Billy Burnette

Last updated
Billy Burnette
Birth nameDorsey William Burnette III
Born (1953-05-08) May 8, 1953 (age 71)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1960–present
LabelsEntrance, Polydor, Columbia, Warner Bros., Capricorn
Website www.billyburnette.net

Dorsey William Burnette III (born May 8, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee, United States) [1] is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1996. Burnette also had a brief career in acting.

Contents

Family background

The son of Dorsey Burnette and Alberta Burnette, Billy Burnette was born into a musical family. [1] His father and his uncle Johnny Burnette [1] (singer of the 1960 hits "Dreamin'" and "You're Sixteen") were two of the members of the 1950s band The Rock and Roll Trio, which also included Paul Burlison. Johnny had a son named Rocky, born around the time as Billy, who also became a musician. [1]

Music career

First recording

In the late 1950s, the Burnette family moved to Los Angeles, where his father and uncle worked with Ricky Nelson. Nelson had hit songs with "Believe What You Say", written by Dorsey Burnette and Johnny Burnette, and "It's Late", written by Dorsey.

Billy Burnette made his first recording when he was seven, [1] appearing with Ricky Nelson on the song "Hey Daddy (I'm Gonna Tell Santa On You)" (Dot, 1960). [2]

He toured with Brenda Lee [2] while teaching himself to play guitar. After graduating from high school, his father took him to Memphis to meet record producer Chips Moman, who had recently finished recording Presley's songs "Suspicious Minds" and "In the Ghetto". He went with Moman to Atlanta before going to Nashville in 1971 and collaborating with Larry Henley. In addition to songwriting, Burnette spent three years on the road as Roger Miller's rhythm guitarist.

Early albums to 1980s

In 1972, Burnette signed with Entrance Records and recorded his debut album, Billy Burnette. [1] In 1979, he switched to Polydor Records and released his second album, again titled Billy Burnette. [2] His third album, Between Friends (Polydor, 1979), contained "What's a Little Love Between Friends", [3] which charted briefly on the low end of the Billboard country chart. [2] The album also had a cover version of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. [3]

After he signed with Columbia Records, he issued the third album to be called Billy Burnette (Columbia, 1980), his fourth album overall. [4] The song "Don't Say No" reached No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Honey Hush" and "Tear It Up" were performed by his father and uncle. "One Night" was a cover of an Elvis Presley song. Videos were made for the tracks "Don't Say No" and "In Just a Heartbeat". The album Gimme You followed in 1981. [1]

In 1985, Eddy Raven ("She's Gonna Win Your Heart") and Ray Charles ("Do I Ever Cross Your Mind") reached the charts with songs written by Burnette. [2] Other artists who have sung his songs include Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Gregg Allman, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, Tanya Tucker, and Ringo Starr.

In 1986, Burnette released Soldier of Love. The title track peaked at No. 54 on the country charts and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks. He was nominated for Best New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. [2] In 1987, he wrote "(All I Can Do Is) Dream You" for Roy Orbison. Curb released its final Billy Burnette album, Brother to Brother, a compilation with the title song added from the film Gleaming the Cube .

Solo career, 1990s–present

In 1992, Burnette signed with Capricorn Records, which issued Coming Home. [2] Although "Nothing to Do (and All Night to Do It)" was not on the album, it reached No. 64 on the Billboard country chart. Many of the songs from Coming Home were featured in Burnette's acting debut in the film Saturday Night Special. Between 1994 and 1998, he appeared in the films Not Like Us, Carnosaur 3: Primal Species , Casper Meets Wendy , Addams Family Reunion , and Richie Rich's Christmas Wish .

In 1999, he signed with Grand Avenue Records and released All Night Long. Are You With Me Baby, a rockabilly album, followed on the Free Falls Entertainment label. The album had one cover, "Believe What You Say". Between 2001 and 2005, he covered "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle and "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash. He toured as a member of Bob Dylan's backup band and in 2004 became a member of John Fogerty's band.

After a hiatus from solo albums, he released Memphis in Manhattan (2006), [2] which was recorded live by Chesky Records at St. Peter's Church in New York City. The album included cover versions of "Everything Is Broken" by Bob Dylan, "Oh Well by Fleetwood Mac, "Big Hunk of Love" by Elvis Presley, "It's Late" and "Tear It Up" by Rick Nelson, and "Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brothers.

In 2007, Burnett and Shawn Camp released a bluegrass tribute to Elvis Presley. [2] The album featured thirteen songs previously recorded by Elvis, onto which Camp and Burnette added their vocals.

With Fleetwood Mac

Burnette met Mick Fleetwood during a taping of Dick Clark's anniversary special. A few months later, Fleetwood invited him to join the band The Zoo. [1] For the Zoo's album I'm Not Me (RCA, 1983) Burnette sang lead vocals on "I'm Not Me"; "Angel Come Home", a Beach Boys song; "Gimme You", a cover of his own song; and "Tear It Up", written by his father.

