“I have learned about my heritage and what my dad and Junior were trying to pass on to me by teaching me to play music. Playing the blues means everything to me. It is a part of who I am, where I come from, not to mention it is how I feed my family so it is deeply ingrained in me.”

Garry Burnside: Hill Country Blues Time

The youngest son of R.L. Burnside, and member of the Junior Kimbrough Band, a passion for music and a talent for performance, Garry Burnside has been captivating since he was 11 years old. From intimate cafes to grand concert halls, Garry Burnside's versatility and range has left a lasting impression on all who have had the pleasure of hearing the music. With a repertoire that spans, not just Hill Country,  but Blues, Rock and so many other genres, Garry Burnside is the perfect choice for any event or occasion. Garry spent his teens and twenties as the protégé, longtime bass player and occasional guitarist for neighboring Mississippi Blues legend, Junior Kimbrough, with whom he played all over the country, including tours opening for Iggy Pop. Garry played on all of Junior Kimbrough’s critically acclaimed Fat Possum recordings and, following Kimbrough’s death in 1998, began playing and recording regularly with the North Mississippi Allstars, the Hill Country Revue, brother Duwayne Burnside, and Grammy-award-winning nephew Cedric Burnside. Garry has also recorded with blues greats Jesse Mae Hemphill and Bobby Rush, and many others.                                        (Garry Burnside / Photo by Trish Burnside)

No longer just a sideman, Garry is a phenomenal guitarist and excellent singer, songwriter, who now fronts his own band on guitar and vocals (with bass, drums, and keyboard accompaniment) and plays regularly at various clubs and festivals throughout the South. Garry has recently recorded an outstanding album, his solo commercial debut, “It’s My Time Now” (Release Day: August 15th / Strolling Bones Records), at legendary Royal Studios in Memphis with Grammy award-winning producer Boo Mitchell, son of the legendary Hi Records and Al Green producer, Willie Mitchell. An impressive mix of Hill Country blues and blues-rock, It’s My Time Now, is a tribute to Garry’s mentors, RL, and Junior, as well as his own declaration of independence after decades as a sideman.

interview by Michael Limnios             Special Thanks: Betsie Brown (Blind Racconn)

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you? 

I have learned about my heritage and what my dad and Junior were trying to pass on to me by teaching me to play music. Playing the blues means everything to me. It is a part of who I am, where I come from, not to mention it is how I feed my family so it is deeply ingrained in me. 

Are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music and lyrics? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

I write my music to reach everyone, so general life experiences for the most part influence my lyrics. As far as skill vs. emotion, when I write my music, it comes to me. I don’t chase it. I just play and let the strings lead me in the direction I am meant to go. 

Why do you think that RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough music legacy continues to generate such a devoted following?

They had a lot of fans, and some of those fans are playing their music themselves. The more it is played the longer it lasts. 

“This kind of goes back to my writing style. When I start writing, I write what comes to me, and hope that when it gets out there, people will like it and share it. I know not everyone will like my music, but in the end, it’s my process, and that is what makes my music mine.” (Photo: Garry with his mother & father RL Burnside —- Garry Burnside & Junior Kimbrough / Photo by Amy Verdon)

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Being that I started touring with Junior at 11years old, I have so many memories of playing with him and my dad that I will never forget. It is hard to just pick one, but I am very thankful to have them all. 

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

What I miss the most is traveling and touring with my Dad and Junior, and I suppose my greatest fear is not being able to continue music myself. 

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

This kind of goes back to my writing style. When I start writing, I write what comes to me, and hope that when it gets out there, people will like it and share it. I know not everyone will like my music, but in the end, it’s my process, and that is what makes my music mine.

Your work is known for creatively reimagining blues tradition. How do you balance respect for the roots with experimentation?

I dedicate the traditional styles that I have learned from others into what I am writing now. I incorporate everything I have learned and mix it with the sound I am looking for. 

You’ve worked in many different settings, from clubs and studios to open air festivals and juke joints. How do you navigate between these different worlds?

When I play live, whether there are 20 people in the crowd or 2500, I am always going to play to the best of my ability. As long as the crowd is happy, so am I.

Garry Burnside - Home

(Garry Burnside / Photo by Trish Burnside)