Elvis For Everyone (OEPFC)

*************************************************************************************

www.jamesburtonmusic.com/

James Burton Talk's To Elvis For Everyone

James Burton-one of the world's greatest guitarists was gracious enough to allow us to interview him for EFE. The interview took place on Friday July 22nd 2005 at 7pm-just 45 minutes before the TCB band were due to appear on stage with Blondell at the Central W.M.C. in Blackpool.

Thanks for giving us this interview James-but my first question is of all the places in the world to do the show-why Blackpool?

Well Eddie, I 've been over to England many times and done a few shows -even appearing on the David Letterman show when he came to London. I also did some work with Elvis Costello and of course with ELVIS the CONCERT interactive shows. I had met Blondell previously when we gigged with Jerry Lee Lewis, and it was Jim O Neale that decided we should team up and do the shows over here. Jim thinks that Blackpool does not show the concerts that it is capable of and he wants to start bringing quality music acts over here under his BLACKPOOL PROMOTIONS banner.

How did working with Blondell compare to some of the acts you have worked with in the past?

Every act is different and I never compare them to each other. We are all there to do the business and we just perform our best and hope that the fans enjoy it.

So, how long have you been performing?

I have just celebrated my 50th year in the business. My first shows were with the Louisiana Hayride supporting the big names of the time like George Jones and Bob Luman in October 1954.

Can you name some of the acts you have worked with over the years?

It wiould be a darn sight easier to name the acts that I haven't worked with. Well to be going on with there was Ray Charles, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Rivers, Frankie Lane, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr, The Beach Boys, Kenny Rogers..and of course Elvis Presley.

I hear you and your son Jeff are working on a new project..

Well it's not just my son, it's also involved a lot of my family and friends and has been a lot of fun. Jeff is a great guitarist and I think this project will show how well we all work together.

It's a brand new Gospel album-which we will be releasing real soon called God Loves You.

I am looking forward to hearing it myself, so gospel - rock and roll, what are your own personal tastes in music?

Aww c'mon man-I love it all! Country, Rock and Roll, Bluegrass, R&B anything and everything.

What make of guitar do you play?

Well I play a Fender Telecaster-and I have my own flame decorated James Burton Signature model. There is a also ane wTelecaster being released -a 3-pick up version-which I hope people will get to hear at my Guitar Event in August. I am organising a massive benefit show so that we can sponsor the kids out there to have guitar tuition and hopefully breed a brand new generation of quality guitarists to carry on our legacy for the future. It is taking place in Shreveport on the 19, 20, and 21st of August and we have some of the World's best guitarists coming along to take part.

( contact jamesburtonfest@aol.com for more details)

Going back to the Blondell concerts, does it bring back memories playing with the rest of the band like Glen and the Sweet Imspirations etc?

I have some tremendous memories from the last 50 years, but I am kept so busy I tend to keep thinking about my next show - but I have really loved it this last few weeks because the fans have been so wonderful over here.

How would you like to be remembered?

I like to think that my fans will always remember me as a nice kind gentleman-always eager to shake hands with the fans-and who always played good music for them.

I think they already do James. Anyway, the interview is nearly over-and I know you have a show to do in 30 minutes so do you have a final message for all your fans?

I would just like to thank them for all their continuing love and support through all the years in music that make it possible for me to keep going. I want to continue to keep making them as happy as much as they keep making me happy and that they keep on getting as much pleasure from my music as I do playing it for them. God Bless.

Thank you James- have a great concert tonight.

*******************************************************

THE RAYMOND BLONDELL INTERVIEW. 22/07/05

It is mid afternoon on Friday 22nd July and Ray Blondell has just arrived back from the band call for his interview with Elvis For Everyone. He is wearing a very loud stagey yellow and black shirt but speaks in very relaxed tones.

What do you think to Blackpool as a venue?

I think it's a great place for great show-but realistically it needs abig kick up the ass to bring it into the 21st Century.

What made you choose the TCB band as a backing band-and have you ever worked with backing tracks?

I have always been a big fan of Elvis-since I was a baby. I thought he was the best performer in the world-and when I had chance to work with the best band in the world I jumped at it. Although I don't try to sing like Elvis , JB has told me I have a natural Elvisy 'twang' in my voice. Although I have sung along to my favourite records I have never used backing tracks.

What are your favourite Elvis songs to sing/ listen to?

Well to sing-I love 'I Just Can't Help Believin' and 'Suspicious Minds' To listen to -well if i had just one 20p to stick in the 'Elvis Jukebox' I would play 'Good Time Charlie Got The Blues'

How is the show going?

We have had great ticket sales-specially as it is the 'off ' season with 85-100% houses for every show. Incidentally we have had a great statistic sent to us from the Blackpool Tourist Office. The show has helped generate over a MILLION POUNDS in extra income for the town. That is pretty amazing!

Tell us more about you..

Well I have been married to my lovely wife Maureen for 18 years and we have 5 children. The second youngest is actually called Aaron Presley Blondell. My Grandmother was a big Elvis fan and she loved his hair and she used to call him 'El' for short. When I was a baby I had a big quiff of blond hair and when my gran changed my nappy she used to stroke my hair and call me her little blond 'el' and the name just stuck with me and all my family and friends started calling me Blondell.

How did you get together with the TCB band in the first place?

Well I was asked to perform at Jerry Lee Lewis birthday party, but when I went to to his hometown i was struggling to find a band to back me. I was walking round with a JLL LP under my arm when a guy stopped me and asked about it. They guy just happened to be Johnny Cash's drummer and said I can get a band to help out. The gig was amazing! In February I did my European Tour with Jerry lee and I used his band-featuring Kenny Lovelace on guitar who was a big friend of James Burton. Everything just seems to have fallen into place perfectly for me since then. All the guys get on well and it is just like a party every night-in fact most nights we actually do have a party!

What have you got planned next?

Well I will be going to Nashville to record a new album with the TCB Band.

We live on the North East Coast of England and there are some great resorts on that side of the country-have you thought of taking your show to Scarborough?

Well that sound like a great idea-but at the moment my manager, Jim O' Neale, is concentrating on building up Blackpool Promotions and bringing some of the very best acts in the world to Blackpool. However it is possible that the more successful the shows are-the more chance there is that we will take it around the UK.

Ray Blondell, it has been a real pleasure to chat with you today-than you very much for the interview and good luck for the show tonight.

Thank's Eddie-its been a great interview, and I hope you both enjoy the show.