Watty Burnett
Encyclopedia
Watty Burnett, also known as King Burnett (born Derrick Burnett in Port Antonio
, Jamaica
, early 1950s) is a reggae
artist who had a long association with Lee Perry.
church his family attended. His nickname of "Watty" was given to him by childhood friend Murvin Smith Jr (aka Junior Soul), in reference to Burnett's prominent stutter as a child.
Burnett formed a duo with Jimmy Nelson in the late 1960s, known alternately as The Soul Twins and Jimmy & Derrick, and they travelled to Kingston
on Sundays, hoping to get a recording session. Although they were rejected by several producers (including Duke Reid
who told them "You're too young, come back in five years"), Lee Perry saw potential in their song "Pound Get a Blow", a commentary on the attempts of Canada
and the United States
to replace the island's currency. The song was a moderate success in Jamaica in 1968, and placed in the Festival Song Contest. They recorded several more tracks for Perry, although their tracks were often miscredited to other artists such as The Bleechers. Burnett moved to the Allman Town district of Kingston, living with his brother Fitzy, and also recorded as "King Burnett" for Perry in late 1974, releasing "I Man Free" and "Babylon a Fall" under that name.
Burnett became a regular session vocalist and instrumentalist (drums, percussion and bass guitar) for Perry at his Black Ark
studio, and recorded singles in his own right for the producer, with "Rise and Shine", "Open The Gate", which became the title track of a Trojan Records
collection of Perry productions, and his biggest hit, "Rainy Night In Portland" (a version of Brook Benton
's "Rainy Night in Georgia"). When The Congos
began working with Perry, he added Burnett to the group in 1977 to add baritone
to the harmonies, as he was aiming to record a classic falsetto-tenor-baritone group. Burnett sang on seven tracks on the Heart of the Congos
album, and also contributed mooing noises, recorded earlier by Perry, who got Burnett to moo down a cardboard tube from a roll of tin foil, and these sounds were also used on other Black Ark recordings. The Congos left Perry after a dispute over the release of the Heart of the Congos album, but after recording another Congos album, Burnett returned to Perry. He continued working as a session vocalist, providing baritone on Jimmy Cliff
's reworking of "Bongo Man" on the Give Thanx
album, and backing vocals on Bob Marley
's Exodus album. Burnett rejoined Cedric Myton
in the Congos in the 1990s, releasing the Revival album.
Burnett released his first solo album proper, To Hell and Back, in 2002.
Port Antonio
Port Antonio is the capital of the parish of Portland on the northeastern coast of Jamaica, about 60 miles from Kingston. It had a population of 12,285 in 1982 and 13,246 in 1991...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, early 1950s) is a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artist who had a long association with Lee Perry.
Biography
Burnett grew up in Port Antonio, the eldest of nine children, and learned to sing in the BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church his family attended. His nickname of "Watty" was given to him by childhood friend Murvin Smith Jr (aka Junior Soul), in reference to Burnett's prominent stutter as a child.
Burnett formed a duo with Jimmy Nelson in the late 1960s, known alternately as The Soul Twins and Jimmy & Derrick, and they travelled to Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
on Sundays, hoping to get a recording session. Although they were rejected by several producers (including Duke Reid
Duke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
who told them "You're too young, come back in five years"), Lee Perry saw potential in their song "Pound Get a Blow", a commentary on the attempts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to replace the island's currency. The song was a moderate success in Jamaica in 1968, and placed in the Festival Song Contest. They recorded several more tracks for Perry, although their tracks were often miscredited to other artists such as The Bleechers. Burnett moved to the Allman Town district of Kingston, living with his brother Fitzy, and also recorded as "King Burnett" for Perry in late 1974, releasing "I Man Free" and "Babylon a Fall" under that name.
Burnett became a regular session vocalist and instrumentalist (drums, percussion and bass guitar) for Perry at his Black Ark
Black Ark
The Black Ark was the recording studio of reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, built in 1973 and located behind his family's home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica...
studio, and recorded singles in his own right for the producer, with "Rise and Shine", "Open The Gate", which became the title track of a Trojan Records
Trojan Records
Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
collection of Perry productions, and his biggest hit, "Rainy Night In Portland" (a version of Brook Benton
Brook Benton
Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
's "Rainy Night in Georgia"). When The Congos
The Congos
The Congos are a reggae vocal group from Jamaica active on and off from the mid-1970s until the present day. They are best known for their Heart of the Congos album, recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry.-History:...
began working with Perry, he added Burnett to the group in 1977 to add baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
to the harmonies, as he was aiming to record a classic falsetto-tenor-baritone group. Burnett sang on seven tracks on the Heart of the Congos
Heart of the Congos
Heart of the Congos is a roots reggae album by The Congos, produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry at his Black Ark studio with a studio band including Boris Gardiner on bass and Ernest Ranglin on guitar. The album was released in 1977...
album, and also contributed mooing noises, recorded earlier by Perry, who got Burnett to moo down a cardboard tube from a roll of tin foil, and these sounds were also used on other Black Ark recordings. The Congos left Perry after a dispute over the release of the Heart of the Congos album, but after recording another Congos album, Burnett returned to Perry. He continued working as a session vocalist, providing baritone on Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...
's reworking of "Bongo Man" on the Give Thanx
Give Thanx
-Track listing:All tracks written by Jimmy Cliff; except where indicated#"Bongo Man" — 5:03#"Stand Up and Fight Back" — 3:16 #"She Is a Woman" — 4:08#"You Left Me Standing by the Door" — 3:21#"Footprints" — 3:57#"Meeting in Afrika" 3:37...
album, and backing vocals on Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
's Exodus album. Burnett rejoined Cedric Myton
Cedric Myton
Cedric Myton born in Jamaica is a Reggae musician and Rastafarian. Myton played with Prince Lincoln Thompson in The Tartans in the early 1970s until they apparently fell out. Cedric Myton claims he was one of the backing harmony vocals on Prince Lincoln's Humanity album recorded in 1975, but he is...
in the Congos in the 1990s, releasing the Revival album.
Burnett released his first solo album proper, To Hell and Back, in 2002.
Studio Albums
- Megawatt Dub (1997) ShanachieShanachie RecordsShanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...
(dubs of Burnett tracks, credited to Lee Perry & King Tubby) - To Hell and Back (2002) Wajesskow Music Connection
- Rasta at Di Kontrol (2010), World Beat
Singles
- "Dash It Pon Him" (1974) Steady
- "I Man Free" (1974) (as King Burnett)
- "Babylon a Fall" (1974) (as King Burnett)
- "Rise and Shine" (197?) (with Clinton FearonClinton FearonClinton Fearon is a Jamaican reggae singer and musician born on February 13, 1951 in Saint Andrews, Jamaica. He has lived Seattle, Washington since 1987.-Jamaica:...
) - "What a War" (1975) Micron (Watty and Tony)
- "Open The Gate" (197?)
- "Rainy Night In Portland" (197?)
- "Perfidia" (1978) (Watty Burnett & Cultured Stars)
- "Too Late/Come By Yah" Rhythm Force (1981)
- "Dancin' Shoes" (1982)