relive the 50s
The three members of the Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio were Paul Burlison (born in Brownsville, Tennessee in 1929), (born in Memphis in 1932) and his brother Johnny Burnette (born in Memphis in 1934). All three of them were boxers as young men (Dorsey and Johnny were at one time Golden Gloves champions) and all had a passion for music. According to some sources the Burnette brothers both attended Humes High School in Memphis, where Presley was a student; others say Johnny Burnette attended Catholic High School in Memphis. And at one time or another, Dorsey, Johnny and Presley all worked for Crown Electric in Memphis.
Burlison and the Burnette brothers worked in various aspects of the music business around Memphis and formed their group in 1953. Paul Burlison had done some work with Howlin' Wolf, and it was Burlison's buzz-saw-like guitar work that gave the group it's distinct sound. They were an early rockabilly group and attempted to record at Sam Phillips' local Sun Records recording studio -- the same studio where Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and other future rock notables had recorded when they were unknown talents -- but were turned down. The Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio decided to head to New York City.
In 1956 Johnny Burnette appeared on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour several times, winning each time, and eventually secured a recording contract with Coral Records. They recorded the jump blues tune Train Kept A-Rollin' and Tear It Up, neither of which became big-selling records for Johnny Burnette but both of which are regarded today as important recordings in the evolution of rockabilly music.
Dorsey left the group later in 1956 and was replaced by an old colleague from Memphis, Johnny Black, whose brother Bill would reach the charts several times in the years to come with his instrumental group, Bill Black's Combo. A live performance by Johnny Burnette ensued that was captured on film in Alan Freed's movie Rock, Rock, Rock. Burlison left in 1957 and a short time later the Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio broke up. But there was much more to come from the individual members of the group.
The three members of the Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio were Paul Burlison (born in Brownsville, Tennessee in 1929), (born in Memphis in 1932) and his brother Johnny Burnette (born in Memphis in 1934). All three of them were boxers as young men (Dorsey and Johnny were at one time Golden Gloves champions) and all had a passion for music. According to some sources the Burnette brothers both attended Humes High School in Memphis, where Presley was a student; others say Johnny Burnette attended Catholic High School in Memphis. And at one time or another, Dorsey, Johnny and Presley all worked for Crown Electric in Memphis.
Burlison and the Burnette brothers worked in various aspects of the music business around Memphis and formed their group in 1953. Paul Burlison had done some work with Howlin' Wolf, and it was Burlison's buzz-saw-like guitar work that gave the group it's distinct sound. They were an early rockabilly group and attempted to record at Sam Phillips' local Sun Records recording studio -- the same studio where Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and other future rock notables had recorded when they were unknown talents -- but were turned down. The Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio decided to head to New York City.
In 1956 Johnny Burnette appeared on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour several times, winning each time, and eventually secured a recording contract with Coral Records. They recorded the jump blues tune Train Kept A-Rollin' and Tear It Up, neither of which became big-selling records for Johnny Burnette but both of which are regarded today as important recordings in the evolution of rockabilly music.
Dorsey left the group later in 1956 and was replaced by an old colleague from Memphis, Johnny Black, whose brother Bill would reach the charts several times in the years to come with his instrumental group, Bill Black's Combo. A live performance by Johnny Burnette ensued that was captured on film in Alan Freed's movie Rock, Rock, Rock. Burlison left in 1957 and a short time later the Johnny Burnette Rock 'N Roll Trio broke up. But there was much more to come from the individual members of the group.
No comments:
Post a Comment