Rocky Burnette
Encyclopedia
Rocky Burnette is an American
rock and roll
singer/musician and the son of rock and roll
pioneer, Johnny Burnette
. He is best known for his 1980 hit single "Tired of Toein' the Line
."
, and became part of the early 1980s revival of the rockabilly
style. He released his first album, Son of Rock 'n' Roll, on EMI America in 1979. In the summer of 1980, his single
"Tired of Toein' the Line" became a Top Ten hit
in the United States. The song
was also popular internationally, becoming a #1 hit in Australia and peaking at #3 in South Africa. It reached #58 in the UK Singles Chart
.EMI America's financial problems interfered with promotion efforts for the follow-up singles (several of which became hits in other countries), and Burnette's second album, Heart Stopper, was not successful.
In 1981, Burnette toured Europe
with the final version of his late father's The Rock and Roll Trio
. He also used the band on his next album, Get Hot or Go Home! on Enigma Records
. It also sold poorly, and Enigma dropped Burnette and the Trio rather than release a follow-up.
Burnette worked with Rosie Flores
and Dwight Twilley
in the mid-1990s, and also contributed vocals and the original "Trouble Is I'm in Love With You" to Paul Burlison
's 1997 Train Kept A-Rollin'. In 1996, Burnette released Tear It Up on Core Records.
Burnette wrote the European hit "You Got Away With Love" for Percy Sledge
in 1997. He continues to tour internationally and maintains a devoted fan base in the US
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
singer/musician and the son of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
pioneer, Johnny Burnette
Johnny Burnette
John Joseph "Johnny" Burnette was an American rockabilly musician. Along with his older brother Dorsey Burnette, and also a friend named Paul Burlison, Burnette was a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio. He was the father of 1980s rockabilly singer Rocky Burnette.-Early life:Johnny Burnette...
. He is best known for his 1980 hit single "Tired of Toein' the Line
Tired of Toein' the Line
"Tired of Toein' the Line" is the name of a song written and performed by Rocky Burnette. The song became an international hit when released as a single in 1980. The song's lyrics detail an imminent breakup....
."
Career
Rocky Burnette was born in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, and became part of the early 1980s revival of the rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
style. He released his first album, Son of Rock 'n' Roll, on EMI America in 1979. In the summer of 1980, his single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Tired of Toein' the Line" became a Top Ten hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the United States. The song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
was also popular internationally, becoming a #1 hit in Australia and peaking at #3 in South Africa. It reached #58 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.EMI America's financial problems interfered with promotion efforts for the follow-up singles (several of which became hits in other countries), and Burnette's second album, Heart Stopper, was not successful.
In 1981, Burnette toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with the final version of his late father's The Rock and Roll Trio
The Rock and Roll Trio
The Rock and Roll Trio was the name of a rockabilly group which was formed in Memphis, Tennessee during the 1950s. They were also known as "Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio" and the "Johnny Burnette Trio". The members of the Trio were Dorsey Burnette, his younger brother Johnny, and a...
. He also used the band on his next album, Get Hot or Go Home! on Enigma Records
Enigma Records
Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
. It also sold poorly, and Enigma dropped Burnette and the Trio rather than release a follow-up.
Burnette worked with Rosie Flores
Rosie Flores
Rosie Flores is a rockabilly and country music artist of Mexican American heritage. Her music blends rockabilly, honky tonk, jazz, and Western swing along with traditional influences from her Tex-Mex heritage...
and Dwight Twilley
Dwight Twilley
Dwight Twilley is an American pop/rock singer and songwriter, best known for the Top 20 hit singles "I'm on Fire" and "Girls"...
in the mid-1990s, and also contributed vocals and the original "Trouble Is I'm in Love With You" to Paul Burlison
Paul Burlison
Paul Burlison was an American pioneer rockabilly guitarist and a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio. Burlison was born in Brownsville, Tennessee, where he was exposed to music at an early age. After a stint in the United States Military, Burlison teamed up with Johnny and Dorsey Burnette...
's 1997 Train Kept A-Rollin'. In 1996, Burnette released Tear It Up on Core Records.
Burnette wrote the European hit "You Got Away With Love" for Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
in 1997. He continues to tour internationally and maintains a devoted fan base in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
External links
- [ Rocky Burnette biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...