Burton, Evans, Jr. [W. E. "Buddy" Burton]
(born: 1890 - died: 1977)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 the piano and the 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 as well as 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.
