Rockin' On The British Coast
Sorry, friends, that a busy schedule has kept me away as long as it has. This column is already over a week old, but tomorrow's gig has been sold-out close to three months already...
Brits Celebrate 50th Anniversary
Of American Rock Music Album
In the history of rock and roots music, there have been few families as gloried as the Burnettes. With roots that go back to Andy Burnette, perhaps the first prominent performer on the American musical instrument known as the banjo, and a friend of frontiersman Davy Crockett immortalized in the 1957 and 1958 Walt Disney TV movies on “The Saga of Andy Burnett,” this family includes singing cowboy Gene Autry sidekick Smiley Burnette.
Most important to rock music fans, however, is the 1952 Memphis teaming up of Burnette brothers Johnny and Dorsey with guitarist Paul Burlison for what became known as The Johnny Burnette Rock ‘n Roll Trio. With all three being Golden Gloves boxing champions when they formed their historic musical marriage, this was a rowdy band not only credited with inventing “Rockabilly” music, but considered by some as perhaps the first punk band ever.
They very much attracted the attention of another Memphis youth named Elvis Presley, who not only went to see them perform, but also joined them on stage for a song or two. Asking to join the group, Elvis was turned down by Dorsey Burnette, whom told him, “We already have a singer, my brother Johnny.”
Becoming the hottest band in Memphis, the Trio later failed to score as big internationally as Elvis. As a result, they eventually disbanded and the brothers Burnette came to Southern California where they were soon writing some of Ricky Nelson’s greatest rock hits before Johnny scored big with Top Ten pop hits like “Dreamin’” and “You’re Sixteen” while Dorsey climbed the country and pop charts with “Tall Oak Tree” and “Hey Little One”. Over the years, such diverse artists as The Beatles, Glen Campbell, Rod Stewart, The Cramps, Brenda Lee, Gene Vincent and Olivia Newton John have recorded their original compositions.
You can’t get much more Americana than the Burnettes. And yet, as with the blues in previous decades, it’s the Europeans who continue to treasure Burnette music more than Americans.
This Saturday night, July 1, the “Wildest Cats In Town Festival” in Pakefield, England, will be headlined by Rocky Burnette, who will perform with other family members whom include brother Randy, daughter Chanti and Dorsey’s youngest son, John Burnette. Sold-out over two months in advance, this is only the latest of sold-out concerts that Johnny’s son Rocky continues to have in Europe.
Although Rocky’s “Tired Of Toein’ The Line” was perhaps The Summer Hit of 1980, putting him and his father Johnny in an elite parent-child group that reached the American Top Ten, his U.S. career suffered when EMI America bellied up. Yet he continued to have other number one releases throughout the world, with the recent “Hip Shakin’ Baby” CD he recorded with Brit guitar slinger Darrel Higham and The Enforcers having topped the UK roots music charts for over three months.
The name “Rockabilly” is credited with coming from the unique sound of an early Johnny Burnette Rock ‘n Roll Trio recording titled “Rock Billy Boogie”. That song’s name was inspired by the toddler first sons of Johnny and Dorsey, Rocky and Billy, placing a bathroom plunger in front of themselves and pretending they were on stage while the Trio rehearsed at their home.
Now this Saturday’s headline appearance of Rocky Burnette, backed up by Darrel Higham & The Enforcers at the Festival (which runs June 28 through July 2), celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Coral Records release of the Johnny Burnette and The Rock ‘n Roll Trio album, a record considered so precious in the annals of international Rock And Roll, that it has been written more than once about how the only Beatles copy of it was often being borrowed between them.
Another historic Burnette trio release was the 1956 single of “Train Kept-A Rollin’” / “Honey Hush”, which marked the first time an electric distorted fuzztone guitar was recorded. That single influenced countless future guitar greats like Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck and has also been rerecorded more than a few times, as has the original Burnette Trio anthem “Tear It Up”.
Until his recent death, original Trio guitarist Paul Burlison toured the world with Johnny’s son, Rocky, whom many acknowledge as possessing the sweetest voice in contemporary rockabilly music.
Now, at this Saturday’s headline performance on the British coast, Rocky’s daughter Chanti picks up the torch when she’ll sing the Burnette Trio classic “Rock Therapy”. Having starred in musical plays at the Woodland Hills Community Center and Golden Performing Arts house, 17 year-old Chanti will be making her rock music debut before an international audience very appreciative of this family’s great musical legacy.
For Real Audio samples of great Burnette music, and more of the family’s story, go to www.burnette-rock.com and enjoy yourself.
Be well, and keep on rockin.
-30-
Copyright © 2006 Hank Zevallos, All Rights Reserved.
Brits Celebrate 50th Anniversary
Of American Rock Music Album
In the history of rock and roots music, there have been few families as gloried as the Burnettes. With roots that go back to Andy Burnette, perhaps the first prominent performer on the American musical instrument known as the banjo, and a friend of frontiersman Davy Crockett immortalized in the 1957 and 1958 Walt Disney TV movies on “The Saga of Andy Burnett,” this family includes singing cowboy Gene Autry sidekick Smiley Burnette.
Most important to rock music fans, however, is the 1952 Memphis teaming up of Burnette brothers Johnny and Dorsey with guitarist Paul Burlison for what became known as The Johnny Burnette Rock ‘n Roll Trio. With all three being Golden Gloves boxing champions when they formed their historic musical marriage, this was a rowdy band not only credited with inventing “Rockabilly” music, but considered by some as perhaps the first punk band ever.
They very much attracted the attention of another Memphis youth named Elvis Presley, who not only went to see them perform, but also joined them on stage for a song or two. Asking to join the group, Elvis was turned down by Dorsey Burnette, whom told him, “We already have a singer, my brother Johnny.”
Becoming the hottest band in Memphis, the Trio later failed to score as big internationally as Elvis. As a result, they eventually disbanded and the brothers Burnette came to Southern California where they were soon writing some of Ricky Nelson’s greatest rock hits before Johnny scored big with Top Ten pop hits like “Dreamin’” and “You’re Sixteen” while Dorsey climbed the country and pop charts with “Tall Oak Tree” and “Hey Little One”. Over the years, such diverse artists as The Beatles, Glen Campbell, Rod Stewart, The Cramps, Brenda Lee, Gene Vincent and Olivia Newton John have recorded their original compositions.
You can’t get much more Americana than the Burnettes. And yet, as with the blues in previous decades, it’s the Europeans who continue to treasure Burnette music more than Americans.
This Saturday night, July 1, the “Wildest Cats In Town Festival” in Pakefield, England, will be headlined by Rocky Burnette, who will perform with other family members whom include brother Randy, daughter Chanti and Dorsey’s youngest son, John Burnette. Sold-out over two months in advance, this is only the latest of sold-out concerts that Johnny’s son Rocky continues to have in Europe.
Although Rocky’s “Tired Of Toein’ The Line” was perhaps The Summer Hit of 1980, putting him and his father Johnny in an elite parent-child group that reached the American Top Ten, his U.S. career suffered when EMI America bellied up. Yet he continued to have other number one releases throughout the world, with the recent “Hip Shakin’ Baby” CD he recorded with Brit guitar slinger Darrel Higham and The Enforcers having topped the UK roots music charts for over three months.
The name “Rockabilly” is credited with coming from the unique sound of an early Johnny Burnette Rock ‘n Roll Trio recording titled “Rock Billy Boogie”. That song’s name was inspired by the toddler first sons of Johnny and Dorsey, Rocky and Billy, placing a bathroom plunger in front of themselves and pretending they were on stage while the Trio rehearsed at their home.
Now this Saturday’s headline appearance of Rocky Burnette, backed up by Darrel Higham & The Enforcers at the Festival (which runs June 28 through July 2), celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Coral Records release of the Johnny Burnette and The Rock ‘n Roll Trio album, a record considered so precious in the annals of international Rock And Roll, that it has been written more than once about how the only Beatles copy of it was often being borrowed between them.
Another historic Burnette trio release was the 1956 single of “Train Kept-A Rollin’” / “Honey Hush”, which marked the first time an electric distorted fuzztone guitar was recorded. That single influenced countless future guitar greats like Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck and has also been rerecorded more than a few times, as has the original Burnette Trio anthem “Tear It Up”.
Until his recent death, original Trio guitarist Paul Burlison toured the world with Johnny’s son, Rocky, whom many acknowledge as possessing the sweetest voice in contemporary rockabilly music.
Now, at this Saturday’s headline performance on the British coast, Rocky’s daughter Chanti picks up the torch when she’ll sing the Burnette Trio classic “Rock Therapy”. Having starred in musical plays at the Woodland Hills Community Center and Golden Performing Arts house, 17 year-old Chanti will be making her rock music debut before an international audience very appreciative of this family’s great musical legacy.
For Real Audio samples of great Burnette music, and more of the family’s story, go to www.burnette-rock.com and enjoy yourself.
Be well, and keep on rockin.
-30-
Copyright © 2006 Hank Zevallos, All Rights Reserved.