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Telecaster-playing legend, actor Cox, others coming to Comox Valley

MusicFest artistic director couldn’t help himself this week when he announced the first 2013 headliner to the Record.

MusicFest artistic director couldn’t help himself this week when he announced the first 2013 headliner to the Record.

After naming John Hiatt, Cox had to share more.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is this little show called Guitar Heroes,” continued Cox, himself an excellent player who knows talented pickers when he hears them.

Cox couldn’t hide his eagerness when he said legendary guitarist James Burton is coming to the Comox Valley.

In the 1950s and ‘60s, Burton made his mark with Rick Nelson and then Elvis Presley.

“You name any of the great Telecaster players – he is their hero,” Cox stated about Burton. “He’s a guitar player’s guitar player.”

Burton perfected a style he dubbed chicken pickin' and became an in-demand musician playing with the likes of Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, even Elvis Costello.

The other Guitar Heroes coming to MusicFest this year are Albert Lee, David Wilcox and Amos Garrett.

“They’re all coming in on Thursday to rehearse a show to do on Friday night exclusively at MusicFest,” Cox said.

Lee, who made a lot of fans at VIMF 2012, is also performing this year with his band.

Wilcox (the Canadian guitarist, not the American singer) and Garrett played together in Ian and Sylvia Tyson’s Great Speckled Bird, which Cox said was “arguably the first country-rock band in history.”

Cox estimates it’s the first time in 20 years they’ve played together.

• Ronny Cox is an actor best known for playing insidious villains in Total Recall, Robocop and Stargate SG1. He’s also a veteran folk singer.

“He will perform (as a singer), but he’s also going to talk about being an actor and being in Deliverance,” Doug Cox said. “He’s also the guy who played guitar (in the film) on Dueling Banjos.”

• Big Al Anderson, formerly of NRBQ, is coming with his current band the World Famous Headliners.

editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com

 



Terry Farrell

About the Author: Terry Farrell

Terry returned to Black Press in 2014, after seven years at a daily publication in Alberta. He brings 14 years of editorial experience to Comox Valley Record...
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