picked it to years end critics poll,[56] Living health. He had an ear infection and underwent a heart
Blues opined it is perhaps the worst blues album ever surgery in 1999.[3][66][67][68] As his tours decreased to
made.[57][n 9] a minimum,[69][70] Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down
(2000) was released, which relegated guitar work to other
players (Rick Holmstrom, Smokey Hormel, John Porter)
but used Burnsides vocals.[9][71] After a heart attack in
2001, his doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burn-
side did, but he reported that change left him unable to
play.[23] Fat Possum rebounded with A Bothered Mind
(2004), an album that used previously recorded guitar
tracks, and included collaborations with Kid Rock and
Lyrics Born.[72]
The three remix albums received mixed reviews, some
describing the results as unnatural[73] while others
lauded the playful spirit,[74] or the way it yokes authentic
blues feeling to new technology.[75] Commercially, the
remixes were successful; each surpassed its previous in
Billboards Top Blues Albums chart, as they stayed there
for 1218 weeks periods (but none entered into the more
competitive Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs),[76][n 10] and two
tracks from Come On In were included in The Sopranos
soundtrack. Let My Baby Ride o Come On In re-
Burnside at the Double Door Inn in Charlotte, N.C., in 1998
ceived signicant airplay and an ensuing music clip was
slotted in MTVs 120 Minutes;[61] the albums Rollin'
After parting ways with the Blues Explosion, the label & Tumblin'" accompanied a 2002 Nissan TV commer-
turned to produce music in which recorded materials cial.[9][80][81] But it was the live, unremixed album Burn-
were remixed by producer Tom Rothrock with an eye to side on Burnside (2001) that peaked at number 4 of Bill-
techno, downtempo and hip-hop listeners. The experi- boards Blues Albums chart[76] and was nominated for a
ment started with a track in Mr. Wizard (1997),[58][59] an Grammy.[82] - the last article to catch Burnside as an ac-
album based on a variety of sessions, and matured into tive bandleader, recorded in January 2001 with Brown
a full album with Come On In (1998).[60] The recording and Cedric.
artists themselves heard only the nal product, but they
In between, Fat Possum licensed and released First
conceded that with time they came to like it, in part in-
Recording (2003), comprising George Mitchells 1967
uenced by its popularity.[39][61]
recordings in its fullest edition yet, in traditional
Burnside continued to tour, perhaps more extensively format.[n 11] In addition, the 1990s and 2000s saw release
than ever. He warmed for the Beastie Boys,[9][62] was mu- of several recordings from previous decades by other la-
sical guest in Late Night with Conan O'Brien and HBOs bels (see above), as well as a couple of new recordings by
Reverb, provided entertainment at private events such HighTone Records.
as Richard Gere's birthday party,[18] and participated in
shared or showcase bills with other Fat Possum artists,
like T-Model Ford, Paul Wine Jones, CeDell Davis,
Robert Cage and Robert Belfour. An inux of visitors
4 2 STYLE

1.4 Death and legacy Year);[97] he had 11 unsuccessful nominations in 8 years

for the awards, starting in 1982,[98] as well as one for a
Another heart attack in November 2002 resulted in a Grammy. Several of the Mississippi Blues Trail mark-
surgery in 2003, and short-circuited any future career ers, which have been erected since 2006, mention him.
plans he had.[9][66] Yet Burnside continued as guest singer In 2014 he was induced to the Blues Hall of Fame in
on occasions, such as Bonnaroo Music Festival, 2004, his Memphis.[99]
last public appearance.[84] He died at St. Francis Hos-
Burnsides fellow Fat Possum musicians The Black Keys
pital in Memphis, Tennessee on September 1, 2005, at
credit him as an inuence and interpolated his Skinny
the age of 78.[85] Services were held at Rust College,
Woman into their track "Busted".
in Holly Springs, with burial in the Free Springs Ceme-
tery, in Harmontown. Around the time of his death, he The electronica musician St. Germain used samples of
resided in Byhalia, Mississippi. His immediate survivors Burnsides Nightmare Blues throughout the track How
included:[85] Dare You, on his 2015 album.[100]

