Cedric Burnside

Where He’s From:
Memphis, TN

Who He Is:
Grandson of Blues legend R.L. Burnside, Cedric Burnside is following right in his grandfather’s footsteps, inheriting his knack for blues but incorporating rock, R&B, and hip-hop elements. Cedric started performing and touring with his grandfather as a drummer. Now, he’s an electric blues guitarist, drummer, singer and songwriter who has recorded eight studio albums and played alongside some of the foremost figures in the blues tradition. He has won more than a dozen individual awards and has contributed to four Grammy-nominated projects. Burnside’s music is defined by an upbeat tempo and driving percussion, guided more by feeling and intuition than convention. His debut solo album I Be Trying earned a Grammy nomination. In 2024, Burnside released the single “Hill Country Love” recorded in the birthplace of Hill Country blues style, Ripley, Mississippi. This one-off track will be the titular song of Burnside’s next album, which he says he wrote to pay tribute to his roots.

Years Active:
1991-Present

Essential Albums:
I Be Trying (2021)
Benton Country Relic (2018)
2 Man Wrecking Crew (2008)