In 1982, the Zoo performed on Saturday Night Live as the backing band for Lindsey Buckingham, guitarist and singer for Fleetwood Mac. In 1984, Burnette co-wrote the song "So Excited" with Christine McVie, who sang and played keyboards in Fleetwood Mac. The song appeared on McVie's solo album, and Burnette appeared with her on MTV for Christine McVie: The Video Album. He sang on the song "Are You Mine" with Stevie Nicks, another Fleetwood Mac vocalist. The song was intended for Nicks's album Rock a Little but was not included. McVie and Fleetwood performed on Burnette's album Try Me (Curb, 1985). [1] Two songs cracked the Billboard country charts: "Try Me" and "Ain't It Just Like Love"

When Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac parted ways in 1987, Burnette and guitarist Rick Vito were asked to join the band. [1] After the Shake the Cage tour, Fleetwood Mac released a Greatest Hits album (1988), featuring two new songs with Burnette and Vito: "As Long as You Follow" and "No Questions Asked". For their next album, Behind the Mask , Burnette wrote "Hard Feelings" and "When It Comes to Love" and co-wrote "In the Back of My Mind", "Do You Know", and "When the Sun Goes Down".

Vito and Nicks left Fleetwood Mac at the end of 1991 and Christine McVie decided to retire from touring. Burnette helped Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie with his first solo album. Burnette left Fleetwood Mac in early 1993 to pursue a solo and acting career. In 1994, Burnette reunited with Fleetwood Mac. The band featured two new members, vocalist Bekka Bramlett and guitarist Dave Mason. The band toured in 1994 and 1995, and then released the album Time (1995) on October 10, 1995. Burnette wrote "Talkin' to My Heart" and "I Got It in for You" with Deborah Allen. With Bramlett he wrote "Dreamin' the Dream". [5]

After Fleetwood Mac went on hiatus in 1996, Burnette and Bramlett formed the country duo Bekka & Billy. They moved to Nashville and attracted the attention of producer Garth Fundis. They released the album Bekka and Billy in 1997 but they broke up in 1998. [6]

Discography

Albums

With Fleetwood Mac

Other contributions

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart
positions		Album
US Country
[7] 		US
[8]
1979"What's a Little Love Between Friends"76—Between Friends
1980"Don't Say No"—68Billy Burnette
1985"Ain't It Just Like Love"51—Try Me
"Try Me"68—
1986"Soldier of Love"54—Soldier of Love
1992"Nothin' to Do (And All Night to Do It)"64——
1993"Tangled Up in Texas"——Coming Home
"The Bigger the Love (The Harder the Fall)"——
2023"When the World Comes Back Around"———
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Filmography

Awards and nominations

YearOrganizationAwardNominee/WorkResult
1986 Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Male Vocalist Billy BurnetteNominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleetwood Mac</span> British-American rock band

Fleetwood Mac were a British-American rock band formed in London in 1967 by guitarist and singer Peter Green. Green recruited drummer Mick Fleetwood, guitarist and singer Jeremy Spencer and bassist Bob Brunning, with John McVie replacing Brunning a few weeks after the band's first public appearance at the 1967 National Jazz & Blues Festival in Windsor. Guitarist and singer Danny Kirwan joined in 1968 around the time that Mr. Wonderful was released. Christine Perfect, who initially contributed as a session musician, married McVie and became an official member in July 1970 on vocals and keyboards, two months after Green left; she became known as Christine McVie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey Buckingham</span> American guitarist (born 1949)

Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American musician, record producer, and the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has released seven solo studio albums and three live albums. As a member of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Buckingham was ranked 100th in Rolling Stone's 2011 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Buckingham is known for his fingerpicking guitar style.

Dorsey William Burnett Jr. was an American early rockabilly singer. With his younger brother Johnny Burnette and a friend named Paul Burlison, he was a founder member of The Rock and Roll Trio. He is also the father of country musician and former Fleetwood Mac member Billy Burnette.

<i>Say You Will</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Say You Will is the seventeenth and final studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 15 April 2003. It followed 1995's Time and was their first album since 1970 without vocalist/keyboardist Christine McVie as a full member following her departure in 1998, although she participated in some songs as a guest musician; it would be her last time being involved with the band in a studio capacity before her death in 2022. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks shared keyboard duties throughout the album.

<i>Tango in the Night</i> 1987 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Tango in the Night is the fourteenth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 13 April 1987. As a result of Lindsey Buckingham's departure later that year, it is the fifth and final studio album with the band's most successful lineup of Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Stevie Nicks, though Christine McVie would make guest appearances on the band's 2003 album, Say You Will. This lineup was not seen again until 1997's live album The Dance.

<i>Behind the Mask</i> (album) 1990 album by Fleetwood Mac

Behind the Mask is the fifteenth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 9 April 1990. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. He was replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, both guitar players, singers and songwriters. Fleetwood Mac thus became a six-piece band with four singer/songwriters. The album was not as successful as its predecessor, Tango in the Night, nor did it spawn any big hit singles, although "Save Me" made both American and Canadian Top 40, while "Love Is Dangerous" and "Skies the Limit" enjoyed some airplay. Though Behind the Mask barely reached the US Top 20, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and achieved platinum status there. Following the album's release and subsequent world tour, band members Stevie Nicks and Rick Vito left the band, though Nicks would rejoin in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Vito</span> American guitarist and singer (born 1949)

Richard Francis Vito is an American guitarist and singer. He was part of Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991. Vito took over as lead guitarist after Lindsey Buckingham left the group. He is best known for his blues and slide guitar style, whose influences include Elmore James, Robert Nighthawk, B.B. King, Alvino Rey, Les Paul, George Harrison, and Keith Richards.

