I used to be a guitar player. There was a time when I even thought I was pretty good, but these things have a way of changing.

Celebrating Burton’s 66th birthday in his hometown, the festival featured special performances and clinics, a guitar trade show and an all-star guitar jam at Shreveport’s Municipal Auditorium, where Burton made his stage debut before going on to be Elvis Presley’s longtime touring guitarist.

The “James Burton and Friends” jam was more than entertaining for the 3,000 or so that packed the venue. For guitar players it was jaw-dropping if not downright humiliating.

Burton shared the stage with a list of guitar virtuosos including country star Brad Paisley, Austin solo artist Eric Johnson, former Doobie Brother Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Steve Cropper of “Blues Brothers” movie and recording fame.

Louisiana’s own Sonny Landreth, Johnny Rivers and Dr. John were there too, as were a mix of music’s top session guitarists, and a handful of guys like Johnny A. and Greg Koch—relatively unknown to the average music fan—guitarists who can just play the strings off their respective instruments.

For six hours they performed, one by one. Each would play a few songs. Then Burton would jump in and improvise along (perfectly), then others would begin jumping in at random too (still perfect). Then someone else on the performance slate would jump out and another would take his place (still no stutters or flubbed notes).

Over and over, one hot guitar solo, followed by hotter guitar solo, followed by an even hotter one. As the players kept pushing their amps to the verge of blowing up, their peers could be seen at either side of the stage, shaking their heads in amazement while egging each other on—effectively throwing more fuel on already hot fretboards.

In addition to working with Elvis from 1969 until his death in 1977, Burton wrote or recorded with Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Dale Hawkins and noted producer Phil Spector’s stable of artists.

In 2001, Burton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, whose Web site describes Burton as “a defining element of the rock and roll sound from 1957 to the present.” Example: It was with Hawkins in 1957 that Burton wrote the guitar hook for a song called “Susie Q” that was later covered by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Burton was also the guitarist who performed behind Ricky Nelson on recordings and on TV’s “The Ozzy and Harriett Show” during the late ’50s and early ’60s. Nelson’s sons, Matthew and Gunnar (the long-blonde-haired twins comprising the pop-metal band “Nelson” during the late ’80s) performed some of their Dad’s hits with Burton at his bash.

The jam lineup also featured noted bassist Roscoe Beck, Alabama’s Jeff Cook, Hellecasters member Jerry Donahue, guitar electronics guru Seymour Duncan, Grand Ole Opry veteran Doyle Dykes, and Nashville session extraordinaires Johnny Hiland and Steve Wariner.

All performed instructional clinics during the weekend-long trade show at the city’s Expo Center. Booths were manned by instrument retail outlets and instrument manufacturers including Gibson, Peavey, Martin, Taylor and Ovation.

Other weekend highlights were the unveiling of a bronze statue of Burton in front of the Municipal Auditorium, to join a similar statue of Presley erected a few years ago. Fender Musical Instruments unveiled a new James Burton signature series electric guitar, an updated hot-rod version of their popular Telecaster model adorned with muscle car flame graphics formed from Burton’s calling card paisley-painted guitars.

At the guitar unveiling, Burton presented each performer with one of the new guitars—his way of showing his appreciation for their performances and the time they devoted to his festival.

All proceeds from the weekend went to the James Burton Foundation, which provides music scholarships and instruments to children and young adults. Festival organizers plan to release the all-star jam on DVD.

Forget asking for a new guitar for Christmas—put that money and the proceeds from selling the rest of your guitars towards hiring Burton and his pals to play your New Year’s Eve party. If the funds will not allow, at least buy the DVD.

Mike Abene is a freelance writer and photographer based in New Jersey. Jeff Richard is a freelance writer based in Baton Rouge.