T Bone Burnett. A Life in Pursuit

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T Bone Burnett is an extraordinarily prolific music producer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and soundtrack visionary. Known for his Midas touch in the studio, Burnett has elevated artists like Robert Plant and Alison Krauss with the Grammy-winning album Raising Sand, as well as Los Lobos, the Wallflowers, B.B. King, and Elvis Costello. He is credited with virtually inventing "Americana" through his successful roots-based soundtrack for the Coen Brothers' film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? Despite his outspoken disdain for the entertainment industry, Burnett has received numerous prestigious awards, including Grammys and an Academy Award. This critical appreciation explores Burnett's diverse contributions to American music, his fervent advocacy for analog sound, and the contradictions that characterize his artistry. It highlights his journey from the Rolling Thunder Revue with Bob Dylan to collaborations with playwright Sam Shepard, and his recent compositions for Nashville and True Detective, as well as the production of Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes. Additionally, it emphasizes Burnett's talent as a singer-songwriter, illustrating how he has profoundly influenced American music and culture over four decades.