Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette (born December 28, 1932 in Memphis , Tennessee , † August 19, 1979 in Canoga Park , California ) was an American country and rockabilly musician , guitarist and songwriter . Dorsey Burnette is the older brother of Johnny Burnette , with whom he played in a band during the 1950s.
Life
Childhood and youth
Dorsey Burnette was born in Memphis, the elder of two sons to his parents, Dorsey Sr. and Willy Mae. At the age of six he received his first guitar as a present from his father . Together with his brother Johnny, who had also received one, he practiced incessantly. But his quick temper did not benefit him during his youth; he was often arrested for brawls or similar offenses. At the Poplar Street Mission, where he was often, he met the later rockabilly musician Lee Denson , who was also friends with Elvis Presley . Burnette discovered boxing for herself and aspired to a career as a boxer.
Career
In 1949, during a boxing championship, Burnette met guitarist Paul Burlison , who was also a boxer. Both had the same interest in music and started playing together. When Burlison was called up in 1951, Burnette teamed up with his brother Johnny. With him he performed in the Memphis area and played in small pubs and bars. In mid-1952, when Paul Burlison returned from military service, they formed the Rhythm Rangers together .
For the small record company Von Records , the band made their first recordings in 1954, typical country songs. The record was distributed by Bill Bond and his son Eddie Bond , who later became a rockabilly musician. After their recording, they auditioned for Sam Phillips , owner of Sun Records in Memphis, but were turned down. The band, which now consisted only of the two Burnette brothers and Burlison, took an example from their childhood friend Elvis Presley, who had given up his job at Crown Electric for a career, and traveled to New York City . The band got a contract with Coral Records and recorded as The Rock'n'Roll Trio for the next two years , but the big break didn't come. Therefore, Burnette left the group and returned to his hometown of Memphis. At the turn of the year 1956 to 1957 Abbott Records brought out two singles, which remained unsuccessful.
Burnette received a request from the Town Hall Party , the West Coast's most successful country show, which he accepted. He turned down another offer from Louisiana Hayride and moved to California with his family in 1957. Brother Johnny came a short time later because the rock'n'roll trio had split up. Burnette had a regular job on weekdays and wrote songs in his spare time. After Ricky Nelson hit a hit with Waitin 'in School , a track written by Burnette, the Burnette brothers were signed to Imperial Records . Dorsey had his only hit with Tall Oak Tree, and brother Johnny had hit with some pop songs.
Burnette could not repeat his success; In the next few years he played insignificant records for various labels. While Burnette had focused on rockabilly and rock'n'roll in the 1950s and early 1960s, his style was now directed towards country. As a songwriter, however, he was far more successful. His compositions have been recorded by artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis , Waylon Jennings , Glen Campbell and Stevie Wonder .
In 1964, Burnette's brother died in a boating accident. He never got over this loss and began to drink alcohol excessively and became addicted to pills. For the next 15 years he performed in small bars and published singles, all of which were ignored.
In 1979 Dorsey Burnette released a record with Jimmy Bowen and died of a heart attack shortly after the single was released . He was posthumously inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame . Burnette's son Billy Burnette also became a musician.
Discography
Singles
For rock and roll trio singles, see Johnny Burnette .
| year | title | Record company | Chart position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Let's Fall in Love / The Devil's Queen | Abbott Records 188 | |
| 1957 | Jungle Magic / At a Distance | Abbott Records 190 | |
| 1957 | Bertha Lou / Til the Law Says Stop | Surf Records 5019 | |
| 1959 | You Came as a Miracle / Try | Imperial Records | |
| 1959 | Lonely Train / Misery | Imperial Records | |
| 1960 | Tall Oak Tree / Juarez Town | Era Records 3012 | # 23 |
| 1960 | Blues Stay away from Me / Midnight Train (with Johnny Burnette) | Coral Records | |
| 1960 | Hey Little One / Big Rock Candy Mountain | Era Records 3019 | # 48 |
| 1960 | Way in the Middle of the Night / Your Love | Imperial Records | |
| 1960 | The Ghost of Billy Maloo / Red Roses | Era Records | |
| 1960 | Lucy Darlin '/ Black Roses | Merri Records | |
| 1960 | This Hotel / The River and the Mountain | Era Records | |
| 1961 | Hard Rock Mine / Sin | Era Records | |
| 1961 | Great Shakin 'Fever / That's Me Without You | Era Records | |
| 1961 | Rainin '/ A Full House | Dot records | |
