Burton Wilson graduated in 1941 from the Rhode Island School of Design where he studied sculpture. While a student, one of his sculptures was accepted and displayed at the 1940 World’s Fair in New York City. Following World War II, Wilson returned to the Rhode Island School of Design to take some ceramics classes. During 1965-1967 Wilson studied photography at the University of Texas under famous documentary photographer, Russell Lee. His personal interest in jazz and blues music led Wilson to music photography. Wilson was house photographer for the Vulcan Gas Company concert venue between 1967 and 1970. He then became house photographer for the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters. As a house and freelance photographer, Wilson has photographed such notable musicians as Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Zappa, Doug Sahm, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Muddy Waters, and many others. In 1971, Wilson published Burton’s Book of Blues, a collection of photographs taken of musicians in Texas and California. Eakin Press published his most recent book, The Austin Music Scene Through the Lens of Burton Wilson, 1965-1994, in 2001.
From the guide to the Burton Wilson Collection 88-46; 88-234; 88-311; 89-239; 90-174; 91-031., [ca. 1920s-2000], (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)
