James Edward Burton was born in Dubberly, Louisiana.
Since the 1950s, Burton has recorded and performed with an array of notable singers, including Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash, The Everly Brothers, Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Glen Campbell, Roy Orbison, Vince Gill and the list goes on.
Critic Mark Demming writes that "Burton has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest guitar pickers in either country or rock, Burton is one of the best guitar players to ever touch a fretboard."
From left: Elvis Presley and James Burton.
James Burton (left) and Ricky Nelson (center) with bassist James Kirkland.
An exchange between Sen. Joseph McCarthy (right) and Joseph Welch (left) took place on this day in 1954. Sen. McCarthy was confronted by Welch over his anti-communist stance. Welch represented the Army during the Army-McCarthy hearings.
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Charles John Huffam Dickens (February 7, 1812 – June 9, 1870)
Charles Dickens was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world’s best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the 20th century critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity. Dickens suffered stroke at his home after a full day’s work on his final novel Edwin Drood and never regained consciousness. His ending for the unfinished book remains unknown.
Comedian/actor Richard Pryor was severely burned by a "free-base" mixture that exploded in his home on this day in 1980. He was hospitalized more than two months.
On this day in 1973, Secretariat won the 105th Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and ran the fastest 1 1/2 miles on dirt at 2:24.
Les Paul (Lester William Polsfuss) (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009)
Les Paul was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar. He taught himself how to play guitar, and while he is mainly known for jazz and popular music, he had an early career in country music. Paul is credited with many recording innovations. Although he was not the first to use the technique, his early experiments with overdubbing (also known as sound on sound), delay effects such as tape delayphasing effects and multitrack recording were among the first to attract widespread attention
Les Paul is the only person to be included in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
He recorded with his wife Mary Ford in the 1950s, and together they sold millions of records.
On this day in 1981, U.S. President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in Washington, DC, by John W. Hinckley Jr. (below). Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady were also wounded.
President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy wave from hospital windows.
On this day in 1867, William Seward reached a deal to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.
William Henry Seward (May 16, 1801 – October 10, 1872)
A Treasury Check in the Amount of $7.2 Million for the Purchase of Alaska.
It was on this day in 1986.
James Francis Cagney Jr.(July 17, 1899 – March 30, 1986)
James Cagney 1942 Best Actor.
Eric Patrick Clapton is 73 years old today.
Eric Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a soloartist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and of Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time and is ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and fourth in Gibson’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". He was also named number five in Time magazine’s list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009
On this day in 1986, Filippino President Ferdinand E. Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule following a tainted election.
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989)
Corazon Aquino, widow of slain opposition leader Benigno Aquino.
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev criticized the late Josef Stalin in a speech before a Communist Party congress in Moscow on this day in 1956.
Josef Stalin died in 1953.
On this day in 1836, Samuel Colt received U.S. Patent No. 138 (later 9430X) for a "revolving-cylinder pistol." It was his first patent.
On Feb. 25, 1964, 22-year-old Cassius Clay became the world heavyweight boxing champion, defeating Sonny Liston in an upset.
George Harrison(February 25, 1943-November 29, 2001)
George Harrison achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles,the best-selling band in history. He is often referred to as "the quiet Beatle".
On this day in 1945, the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Marine Division of the U.S. Marines reached the top of Mount Surabachi. A photograph of these Marines raising the American flag was taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal (below).
Joe Rosenthal poses on top of Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima.
Joseph John Rosenthal (October 9, 1911 – August 20, 2006)
During the Persian Gulf War on this day in 1991, ground forces crossed the border of Saudi Arabia into the country of Iraq. Less than four days later the war was over due to the surrender or withdraw of Iraqi forces.
Iraqi troops emerge from heavily protected bunker to surrender to gun-toting Saudi soldiers.
Scottish scientists cloned the first mammal, a sheep called “Dolly”.
From left: The comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
At the Staples Center in Los Angeles on this day in 2000, Carlos Santana received a record-tying eight Grammy’s. Michael Jackson set the record back in 1984 when he won awards for "Thriller."