| 1961 | Feminine Touch / Sad Boy | Dot records | |
| 1962 | Dying Amber / A Country Boy in the Army | Dot records | |
| 1962 | The Castle in the Sky / The Boys Kept Hangin 'Around | Reprise Records | |
| 1962 | I'm Watin 'for Ya Baby / Darling Jane | Reprise Records | |
| 1963 | Foolish Pride / Four for Texas | Reprise Records | |
| 1963 | Hey Sue / It Don't Take Much | Reprise Records | |
| 1963 | Invisible Chains / Pebbles | Reprise Records | |
| 1963 | Circle Rock / House with a Tin Roof | Imperial Records | |
| 1963 | Where's the Girl? / One of the lucky | Reprise Records | |
| 1963 | Foolish Pride / Four for Texas | Reprise Records | |
| 1964 | Little Acorn / Cold, As Usual | Mel-O-Dy Records | |
| 1964 | Jimmy Brown / Everybody's Angel | Mel-O-Dy Records | |
| 1964 | Long Long Time Ago / Ever Since the World Began | Mel-O-Dy Records | |
| 1965 | Bertha Lou / Keep a-Knockin ' | Cee-Jam Records # 6 | |
| 1965 | In the Morning / To Remember | Mercury Records | |
| 1965 | Wayward Wind / Suddenly, There's a Valley | Era Records | |
| 1965 | Jimmy Brown / Everybody's Angel | Tamila-Motown Records (UK) | |
| 1966 | In the Morning / To Remember | Smash Records | |
| 1966 | If You Want to Love Somebody / Teach Me Little Children | Smash Records | |
| 1966 | Tall Oak Tree / I Just Can't Be Tamed | Smash Records | |
| 1966 | Ain't That Just Fine / House That Jack Built | Hickory Records | |
| 1967 | Rolling Restless Stone / Back to Nature | Lama Records | |
| 1968 | I'll Wake Away / Soon You've Got to Make It Alone | Music Factory | |
| 1969 | The Greatest Love / Thin Little Single Girl | Liberty Records 56087 | # 67 |
| 1970 | Bertha Lou / Til the Law Says Stop | Cee-Jam Records # 16 | |
| 1970 | To Be a Man / Fly Away and Hurry Home | Happy Tiger Records | |
| 1970 | Call Me Lonesome / One Lamp Sun | Happy Tiger Records | |
| 1970 | Magnificent Sanctuary Band / Can't You See It Happening | Condor Records | |
| 1971 | New Orleans Woman / After the Long Ride Home | Capitol Records | |
| 1971 | Children of the Universe / Shelby County Penalty Farm | Capitol Records | |
| 1972 | In Spring / Same Old You Same Old Me | Capitol Records 3307 | # 21 C&W |
| 1972 | I Just Couldn't Let Her Walk Away / Church Bells | Capitol Records 3404 | # 40 C&W |
| 1972 | Lonely to Be Alone / Cry Mama | Capitol Records | |
| 1973 | I Let Another Good One Get Away / Take Your Weapons Lay Them Down | Capitol Records | |
| 1973 | Keep Out of My Dreams / Mama Mama | Capitol Records | |
| 1973 | Darling / Sweet Lovin 'Woman | Capitol Records 3678 | # 26 C&W |
| 1973 | Mr. Juke Box Sing a Lullaby / It Happens Everytime | Capitol Records | |
| 1974 | Bootleggers / Bob, A., The Playboys and Me | Capitol Records | |
| 1974 | Daddy Loves You Honey / True Love Means Forgiving | Capitol Records | |
| 1974 | Tangerine / What Ladies Can Do | Capitol Records | |
| 1975 | Molly / She's Feelin 'Low | Melodyland Records 6007 | # 28 C&W |
| 1975 | Lyin 'in Her Arms Again / Doggone the Dogs | Melodyland Records | |
| 1975 | Ain't No Heartbreak / I Dreamed I Saw | Melodyland Records | |
| 1977 | Things I Treasured / One Morning | Calliope Records 8004 | # 31 C&W |
| 1977 | Soon as I Touched Her / Dear Hearted Children | Calliope Records | |
| 1980 | Here I Go Again / What Would It Profit Me | Elektra Records | |
| 1980 | BJKick-A-Beaux / What Would It Profit Me | Elektra Records |
Albums
"Greatest hits" albums are not included.
- 1960: Tall Oak Tree
- 1963: Dorsey Burnette Sings
- 1969: Greatest Hits
- 1970: Dorsey Burnette
- 1972: Here and Now (# 37 Country)
- 1973: Dorsey Burnette (# 41 Country)
- 1977: Thing I Treasure
- 1977: This Is Dorsey Burnette
- 1979: Tall Oak Tree - Live 1973/1974
- 1980: Country Sound - City Sound
- 1980: Together Again (with Johnny Burnette)
- 1992: Great Shakin 'Fever ( Bear Family )
literature
- Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul . 3rd revised edition. St. Martin's Press, New York City 1989, ISBN 0-312-02573-4 , p. 88
- Erlewine, Michael u. a. (Ed.): All Music Guide to Country Music. The experts guide to the best recordings in country music . San Francisco, Cal .: Miller Freeman Books, 1997, p. 63 (biography)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Placements in the US Billboard charts according to Joel Whitburn: Top Pop Singles 1955–1993 . Record Research, Menomonee Falls WI 1994, p. 79
- ↑ For the placements in the C&W charts see Joel Whitburn: The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits. 1944-2006 . 2nd Edition. Billboard Books, New York 2006, p. 62
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Burnette, Dorsey |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country and rockabilly musician and songwriter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 28, 1932 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Memphis (Tennessee) |
| DATE OF DEATH | 19th August 1979 |
| Place of death | Canoga Park, California |