James Burton, THE James Burton, is 75 years old today. What would a man who played guitar for Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, John Denver, Jerry Lee Lewis, and countless others do to celebrate? Maybe lay low at his home on the lake with his lovely wife, Louise? Maybe head out and grab a bite at Olive Garden? No.

The man, who is known the world over and who literally, not figuratively, but literally invented a style of guitar playing that, to this day, is copied and mimicked by the likes of Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill; instead is throwing his own birthday party and has invited a few friends.

In multiple venues, from August 22-24, James will host Trace Adkins, Paul Shaffer, Ann Wilson from Heart, Jimmie Vaughan from The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Rick Derringer, Noel Haggard (Merle Haggard’s son), and according to Mr. Burton, “You never know, if Noel’s coming Merle may pop in as well.”

More guests include Gunnar Nelson, Lee Rocker, upright bassist from The Stray Cats, Doyle Dykes and his daughter Haley, Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and POCO fame, Lincoln Brewster, Pianist Rob Haynes, and Rick Vito and Billy Burnette, both former members of Fleetwood Mac. Celebrity guests include Mike Wolfe from the History Channel’s American Pickers and actress Priscilla Presley, who was also married to an old friend of James.

Every single one of these people are coming to donate their time and talents to honor the man the festival is named for, and more importantly, to raise funds for The James Burton Foundation, Burton’s life long pursuit of giving back that which he has been given.

This year, 100 percent of the proceeds (yes read that again, all of the proceeds) are going to create and build the “James Burton Guitar and Car Museum.” This will be a showcase of all of the memories and memorabilia that James has gathered from his travels, as well as a meeting place for Elvis Presley fans who routinely travel to Shreveport to see the Municipal Auditorium and other venues where Elvis and Burton performed back in the days of the famed Louisiana Hayride. Most importantly, this will be an artist’s venue as well as where children can come and rehearse and showcase their talents for free, thanks to the benefit of the foundation.

To this day the James Burton Foundation has donated thousands of guitars and music education programs to schools for kids that may or may not have the benefit of music programs. The foundation donates guitars to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, as well as many other places in need.

All because the man simply wants to give back the gifts that he has been given. I asked Mr. Burton, in an industry where copycats abound, why has he always been so generous sharing his talents and techniques with fellow musicians. His answer really did not surprise me too much, having met and discovered how gracious and humble he is. He simply said, that God had given him the talent, and how selfish would it be were he to keep it to himself. It’s just not how he was raised, right here in north Louisiana.

I brought along local blues legend Joe Nadeau and Drummer Randy Cassel with me to speak with Burton. As we were talking, Burton told us the story of his birthday present from Fender Guitars. He was awaiting the FedEx man to deliver the chrome and gold limited edition 75th Birthday Commemorative guitar that he will play this weekend. As the delivery driver showed up at his office without the guitar but with other packages, Burton patiently signed the sheet and the driver, a young man, asked for his last name. He smiled and looked at us and turned back to the young man and said, “Burton,” and pointed up to the marquis adorning the foundation office across the street from the Municipal Auditorium, the scene of some of the world’s greatest performers, and said, “if you didn’t quite get that, you can go over there and ask that guy standing next to Elvis.”

His bronze statue with that perpetual smile that can only come from playing guitar for a living.

-Chris Campisi