Through years of performance with his father, the Burnside family band, and as a solo artist, Duwayne has brought the Hill Country sound to audiences worldwide. His style blends the rhythmic intensity of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough with the fiery freedom of Hendrix and the deep soul of Bobby Womack - always grounded in authenticity and grit.
“This labor of love was a battle waged against finance and time,” writes Executive Producer Scott Hatch in the liner notes. “We sought the warm, slick, wraparound sound of analog - the kind of pure tone loved from the ‘60s. Cody Dickinson brought his magic to the producer’s chair, perfectly forging the sound I’d hoped for. The result is a true North Mississippi sound, Burnside-style - a groove that’s ready to take Duwayne to the next level.”
Nearly two decades in the making, Red Rooster is that sound - a rich, analog-rooted blues album soaked in Hill Country air and soul. Recorded with the Dickinson brothers (Cody and Luther) and Jimbo Mathus (founder & band leader of Squirrel Nut Zippers), it’s a powerful mix of traditional blues, rock drive, and deeply heartfelt storytelling. Duwayne’s music on this record isn’t imitation; it’s evolution - the pulse of the South with a modern heartbeat.
“Nightmare” opens the record with a dark, hypnotic groove that nods to Duwayne’s Hill Country roots while adding his own unique edge. It’s the kind of blues that feels ancient and alive at once, driven by a pulsing rhythm and swampy tone. Burnside’s cover of North Mississippi Allstars’ “Circle In The Sky” delivers an upbeat, roots-rock feel, with pointblank vocals, bright guitar interplay, and an infectious chorus - a natural fit for radio and playlists alike. “Talk Sweet To Me,” written by Jimbo Mathus, slows the tempo for a soulful, smoky vocal delivery that showcases Burnside’s emotional range and melodic instincts. “King,” featuring the late Cody Burnside’s (grandson of R.L.) rap verse, bridges generations and genres, melding Hill Country blues with a modern rhythmic flow that captures the Burnside family’s evolving legacy.
BIOGRAPHY
Son of legendary Mississippi Hill Country bluesman, R.L. Burnside, Duwayne cut his teeth in his father’s family band, the Sound Machine Groove, as well as playing with his equally legendary neighbor, Junior Kimbrough, and his band, the Soul Blues Boys. Duwayne was first recorded on drums at the age of ten with the Sound Groove Machine before graduating to vocals, bass, and guitar, recording for High Water and Fat Possum Records with his father, before striking out on his own. During his late teens, Duwayne moved from rural/small-town Holly Springs, MS to nearby Memphis, where he continued his musical education, most notably playing often with Albert King and regularly with Little Jimmy King (Albert’s mentee and guitar player), as well as with other Memphis-based blues luminaries, including B.B. King and Bobby Bland
Having grown up playing music with Cody and Luther Dickinson from nearby Hernando, Duwayne later became a member of their band, the North Mississippi All Stars from approximately 2001 to 2004. Duwayne was featured prominently on their excellent 2003 album, Polaris, on which he handled lead vocal duties on two songs and played guitar throughout. He was also on board for their legendary 2004 Bonnaroo show, (joined by R.L. Burnside), which was released as Hill Country Revue: Live at Bonnaroo. The lads’ bond is still strong, as Duwayne sings and plays on their most recent release, 2025’s Still Shakin’.
As a solo artist, Duwayne has released three independent albums to date, including Live From The Mint (1998 Lucky 13 Records), Under Pressure (2005 Lucky 13 Records), a Best New Artist Debut nominee in the 2006 BMAs, and Acoustic Burnside (2022). The highly acclaimed Acoustic Burnside was nominated Best Acoustic Blues Album in the 2023 Blues Music Awards. Since the release of Acoustic Burnside, Duwayne has been working on releasing the long-awaited Red Rooster.
After leaving the North Mississippi All Stars, Duwayne has been fronting his own band, playing gigs and sessions as a sideman, working on a new album of his own, and operating his own juke joint in Holly Springs, the Burnside Bar and Grill, all while trying to raise a family too.
Duwayne has a raw, powerful, expressive vocal style and is an effortlessly phenomenal guitar player, who is also a proficient bass player and drummer. He's easily one of the most versatile performers identified with the blues genre, truly a master of any style of blues, R&B, soul, funk, rock ‘n ’roll. You name it, he can not only play it but also play it exceptionally well.
Duwayne has also begun recording and playing live with his late father’s right-hand man, renowned slide guitarist, Kenny Brown, in the same two-guitars-and-drums trio format that RL and Kenny utilized for years. After only a couple of gigs together, there’s no doubt that this is going to be an authentic, lively, and exciting combination of old and new. With a record almost finished and a record deal in the works, Duwayne is looking forward to expanding his touring circle in the coming months, both with Kenny and with his own band.
WEBLINKS
Lucky 13 Records | OS: www.lucky13records.com
Duwayne Burnside | FB: www.facebook.com/duwayneburnsidemusic
For more information: Betsie Brown Blind Raccoon betsie@blindraccoon.com
 |
[Back to TOP] |
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten