Biography
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Born
25 March 1934
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Born In
Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
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Died
14 August 1964 (aged 30)
Johnny Burnette (March 25, 1934 – August 14, 1964) was a rockabilly pioneer from Memphis, Tennessee, best known as the frontman of Johnny Burnette & The Rock 'n' Roll Trio, alongside his brother Dorsey Burnette and guitarist Paul Burlison.
Raised in Memphis’ Lauderdale Courts (the same neighborhood as Elvis Presley), Johnny initially pursued sports and amateur boxing before briefly working on Mississippi River barges. With Dorsey and Burlison, he began performing locally and formed The Rhythm Rangers in 1952, later renamed The Rock and Roll Trio. They gained exposure through Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour and TV appearances but failed to chart nationally. After internal conflicts, the group disbanded in 1957.
Relocating to California, Johnny and Dorsey pitched songs directly to teen idol Ricky Nelson, who recorded several of them, leading to a songwriting career and a short-lived deal with Imperial Records. Johnny later signed with Liberty Records, where he found solo success with hits like "Dreamin'" and "You’re Sixteen", the latter becoming a gold record. Health issues hampered his momentum, and subsequent singles had modest chart performance.
After touring internationally and brief stints with Chancellor, Reprise, and Capitol Records, Johnny launched his own labels Sahara and Magic Lamp. Tragically, he died in a boating accident in 1964 at age 30.
Posthumously, Burnette's influence grew: Ringo Starr covered "You're Sixteen," his track "Train Kept A-Rollin'" became a rock staple, and his legacy was honored by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. The Beatles also acknowledged him with a BBC performance of “Lonesome Tears in My Eyes.”
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