Billy Burnette Biography
William Beau Burnette III, 8 May 1953, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Burnette was the son of country rock artist Dorsey Burnette, the nephew of rock singer Johnny Burnette, and the cousin of Rocky Burnette. With his family background and frequent visitors such as Elvis Presley and Gene Vincent dropping in to his home, Burnette was drawn to a musical career at a young age, and recorded his first single (‘Hey Daddy (I’m Gonna Tell Santa On You)’) at the age of seven under the name Billy Beau. He continued to do so until the age of 17, when he began performing as a session guitarist and songwriter in Nashville. He worked on the road with Brenda Lee and Roger Miller and had his songs recorded by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, Charlie Rich, Glen Campbell and the Everly Brothers. Burnette recorded his first album under his own name in 1972, deliberately avoiding the rockabilly and 50s influences of his upbringing. He finally paid tribute to his heritage on a second self-titled album in 1979. The same year he released Between Friends, which included the first of several Country Top 100 singles, ‘What’s A Little Love Between Friends?’. Try Me included collaborations with two members of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie. That led to an offer to tour with another band Fleetwood put together in 1984, Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo, and ultimately to a regular spot with Fleetwood Mac in 1987, as one of two musicians to replace the departing Lindsey Buckingham. He was featured on the highly successful Greatest Hits compilation and 1990’s Behind The Mask, before signing yet another new recording contract for the release of 1992’s solo set, Coming Home. Two years later he made his acting debut in Saturday Night Special, before teaming up with Fleetwood Mac once more on the 1995’s lamentable Time. Burnette subsequently returned to Nashville and recorded a duet album with Bekka Bramlett, another latter-day Fleetwood Mac recruit, as well as appearing in several feature length movies. His ninth solo collection, 1999’s All Night Long, featured his son Billy Burnette Jnr. among the backing musicians.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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