R.L. Burnside Blues musician Date of Birth: 23.11.1926 Country: USA

1. Legendary Bluesman R.L. Burnside: A Modern-Day Folk Icon
2. Musical Innovation and Controversy
3. Humble Roots and Late-Life Success

Legendary Bluesman R.L. Burnside: A Modern-Day Folk Icon

In the decade leading up to his passing, R.L. Burnside emerged as one of the most celebrated and successful blues artists in the United States, selling hundreds of thousands of records. His meteoric rise to fame can be attributed, in no small part, to his collaboration with the punk band Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

In the mid-1990s, the MTV darlings participated in the recording of Burnside's album "A Ass Pocket of Whiskey" for Fat Possum Records. They also invited him to join them on tour and television appearances.

Musical Innovation and Controversy

"A Ass Pocket of Whiskey" and subsequent releases, which incorporated elements of contemporary club culture, catapulted the once-obscure folk musician into the mainstream. However, this newfound popularity also drew ironic criticism from traditional blues purists.

Burnside's role in the production of his own records was largely passive. Producers and engineers dominated the creative process, shaping the content and sound of his music.

Humble Roots and Late-Life Success

Throughout his life, Burnside maintained his humble roots in rural Mississippi, where he earned a living as a farm laborer and fisherman. It was only on weekends that he performed and sang at local juke joints. He officially made the transition to a professional musician in 1991 when he signed with Fat Possum Records.