Cedric Burnside Project

Biography

Cedric Burnside, born August 26, 1978, in Memphis, Tennessee, was raised in North Mississippi's Marshall and Benton Counties, immersing himself in the multigenerational Hill Country blues tradition as the grandson of legendary bluesman R.L. Burnside and son of blues drummer Calvin Jackson. By age 13, he was touring on drums with his grandfather's band, quickly establishing himself as a drummer, guitarist, singer, and songwriter in the distinctive North Mississippi sound, characterized by extended riffs akin to talking drums fused with raw vocals that blend ancestral stories with contemporary Black American experiences.[1][2][3]

Burnside's career took off in the early 2000s with contributions to albums like Richard Johnston's Foot Hill Stomp (2002) and Official Bootleg #1 (2004), followed by collaborations including The Record (2006) with uncle Garry Burnside as Burnside Exploration, and the Juke Joint Duo and Two Man Wrecking Crew (2007-2008) with Lightnin' Malcolm. He formed the Cedric Burnside Project around 2008-2011, releasing key albums like The Way I Am (2011), Hear Me When I Say (2013), and the Grammy-nominated Descendants of Hill Country (2015) with guitarist Trenton Ayers. Solo breakthroughs came with Benton County Relic (2018, Grammy-nominated), I Be Trying (2021), and Hill Country Love (2024), produced by Luther Dickinson in a makeshift wooden juke joint, earning him multiple Blues Music Awards, a 2021 National Heritage Fellowship, and the 2024 Mississippi Governor's Art Award.[1][2][3][4]

Burnside's style evolves the Hill Country blues into its electric second generation, incorporating funk, rock, soul, and hip-hop influences while preserving raw authenticity. Despite personal losses—brother Cody in 2012 and father in 2015—he continues as a torchbearer, touring globally, acting in films like Black Snake Moan (2006), and mentoring the next generation through nine albums and collaborations that ensure the genre's future.[1][2][5][6]

Fun Facts

• Burnside recorded his 2024 album Hill Country Love in an abandoned wooden building he planned to turn into his own juke joint, surrounded by rubbish and garbage cans, with producer Luther Dickinson.[4]
• He won Blues Music Awards for 'Best New Artist Debut' (Two Man Wrecking Crew, 2009) and 'Drummer of the Year' (2010).[3][6]
• Burnside appeared in films including Black Snake Moan (2006, dedicated to R.L. Burnside) and played the lead in Texas Red (2021), a story based on a real Mississippi juke joint owner.[5][6]
• He has performed with diverse artists like Jimmy Buffett, Bobby Rush, North Mississippi Allstars, and opened for Widespread Panic.[4][6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• R.L. Burnside - Grandfather and early band leader who taught him drums and immersed him in Hill Country blues (Burnside On Burnside (2001)) [Childhood to early 1990s]
• Calvin Jackson - Father and blues drummer whose influence shaped his percussion skills (Family performances) [Childhood]

Key Collaborators

• Lightnin' Malcolm - Long-term duo partner in Juke Joint Duo, touring and recording extensively (Juke Joint Duo (2007), Two Man Wrecking Crew (2008)) [2006-2010s]
• Garry Burnside - Uncle; short-term duo as Burnside Exploration and family project member (The Record (2006), Cedric Burnside Project albums) [2006]
• Trenton Ayers - Guitarist in Cedric Burnside Project, recording and touring (Hear Me When I Say (2013), Descendants of Hill Country (2015)) [2011-2015]
• Luther Dickinson - Producer for recent album (Hill Country Love (2024)) [2024]
• Bernard Allison - Collaborative album partner (Allison Burnside Express (2014)) [2012-2014]

Artists Influenced

• Next generation Hill Country blues artists - Mentors emerging musicians by expanding the tradition and creating space for them (I Be Trying (2021)) [2010s-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia