Photo by Alex Koffler
Music is a family affair for Cedric Burnside who is the son of blues drummer Calvin Jackson and grandson of bluesman R.L. Burnside. At thirteen, Cedric went on the road in his granfathers’ band, and he and father Calvin overlapped in the group. Eventually Cedric replaced his father Calvin as drummer in R.L.s’ band.
After a few years touring with his grandfather, he expanded his scope by playing drums on several albums recorded by other family members, before starting to record on his own in various duos and other configurations in 2006. He also began playing guitar, and says that he never really felt comfortable with the instrument until he started writing songs.
Despite the touring, Burnside says that his family experienced poverty during his childhood. He recalls going hungry and reflects on that difficult time on a song on his Grammy winning album.
Cedric Burnside won his first Grammy this year for I Be Trying, an album of mostly original material done in the traditional style called Hill Country blues. U2 and the Rolling Stones both showed interest in this style, but recently it has not been so prominent. Burnsides’ approach on the Grammy winner was to honor the style but bring it forward in new original songs.
He says that he draws from his personal experience for the songs on the new record. Step In looks back at the hardship he and his family faced during his youth. The two covers on the record are tributes to his grandfather R.L and to his mentor Junior Kimbrough. It is his way of honoring those who have passed by keeping the Hill Country style alive.