His wife, Alice Mae Taylor Burnside (1932

2008),[86] married 1949[16][18] 2 Style
His daughters Mildred Jean Burnside (1949
2010),[87] Linda Jackson, Brenda Kay Brooks, and
Pamela Denise Burnside
His sons Melvin Burnside, R.L. Burnside Jr. (1954
2010),[88] Calvin Burnside, Joseph Burnside, Daniel
Burnside, Duwayne Burnside, Dexter Burnside,
Garry Burnside, and Rodger Harmon
His sisters Lucille Burnside, Verelan Burnside, and
Mat Burnside
His brother, Jesse Monia
35 grandchildren
32 great-grandchildren

Members of his extended family continue to play blues

in the Holly Springs area and in wider circles. His son
Duwayne Burnside has played guitar with the North Mis-
sissippi Allstars (Polaris; Hill Country Revue with R. L.
Burnside). He has operated music venues named after
Burnside and Alice Mae in Chulahoma, Memphis,[89][90] Burnside performing at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Ore-
Waterford,[91] and Holly Springs.[92] His grandson Cedric gon, in January 2001
Burnside has released six albums with four musical part-
ners and toured with Kenny Brown and others. His son Burnside had a powerful, expressive voice, that did not
Garry Burnside used to play bass guitar with Junior Kim- fail with old age but rather grew richer,[9][18] and played
brough, North Mississippi Allstars, and Hill Country Re- both electric and acoustic guitar, with and without a slide.
vue; in 2006 he released an album with Cedric. His son- His drone-heavy style was more characteristic of North
in-law Calvin Jackson (died 2015) recorded with blues Mississippi hill country blues than Delta blues. Like other
musicians of Burnsides generation and younger. His country blues musicians, he did not always adhere to strict
grandson, Kent Burnside, is also a touring blues musi- 12- or 16-bar blues patterns, often adding extra beats to a
cian. Kent is currently touring with the Flood Brothers measure as he saw t.[101] His rhythms are often based on
and released an album with them in 2016.[93] Grandson the fe and drum blues of north Mississippi.[53][102][n 12]
Cody (died 2012) was also a musician. Kenny Brown has As was the case with his role model John Lee Hooker,
released four albums and toured with the family and his Burnsides earliest recordings sound quite similar to one
own band. another, even repetitive, in vocal and instrumental styling.
Burnside won one W. C. Handy Award in 2000 (Tra- Many of these songs eschew traditional chord changes in
ditional Blues Male Artist of the Year),[94] two in 2002 favor of a single chord[20][28][53] or a simple bassline pat-
(Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year; Traditional tern that repeats throughout. Burnside played the guitar
Blues Album of the Year, Burnside on Burnside),[95][96] ngerstylewithout a pickand often in open-G tun-
and one in 2003 (Traditional Blues Male Artist of The ing.[32] His vocal style is characterized by a tendency to
3.3 Compilation albums 5

break briey into falsetto, usually at the end of long 3.3 Compilation albums
notes.
Mostly rst releases of previously recorded materials
Like his contemporary T-Model Ford, Burnside favored a
stripped-down approach to the blues, marked by a qual-
ity of rawness. He and his later managers and review- Going Down South (Swingmaster, 1999), split al-
ers maintained his persona as a hard-working man lead- bum with Johnny Woods and Ranie Burnette,
ing a life of struggle,[103] a heavy drinker, latent criminal recordings from 19841986
singing songs of swagger and rebellion.
Well, Well, Well (MC Records, 2001), songs and in-
Burnside knew many toastsAfrican American narra- terviews from 1986 to 1993
tive folk poems such as "Signifying monkey" and Tojo
Told Hitlerand fondly recited them between songs at Raw Electric (Inside Sounds, 2002), compilation of
his concerts and on recordings. He narrated long jokes recordings from 1979 and 1980
in concerts and social events,[55][104] and many sources
No Monkeys on this Train (HighTone, 2003), com-
noted his quick wit and charisma.
pilation of songs from Sound Machine Groove, live
material and stories

3 Discography First Recordings (Fat Possum, 2003), recorded in

1967 by George Mitchell
3.1 Studio albums Rollin' and Tumblin': the King of Hill Country Blues
(Wolf, 2010), posthumous compilation of record-
Sound Machine Groove (Vogue, 1981) ings from 1975, 1989, 1991 and 1991
Plays and Sings the Mississippi Delta Blues (Swing-
master, 1981)
3.4 Extended guest appearances
Hill Country Blues (Swingmaster, 1987)
Duwayne Burnside and the Mississippi Maa, Live
Skinny Woman (Lollipop, 1989), re-released as at the Mint (1999)
Acoustic Stories (MC, 1997)
North Mississippi Allstars, Hill Country Revue: Live
Bad Luck City (Fat Possum, 1994) at Bonnaroo (2004)

