Johnny & Dorsey Burnette Songwriters ~ Artists
1957 #18 Waitin' in School - Ricky Nelson 1958 # 4 Believe What You Say - Ricky Nelson 1959 # 9 It's Late - Ricky Nelson 1959 # 9 Just A Little Too Much - Ricky Nelson 1960 #23 There Was A Tall Oak Tree - Dorsey Burnette 1960 #11 Dreamin' - Johnny Burnette 1960 # 8 You're Sixteen - Johnny Burnette 1961 #17 Little Boy Sad - Johnny Burnette 1961 #18 God, Country And My Baby - Johnny Burnette 1973 # 1 You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr
In the late 40's and early 50s, Memphis was a hotbed of musical stew. The street corners along Beale Street were alive with musicians, and the raucous music spilled out of every juke joint along the way. Inside those clubs it was either hillbilly or blues .. there wasn't anything else! Big Mama Thornton and Howlin Wolf could be heard wailing the night away and, then, of course, there was also some pretty wild young white boys named Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette and Paul Burlison. Johnny Burnette (1934-1964) and Dorsey Burnette (1932-1979) were gifted brothers. Each was a talented songwriter, musician and performer. And long before those talents had shown themselves, each brother had success as a boxer, each earning a Golden Glove Belt. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee they attended a Catholic high school, not far from Humes high school where Elvis attended. According to the Burnette family lore, it was not unusual for Johnny and Dorsey to be found on the front lawn at Humes trading licks with Bill Black, Scotty Moore and on occassion a young Elvis Presley. Following graduation from high school the Burnette boys took advantage of their athletic abilities and began pro boxing careers to help the stuggling family finances. Through the boxing connections they met Paul Burlison, also a boxer/musician. Johnny and Dorsey had already been playing music around town in addition to boxing and with the meeting of Burlison the Johnny Burnette Rock and Roll Trio was formed. The year was 1953. Over the next two years the Trio had some regional recording success, appeared on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour, and appeared in the movie Rock, Rock, Rock with Alan Freed. But, despite this exposure they couldn't seem to break out nationally. Paul decided to "retired" to his own electrical business but, the brothers weren't about to give up yet! They convinced paul to join them at Sun Studio to cut some demo's of their home-grown rock-a-billy. Then, with little money and a big dream, Johnny and a friend jumped on a freight train headed west. Literally riding a boxcar to California! With a "Map To The Stars" in hand he "camped-out" at the front door of Ozzie and Harriett Nelson's home. And waited for a chance to talk to Ricky Nelson. He soon got his chance! The songs written by Johnny and Dorsey help establish Ricky Nelson's "sound" and in a couple of cases became classics. In addition to those charted recordings (noted above) they also provided several album cuts including "My One Desire," "Excuse Me Baby," and "Gypsy Woman." Following that early success with Ricky they each had individual success. Dorsey wrote, recorded and charted with "Tall Oak Tree" and "Hey Little One." While Johnny Scored big with "Dreamin," "You're Sixteen," "God, Country and My Baby," Little Boy Sad, and "Big Big World." Johnny Burnette left us as the result of a boating accident in 1964, his brother Dorsey suffered a heart attack in 1979. We were lucky to have lived during their lifetimes.
To Learn More
Recommended Viewing Text Recommended Listening Rockabilly Classics ~ includes two songs by the Rock and Roll Trio Recommended Reading text

you can search this website .....