US bass player born in Linden, Texas on May 15th 1934. He’s mostly known as a bass player for Ricky Nelson, but he also recorded some legendary songs with Bob Luman (Red Hot, Red Cadillac and a Black Mustache), Bobby Lee Trammell (Shirley Lee, I Sure Do Love You Baby), Johnny Horton, Dale Hawkins and others. He made his first recordings (Stood Up, Waitin’ In School) with Ricky Nelson in 1957. Kirkland and his bandmate, guitarist James Burton were one of the first endorsers of Rickenbacker.