Too Bad Jim (Fat Possum, 1994), produced by

Robert Palmer
4 Films
A Ass Pocket of Whiskey (Fat Possum, 1996), fea-
turing the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Honky Tonk (1974), by Tav Falco
Mr. Wizard (Fat Possum, 1997), including two The Land Where the Blues Began (1979) by Alan
tracks with Jon Spencer Lomax, John Bishop, and Worth Long in associa-
tion with the Mississippi Authority for Educational
Come On In (Fat Possum, 1998), remixed recordings Television
My Black Name a-Ringin' (Genes, 1999), recordings American Patchwork: Songs and Stories of
from 1969 America, part 3: The Land Where the Blues
Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down (Fat Possum, Began (1990), North Carolina Public TV, a
2000) lightly re-edited version of The Land Where
the Blues Began (1979)
A Bothered Mind (Fat Possum, 2004), remixed The Land Where the Blues Began (2010), re-
recordings stored original version, DVD containing two
additional performances by Burnside
3.2 Live albums Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads
(1991), directed by Robert Mugge
Mississippi Blues (Arion, 1984)
Hill Stomp Hollar (1999), by Bradley Beesley
Burnside on Burnside (Fat Possum, 2001), a crit-
ically acclaimed 2001 live album recorded at the Un jour avec... R. L. Burnside (1999/2001), by
Crystal Ballroom, on Burnside Street, in Portland, Sophie Kertesz, produced and distributed by Cin-
Oregon Rock, Paris OCLC 691729826
6 7 REFERENCES

You See Me Laughin': The Last of the Hill Country [5] Some of the 26 minutes of footage is included in You
Bluesmen (2002), released by Fat Possum Records See Me Laughin'. Burnside was instrumental in Falco be-
in 2005, produced and directed by Mandy Stein, Ox- coming a guitarist,[36] and Tav Falcos Panther Burns were
ford, Mississippi: Plain Jane Productions, Fat Pos- probably the rst to cover, and name, a Burnside compo-
sum Records sition on record: Snake Drive on Behind the Magnolia
Curtain, 1981.[37][38] Band member Lorette Velvette pro-
Richard Johnston: Hill Country Troubadour (2005), duced other early covers in her solo albums.
directed by Max Shores, Alabama PBS, featuring an [6] Later released on a 2010 DVD, and the Alan Lomax
interview with Burnside and information about the Archives Youtube channel: playlist
Holly Springs music community
[7] In Burnsides words, they can play rock 'n' roll and disco
Big Bad Love (2001), directed by Arliss Howard, too.[7]
with soundtrack songs by Burnside and a cameo live
performance, MGM/IFC Films [8] Like many joints that were abandoned in response to the
crack epidemic.[9][48]
Holy Motors (2012), directed by Leos Carax, with an
accordion and drum cover of Let My Baby Ride [9] His work with Jon Spencer was later cited as an inuence
by Hillstomp[1] and covered on record by The Immortal
by Docteur L
Lee County Killers.

[10] From a hip-hop perspective the Fat Possum eorts were

5 Further reading among the very rst to incorporate the blues, but ulti-
mately did not alter the younger genres landscape.[77] One
clear precursor is found in The Wolf that House Built from
Dessier, Matthieu (2006). The Real Deal: Experi- Little Axe,[78] others are by Chris Thomas (King). Con-
encing Authenticity in the Music of R.L. Burnside. temporary projects, that used archival blues samples, in-
M.A. thesis. University of Mississippi. OCLC cluded Moby's extremely successful Play (1999), Tangle
82143665 Eyes remix of Alan Lomax material (2004), and with
a broader mix, Alabama 3's Exile on Coldharbour Lane
Smirno, Marc, ed. (2008). The Oxford American (1997).[79]
Book of Great Music Writing. Fayetteville: Univer-
sity of Arkansas. [11] In interviews Watson and Johnson of Fat Possum have in-
dicated that Burnside was the labels best seller and en-
abled them to nance less commercially-assured projects,
and sign new artists.[23][50][26][83]
6 Notes
[12] Compare Burnsides vocal imitation of fe and drum mu-
sic: You See Me Laughin' (see lmography), min. 25:55.
[1] Burnside would later draw upon this experience in his
work, particularly in his interpretation of Skip James's
Hard Time Killing Floor and the talking blues R.L.'s
Story, the opening and closing tracks of Wish I Was in 7 References
Heaven Sitting Down (2000).

