Cedric Burnside

Cedric O. Burnside (born August 26, 1978) is an American electric blues guitarist, drummer, singer and songwriter. He is the son of blues drummer Calvin Jackson and grandson of blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist R. L. Burnside.

Early life and education Burnside was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, to Calvin Jackson and Linda Burnside, and raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Burnside followed this two years later by playing percussion on Johnston's Official Bootleg #1 album.

A short-term partnership of Cedric with Garry Burnside (his uncle two years elder) in 2006, saw them record The Record, billed as Burnside Exploration. They had tour dates as opening act and jam partners for Widespread Panic.

Later in 2006 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Burnside teamed up with Lightnin' Malcolm, and they both toured and recorded the Juke Joint Duo album. It won a Blues Music Award for 'Best New Artist Debut' in 2009.

Another collaboration followed, this time with his younger sibling, Cody Burnside, plus his uncle, Garry Burnside, which created the Cedric Burnside Project. From 2011 he recorded and toured with Trenton Ayers. In 2011, The Way I Am album was released. Burnside's brother, Cody, died in 2012,

In late 2012 he recorded the album Allison Burnside Express with Bernard Allison, released in 2014.

Burnside's 2013's Hear Me When I Say, and the later Descendants of Hill Country (2015), were issued under the Cedric Burnside Project name and using the guitar playing of Ayers. The latter was funded using a Kickstarter campaign.

Burnside has had cameo appearances in three films – Tempted and Big Bad Love (both 2001), and Black Snake Moan (2006).

Burnside has performed with Lightnin' Malcolm at Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival (2008), Memphis in May, Notodden Blues Festival (both 2009), and Voodoo Experience (2010).

In 2018 he released the album Benton County Relic, which he recorded with Brian Jay of Pimps of Joytime. Benton County Relic was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.

Awards and honors In 2013, Burnside won the Memphis Blues Award as 'Drummer of the Year' for the third time. He won the award again in 2019, and 2020.

The album Descendants of Hill Country, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016 for Best Blues Album.

Benton County Relic was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.

For his album I Be Trying, Burnside won the Best Traditional Blues Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022.

Hill Country Love was nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album and a Libera Award for Blues Record.

Discography