Johnny Burnette

Johnny Burnette (March 25th, 1934 - August 14th, 1964) is a singer and guitarist of American Rock “roll and of Country music.

Born the March 25th 1934 in a hospital from charity with Memphis it is very quickly influenced by his Dorsey older brother. He lived a good part of his childhood under a tent, his parents being too poor to rent an apartment or even a room. Child, Johnny goes to same school as Elvis Presley and, teenager, works in the same company of electricity, Crown Electric, where Elvis is conducting of truck. He puts himself then at the Boxe and studies the Guitare.

At the beginning of the fifties , Burnette Bros meet a third boxer, the guitarist Paul Burlison (born with Brownsville, Tennessee in 1929), who played once with Howlin' Wolf. Towards 1953 three young people decide to put their punch at the service of the music which they like, the Hillbilly. With the beginning of the year 1954 in Corinth (the Mississippi), Johnny (vocal and rhythmic guitar), Dorsey (Double bass) and Paul (Electric guitar) record first individual, produced by the father of Eddie Bond. The disc is in a hurry on the extremely rare VON 1006 which contains a first version of “You' Re Undecided” and “Go Mule Go”.

Refused by Sam Phillips, the group leaves to try its chance with New York where it takes the name of Rock' Roll Trio. They leave Tear It Up at Coral and turn with the Drifters, Carl Perkins and Gene Vincent. In 1957, they record the album Johnny Burnette And The Rock-and-roll Trio where figure excel it Rockabilly Train Kept has Rollin' . Then the trio separates and the Burnette brothers write for Roy Brown or Ricky Nelson.

In 1960 Johnny Burnette knows its hour of glory with a ballade “Dreamin'” which enters signal 10. The same year another title “You' Re Sixteen” appears in the signal 10 US. This piece will be taken again in 1974 by Ringo Starr which will be classified n°1 in the United States.

The August 14th 1964, Johnny Burnette finds the Mort Accident element, whereas it fishes in boat on Clear Lake in California, leaving a widow and two orphans. His/her son Rocky Burnette sings today Rockabilly with the singer Darrel Higham. In 1979 it enters to the Signal 10 English with the title rockabilly “Tired off Toein' The Line”. Its nephew Billy Burnette makes a beautiful career as singer of country music and actor.

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