[2] His rst marriage is apparently alluded to in a story he [1] Skelly, Richard. R.L. Burnside. Allmusic. Retrieved
would tell in response to questions like What is the blues December 30, 2011.
about?": Its when you get to your house, late at night,
[2] Bruin, Leo (1981). Liner notes, R. L. Burnside Plays and
and the rst thing you meet out there in the driveway is the
Sings the Mississippi Delta Blues. scan
cat, sayin'[in a well-imitated cats voice] 'She-ain't-here,
She-ain't-here.'You got the blues then. Your wife done [3] Blues Veteran R.L. Burnside Dies. Billboard.com. Re-
gone. (Cited from New York Magazine. 11 September trieved 20 October 2011.
1995: 94. ISSN 0028-7369.; similar versions of the story
are in Have You Ever Been Lonely from A Ass Pocket of [4] Miller, David Michael. Birthplaces of Mississippi Blues
Whiskey (1996) and the opening of You See Me Laughin') Artists (Map).

[3] About the incident he would recite, I didn't mean to kill [5] Oxford Blues. Mississippi Blues Trail.
nobody. I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head
and two times in the chest. Him dying was between him [6] Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Re-
and the Lord.[23] gional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-
313-34424-4.
[4] Evans provided a few more details: Nelson, Chris (1997-
08-02). Classic R.L. Burnside 'House Party' Style [7] [Je Hannusch] (August 1985). Connie Atkinson, ed. A
Recordings Reissued. MTV News. Retrieved 2015-06- Bluesman Lives the Life [interview]". Wavelength: New
17., to which the Mississippi Blues Commission adds at: Orleans Music Magazine (58). Nauman S. Scott. pp. 23
Tate County Blues. Mississippi Blues Trail. 24.
 7

[8] Mabe, Ed (November 1999). R. L. Burnside: One [29] Booklet of The George Mitchell Collection (2007), FP
Badass Bluesman: Interview and Photos. Perfect Sound 1114. Quoted in Je Harris (2008-03-23). A Look At
Forever. The George Mitchell Collection - Part 2. Big Road Blues.
Retrieved 2015-06-03.
[9] John Puckett (December 2004). R.L. Burnside: North
Mississippi Blues Legend. Vintage Guitar. Retrieved [30] Wolf LP 120.917 leaet (scan)
2015-04-30.
[31] The King Of Hill Country Blues: Rollin' & Tumblin'".
[10] Filmed interview. You See Me Laughin' (see lmography), Discogs.com.
minutes 2530.
[32] Arhoolie 1042 (1969) leaet (scan)
[11] Evans, David (1978), Afro-American Folk Music from
Tate and Panola Counties, Mississippi (PDF), Archive of [33] New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive performers list.
Folk Song, Library of Congress, p. 16 See also 1975 setlist
[12] Bruin, Leo, and Laundre, Kent. Liner notes of Mississippi [34] Morse, Erik. Bomb Artists in Conversation: Tav
Hill Country Blues. Swingmaster CD 2201. scan 1, scan Falco. Bomb (magazine). Retrieved 2015-06-07.
2
[35] Tav Falco Panther Burns: Films and Videos. 7 Decem-
[13] Nelson, Chris (2000-12-08). The Story Behind R.L.
ber 2014.
Burnsides Sad 'Story'". MTV News. Retrieved 2015-06-
22. [36] Richard A. Pleuger (May 2006). Inside the Invisible Em-
[14] Stiles, Ray M. (1998-08-01). Interview with R.L. Burn- pire: My Travels with Rock 'n' Roll Legend Tav Falco
side & Kenny Brown. Blues on Stage. and His Unapproachable Panther Burns. Arthur Maga-
zine (21). Retrieved 2015-06-12.
[15] Leigh, Spencer (2005-09-03). R. L. Burnside. Obitu-
aries. The Independent. Retrieved 2011-10-20. [37] Wallace Lester, Wallace. Record Of The Issue - Tav
Falcos Behind The Magnolia Curtain"". The Local Voice
[16] R. L. Burnside. Contemporary Black Biography. Gale (159). Oxford, Mississippi. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
Group. 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
[38] R.L. Burnside | Credits. AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-09-
[17] Sylvester Oliver (2005-09-29). A memoriam to blues- 07.
man R.L. Burnside. The South Reporter : Part 1; Part
2. [39] Michael Koster; Carter Grice (Summer 1999). Kenny
Brown - Americas Finest Slide Guitar Player? [inter-
[18] McInerney, Jay. White Man at the Door: One Mans
view]". Thirsty Ear Magazine. Archived from the original
Mission to Record the 'Dirty Blues before Everyone
on 2013-09-09.
Dies. New Yorker (February 4, 2002), page 55.
[40] Cedric Burnside and Kenny Brown. Interview. Jeerson
[19] R.L.'s Story, interview clip from Wish I Was in Heaven
Blues Magazine, Issue 141, March 2004. Swedish origi-
Sitting Down (2000)
nal, via Google Translate
[20] Grard Herzhaft (1992). R. L Burnside. Encyclopedia
of the Blues (second ed.). University of Arkansas Press. [41] James Lien (November 1998). Mississippi Juke Joints.
pp. 2829. ISBN 978-1-61075-139-1. CMJ New Music Monthly.

