Burton, Evans, Jr. [W. E. "Buddy" Burton]
(born: 1890 - died: 1976)Evans Burton, Jr. was born in Louisville, KY to Evans Sr. and Anna Hobbs Burton [according to the 1900 U.S. Census and his 1920 marriage registration to Elma Bradshaw in Indiana (both in Ancestry)]. He was a vocalist who also played a number of musical instruments, including piano and drums. In 1917, he was married to Mattie Rogers and playing with the Kenney Brothers in Louisville, according to his World War I Draft Registration card (Ancestry) and her son's 1916 death certificate (File No.23277, Registered No.2893).
Burton is listed as a widow in the 1920 U.S. Census. In the early 1920s, he moved to Chicago, where he played and recorded with Jelly Roll Morton. He also made his own recordings as a soloist in 1928 as well as a few recordings as a band member and singing duets with Kentucky native Jimmy Blythe and others.
Evans Burton, Jr. married Martina Rogers in Chicago in 1930 (source: Cook County, Illinois Marriage Index in Ancestry).
Burton disappeared from the music scene in 1936 and returned to Louisville in 1965. He died in Louisville in 1977 [source: Kentucky Death Index in Ancestry].
For more see Buddy Burton in Classic Jazz, by S. Yanow; W. E. "Buddy" Burton at jazzmusicarchives.com; and W. E. "Buddy" Burton at syncopatedtimes.com.