<i>Kiln House</i> 1970 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Kiln House is the fourth studio album by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 18 September 1970 by Reprise Records. This is the first album after the departure of founder Peter Green, and their last album to feature guitarist Jeremy Spencer. Christine McVie was present at the recording sessions and contributed backing vocals, keyboards and cover art, although she was not a full member of the band until shortly after the album's completion.

<i>Time</i> (Fleetwood Mac album) 1995 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Time is the 16th studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 10 October 1995. This album features a unique line-up for the band, featuring the addition of country vocalist Bekka Bramlett and former Traffic guitarist Dave Mason. It was the second album released after the departure of Lindsey Buckingham in 1987, and the only Fleetwood Mac album since 1974's Heroes Are Hard to Find to not feature any contribution from Stevie Nicks. Additionally, it is the final Fleetwood Mac studio album to feature Christine McVie as an official member.

Rebekka Ruth Lazone Bramlett is an American singer. She is the daughter of Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, of the music duo Delaney & Bonnie. Currently, she is a session singer, songwriter, and backing vocalist, working with many artists, including Faith Hill, Robert Plant, Trace Adkins, Faster Pussycat, Buddy Guy, Vince Gill, and Sam Moore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaney Bramlett</span> American musician (1939–2008)

Delaine Alvin "Delaney" Bramlett was an American singer and guitarist. He was best known for his musical partnership with his wife Bonnie Bramlett in the band Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, which included a wide variety of other musicians, many of whom were successful in other contexts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As Long as You Follow</span> 1988 single by Fleetwood Mac

"As Long as You Follow" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Performed by Christine McVie and written alongside her then-husband, Eddy Quintela, the song was one of two new tracks on the band's 1988 greatest hits album, along with "No Questions Asked". Lead guitarist Rick Vito singled out the guitar solo on "As Long as You Follow" as his best work with Fleetwood Mac.

Bekka & Billy was an American country music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Bekka Bramlett and Billy Burnette, who first worked together as members of Fleetwood Mac. Their eponymous debut album was released by Almo Sounds in April 1997. While their debut single, "Patient Heart," failed to chart in the United States, it reached No. 96 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Shines (song)</span> 1992 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Love Shines" is a song by British-American band Fleetwood Mac. The song was released as a single in 1992 to support the compilation album 25 Years – The Chain. This was the first single released after the departure of vocalist Stevie Nicks and guitarist Rick Vito. The song was released as a single in Europe, but in North America, "Paper Doll" was released instead.

"I Do" is a song by British-American band Fleetwood Mac, from their 1995 album Time. The song was released as a single to support the album and charted at number 62 in Canada. The song was written by Christine McVie and Eddy Quintela, and produced by long-time Fleetwood Mac producer Richard Dashut. An edit of the song was included in the deluxe version of box-set 50 Years – Don't Stop.

<i>Shakin the Cage</i> 1992 studio album by The Zoo

Shakin' the Cage is an album by Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood's spin-off band The Zoo, released in June 1992. The album features Bekka Bramlett who would join Fleetwood Mac the following year as well as two of Fleetwood Mac's touring musicians, the former past and the latter future: Isaac Asante and Brett Tuggle. The title track was co-written by then-Fleetwood Mac member Billy Burnette. The album was chiefly written by Australian star Billy Thorpe who features in the band.

<i>Im Not Me</i> 1983 studio album by Mick Fleetwoods Zoo

I'm Not Me is the second solo album by Mick Fleetwood. This album is credited to the British-American rock band Mick Fleetwood's Zoo and features contributions from Fleetwood Mac members Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham. Billy Burnette, who performs some of the lead vocals on this album as a member of Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo, would later join Fleetwood Mac in 1987 following the departure of Buckingham.

The Shake the Cage Tour by the Anglo-American rock group Fleetwood Mac began on September 30, 1987, in Kansas City, Missouri, and ended on June 28, 1988, in Manchester, England. It was their first tour since 1974 without Lindsey Buckingham, who left the band in August 1987.

Another Link in the Chain Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the British-American pop rock band Fleetwood Mac. The tour began on July 4, 1994, in Austin, Texas, and ended on December 31, 1995, in Las Vegas. The band played 110 shows in five countries around the world.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 370. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bush, John. "Billy Burnette | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Billy Burnette - Between Friends". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Billy Burnette - Billy Burnette". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  5. ↑ Greene, Andy (2023-03-09). "What It Was Like to Replace Stevie Nicks in Fleetwood Mac". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  6. ↑ "Melbourne Herald Sun (08/10/1997), Bekka & Billy". The Blue Letter Archives. 10 August 1997. Archived from the original on 30 December 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 58. ISBN   978-0-89820-203-8.
  8. ↑ "Billy Burnette | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.