[21] Evans, David (1980). Notes to High Water 410 EP (scan), [42] New Blues Label Founded at Memphis State Univ.. Bill-
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[104] E.g. on Well, Well, Well (2001) and Burnside on Burnside

(2001)

8 External links
R. L. Burnside at AllMusic
Fat Possum artist website

Slades R. L. Burnside page

Illustrated R. L. Burnside discography
10 9 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

9 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1 Text
R. L. Burnside Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._L._Burnside?oldid=778383479 Contributors: Pde, Nurg, Blainster, TOO,
Gamaliel, Marcus2, Chairboy, Arthena, Bebop, AN(Ger), Torqueing, Rjwilmsi, Mayumashu, Koavf, Bubba73, Kaszeba, Bgwhite, Mis-
sissippifred, YurikBot, Jimp, RussBot, Zigamorph, Shell Kinney, Gaius Cornelius, Buckdj, Badagnani, Eschapman, Anetode, VinnyCee,
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NickPenguin, Salamurai, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Valfontis, John, Sir Isaac Lime, Zzazazz, Syrcatbot, Eurodog, Mab2112, RevTarth-
peigust, Ouroboris, Twas Now, J Milburn, ShelfSkewed, AndrewHowse, Cydebot, Mattisse, StefanWirz, Fayenatic london, Danny lost,
Ghmyrtle, TAnthony, Freshacconci, Magioladitis, Connormah, Dan Stephens, Designquest10, R'n'B, Mind meal, Redverp, Trilobitealive,
Chrisbuzzard, Bentonia School, WOSlinker, Martinevans123, Gwib, Technopat, Walor, Slysplace, Portia327, MDuchek, Flyer22 Reborn,
Android Mouse Bot 3, Pieeye, Denisarona, Sitush, All Hallows Wraith, FieldMarine, Saddhiyama, TheAstonishingBadger, Barrett74, Iplay-
dirty, Livingwords, Tim010987, Addbot, Fanofduk3, Tassedethe, LarryJe, Lightbot, Yobot, Ptbotgourou, AnomieBOT, Night w, Zonly,
Wilsonharris89, JPGR69, Mrlucasperkins, Just a guy from the KP, RjwilmsiBot, Ineverheardofhim, EmausBot, JohnMBishop, Robert
LeBlanc, Azkm, Horisjoris, Spicemix, CactusBot, Helpful Pixie Bot, Reitzja6, Sardognunu, BG19bot, BattyBot, ChrisGualtieri, Mogism,
VIAFbot, Chartbot, Xenxax, Filedelinkerbot, P-123, KasparBot, Jwicklatz, GreenC bot, Bender the Bot, Floodbros and Anonymous: 88

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