| Aron Burton | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1938 Senatobia, Mississippi, United States |
| Genres | Chicago blues, electric blues[1] |
| Occupations | Singer, bass guitarist, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, bass guitar |
| Years active | Late 1950s–present |
| Labels | Earwig, Delmark, Schubert |
Aron Burton (born June 15, 1938) is an American electric and Chicago blues singer, bass guitarist and songwriter. In a long career as a sideman he has played with Freddie King, Albert Collins and Junior Wells, and has released a number of solo albums, including Good Blues to You (1999, Delmark).[1] His own recorded work has been nominated four times for a Blues Music Award in the 'Blues Instrumentalist - Bass' category.[2]
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Burton was born in Senatobia, Mississippi, United States.[1] He sang in a number of local churches, and was a co-founder with his cousin of the group, the Victory Travelers. Burton relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1955. His musical career commenced the following year, playing the bass backing for Freddie King.[3] King purchased Burton's first bass guitar.[1]
Burton served in the United States Army between 1961 and 1965, but upon discharge found employment variously playing with Baby Huey & the Babysitters, Junior Wells (with whom Burton toured between 1969 and 1972)[2] and Fenton Robinson. Burton also undertook recording sessions with George "Wild Child" Butler, Jackie Ross and Carey Bell (Heartaches and Pain, 1977).[1][4] Burton also recorded a solo single, "Garbage Man", which was released by Cleartone Records.[1]
In 1978, Burton joined his brother, Larry, in Albert Collins' backing band, the Icebreakers, and Burton appeared on Collins's Grammy Award nominated album, Ice Pickin'.[2] He also toured with Collins before leaving his ensemble in the early 1980s.[1] In the meantime, Burton worked as a horticulturist for twenty years in Garfield Park Conservatory, under the auspices of the Chicago Park District.[2] Burton found further work playing with James Cotton, Johnny Littlejohn and Fenton Robinson (again), before relocating to Europe for a time in the late 1980s. Whilst there, Burton recorded Usual Dangerous Guy, with Champion Jack Dupree playing the piano accompaniment.[1]
By the early 1990s, Burton had returned to Chicago, and Earwig Records issued the compilation album, Past, Present, & Future (1993). It included material recorded between 1986 and 1993, both in Europe and the United States, and established Burton as a frontman rather than supporting musician.[1] Burton appeared at the Chicago Blues Festival in 1994, where he was joined on stage by Liz Mandville Greeson.[5] She also sang on a couple of tracks of Burton's live album, Aron Burton Live in 1996, which was recorded at Buddy Guy's club, 'Legends'. The following year, Burton and his brother played at the Chicago Blues Festival.[4] This led on to Delmark Records releasing Good Blues to You in 1999.[1]
Burton co-wrote a track on Too Slim and the Taildraggers' 2000 album, King Size Troublemakers.[6]
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Past, Present, & Future | Earwig Records |
| 1996 | Aron Burton Live | Earwig Records |
| 1999 | Good Blues to You | Delmark Records |
| 2001 | The Cologne Sessions | Schubert Records |