Shreveport dedicates street to James Burton for contributions to music, hometown

Feet from where James Burton’s statue stands, next to the one of Elvis in front of the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, a street dedication brought their names together again.

Resting right above the "Elvis Presley Ave." sign is a new sign that reads, "Street dedicated to James Burton."

The sign was unveiled Friday afternoon to mark the two blocks of Milam Street that now recognize the contributions Burton has made to the music industry and his hometown of Shreveport.

“It’s an honor to be here,” Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said to the crowd, moments before reading the Proclamation making that day James Burton Day.

Burton himself was in the crowd and smiled several times during the recognition as he held hands with his wife, Louise Burton.

‘Thank you,” he said in a brief moment at the mic, “I love all of you.”

Moments later, standing next to the mayor, he watched as a cover was pulled from the sign.

"James Burton is without question one of the most influential guitarists in American music history,” said local musician and co-host/co-producer the podcast Louisiana Haywire Winston Hall. “He influenced an entire generation of guitarists with his unique chicken pickin style.”

“When we do things like naming streets after our musical icons it's so important because it tells the world we recognize and honor the incredible music history of our city," Hall also said.

Louisiana Haywire airs every Friday on 89.9 FM KDAQ and is available on most streaming services.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport dedicates street James Burton