Lance Burton appeared for the very first time in 1960, when he was born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He was christened William Lance Burton and grew up in the beautiful countryside of the American South.
Lance took an interest in magic at the tender age of four and performed to neighbours and friends a handful of tricks throughout childhood into early adulthood.
By the age of eight, Lance was set to enter the world of classical magic as his destiny to become the world's top magician was accelerated by his meeting of the magician Harry Collins who was to become his mentor.
Before performing professionally, Lance practised for eleven years, attending magic conventions and learning from other magicians. His influences across the years have been many; one was Channing Pollack, who's dove magic inspired Lance to create his own dove routine which won him the prestigious 'Grand Prix' award. Other magical sources of inspiration included Harry Collins, his mentor, escapologist Harry Houdini, the close-up performances of The Great Tomsini (in particular John Thompson) and the floating illusions by his advisor, top magician of the 1940's, Lee Grabel.
He entered the public eye at seventeen years of age, winning his first magic competition as a young magician. Three years later, in 1980, Lance was awarded the prestigious "Gold Medal for Excellence" from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. This occasion was to mark his move from Kentucky to California in order to forward his career and to enter the sparkling world of showbusiness. It was in California, Lance Burton obtained his first agent who launched him into stage work, which led him to TV. The first was "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson which led to an overwhelming influx of offers. The offer Lance decided to accept was a contract to appear in Las Vegas, at the Folies Bergere for eight weeks... he was an astounding success and as it turned out stayed for nine years.
Lance Burton's career took another upward turn in 1982 when the Federation International Society de Magic, in Switzerland, awarded him the "Grand Prix"; magic's highest honour. With this, not only had he become a world champion magician, but he was the first American and the youngest magician ever to achieve this significant award!
Lance Burton left the Follies Bergere to present his own show at the Hacienda Hotel and whilst continuing to win many prestigious awards in magic, was offered his own theatre in Las Vegas. To top this, he was offered a thirteen year contract at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. No magician had ever been offered a contract with such a lengthy duration. He can be seen performing there today.
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