Cedric Burnside was born on August 26, 1978 in Memphis, Tennesee to Calvin Jackson and Linda Burnside. He was raised in Holy Springs, Mississippi at his grandfather, the fabulous blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist R.L Burnside's home. His father, Calvin was a blues drummer who played with R.L Burnside before venturing out on his his own. Cedric grew up immersed in the rich musical heritage of his family. At the age of 13, he began touring with his grandfather's band, eventually stepping into the role of drummer, following in his father's footsteps.

Cedric had some appearances in films as well. In 2001, he appeared in Tempted and Big Bad Thunder. He played on Richard Johnston's debut album, Foot Hill Stomp in 2002. Two years later, Cedric with his amazing talent played percussion on Johnston's Official Bootleg #1 album in 2004.

In 2006, Cedric teamed up with his uncle Gary Burnside when they recorded the album The Record. It was called the Burnside Exploration. They were opening acts for jam partners for Widespread Panic. He also appeared in the film Black Snake Moan in 2006.

Burnside joined Lightnin' Malcolm in 2006 in Clarksdale, Mississippi where they both toured and recorded the Juke Joint Duo album. Later in 2008, they released another album titled 2 Man Wrecking Crew which won the Blues Music Award for 'Best New Artist Debut' in 2009. This album had 14 songs on it that included "RL Burnside", "My Sweetheart" and "That's My Girl". In 2011, they went on to tour with Big Head Blues Club that lead them to record the album, 100 Years Of Robert Johnson.

Cedric went on to do another project, this time with his younger brother Cody Burnside and his uncle Gary Burnside. It was called the Cedric Burnside Project. He toured with Trenton Ayers in 2011. Cedric Burnside Project released the album The Way I Am that included the songs "Holly Springs", "The Way I Am and "Quicksand". In 2008, he performed with Lightnin' Malcolm at Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival. Lightnin' Malcolm and Burnside in 2009 performed at Memphis in May and Notodden Blues Festival as well as Voodoo Experience in 2010. Sadly, Cedric's brother Cody passed away in 2012.

The album Allison Burnside Express was recorded in 2012 with Bernard Allison but was not released until 2014. Some songs from this album are "Do You Know What I Think?", "Minnissippi Blues" and "Fire It Up".

For the third time, in 2013, Cedric won the Memphis Blues Award as 'Drummer of the Year'. In May 2014, he won the Blues Music Award for the fourth time in the category of 'Instrumentalist - Drums'.

In 2015, Cedric Burnside Project along with Trenton Ayers playing guitar, released the album Descendants of Hill Country. Songs from this album include "Born With It", "Hard Times" and "Front Porch". Then, in 2016, the album Descendants of Hill Country was nominated for Best Blues Album at the Grammy Awards.

The album Benton County Relic was released in 2018. He recorded this album with Brian Jay of Pimps of Joytime. Songs from this album include "We Made It", "Get Your Groove On" and "Typical Day". In 2019, Benton County Relic was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2021, Cedric released the album I Be Trying. The songs from this album include "The World Can Be So Cruel", "Hands Of That Girl" and "Pretty Flowers". He was also the recipient of a 2021 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, this is the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. He won the Best Traditional Blues Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022 for this album.

What does Cedric have in store for us in 2024? His new album, Hill Country Love will be out on April 5, 2024. The songs on this album include "Hill Country Love" and Closer. The album was recorded at an old building in Ripley, Mississippi. He is also on tour. About this latest endeavor Cedric said “I have to be true to where I'm coming from,” he continues. “On this album, the feeling that I had was like, I’m going to write what I feel, I’m going to write what's going on. Life gives you good and life gives you bad and you have to cope with it however you need to cope with it. My way of coping with things is through my music, so I thank the Lord for music. I really do.”