When Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac parted ways in 1987, Billy Burnette along with his friend, guitarist Rick Vito, were asked to join the legendary band.
But that’s just a small part of the very large story involving these two guitar monsters…
“Rick Vito’s guitar playing just slays me! His style is as cool and sharp as a ’59 Cadillac tailfin.” – Bonnie Raitt
Rick did his first pro work on tour with DELANY & BONNIE. Soon after, he began to establish himself as a respected recording session player first appearing on Todd Rundgren’s classic album, “SOMETHING ANYTHING”. At this time Rick also worked with such artists as LITTLE RICHARD, BOBBY WHITLOCK, JOHN PRINE, and DOBIE GRAY among many others.
Late in 1974 Rick received an invitation to join a new band being formed by British Blues pioneer, JOHN MAYALL, with whom Rick worked with subsequently on four albums. In the following years, Rick was a member of ex-BYRD ROGER MCGUINN’s group, THUNDERBYRD, and also a founding member of Los Angeles club favorites, the ANGEL CITY RHYTHM BAND. With the ACRB, Rick had a unique opportunity to back many of the Blues greats he had been influenced by. Performing regularly at the Topanga Canyon Corral club on Monday Blues nights, they regularly held court with ALBERT COLLINS, LOWELL FULSON, BIG JOE TURNER, and GEORGE ‘HARMONICA’ SMITH, among many others.
By 1980 Rick had recorded two albums worth of material and was starting to place more songs with other artists such as MCGUINN CLARK & HILLMAN, and DAVID SOUL. At the same time he began a long association with slide-guitar queen, BONNIE RAITT, appearing on her rocking LP, “GREEN LIGHT”, and as a member of her touring band. Rick spent most of 1982-83 working with LA- based singer/songwriter, JACKSON BROWNE. He appears on Jackson’s single’ “SOMEBODY’S BABY”, and on his albums, “LAWYERS IN LOVE”, and “LIVES IN THE BALANCE”.
In between solo recording and live shows in the LA area, Rick continued session dates with many artists including RITA COOLIDGE, MARIA MULDAUR, and DOLLY PARTON, when he came to the attention of legendary rocker, BOB SEGER. Looking for a rootsy guitar sound to add to his work in progress, Bob enlisted Rick to try his hand at a solo over two long passages in a song entitled, “LIKE A ROCK”. The result of Vito’s efforts is now considered something of a classic in expressive slide guitar bravura. Of the experience Seger says in his “GREATEST HITS” liner notes: “My fondest memory of this recording is of (co-producer) DAVID COLE and I listening to Rick Vito play the slide guitar solo late one night at Rumbo Studios in LA. It was the single most spectacular overdub I’d ever heard!” “Like A Rock” has now been used as the soundtrack and slogan for Chevrolet trucks for over ten years and is one of the longest running TV commercials in history. Rick was an integral part of the hugely successful “AMERICAN STORM” US tour and has been featured on every Bob Seger album release since 1986.
Partly as a result of the high profile attention garnered by the Seger album and tour, Rick soon realized that he had reached another major turning point in his career.
“I got a call one day from MICK FLEETWOOD. We’d played together a couple of times on a BILLY BURNETTE session and at one of my gigs, and he liked the fact that I was a fan of Peter Green. LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM had just been let go and Mick wanted Billy and I to learn some Mac tunes and come over to play with the band. I had been feeling lately that something was brewing with my career anyway, so when I hung up the phone I turned to my wife Aimee and said, “that’s it, I’m going to join FLEETWOOD MAC”!”
Rick did join the band as a member in July, 1987 and began rehearsing for the “TANGO IN THE NIGHT” world tour. The excitement and excellence of Fleetwood Mac during this period was captured live in a lull-length concert video of the same name, released by Warner Brothers in 1988. Vito’s playing and singing is especially well represented in a faithlul version of Peter Green’s “I LOVED ANOTHER WOMAN”. Soon after, the group released it’s “GREATEST HITS” album which featured two new cuts on which feature Rick. In 1989 Fleetwood Mac began work on what would become “BEHIND THE MASK”, a solid collection of songs by CHRISTINE MCVIE, STEVIE NICKS, and Billy Burnette, as well as four original tunes written and performed by Rick Vito. Again the Mac followed with an incredible world tour.
During 1998 and 1999, Rick participated in a highly visible world tour with singer/guitarist BONNIE RAITT in support of her CD, “FUNDAMENTAL”. During this time he appeared on “OPRAH”, “DAVID LETTERMAN”, “THE TONIGHT SHOW”, “ROSIE O’DONNEL”, “CONAN O’BRIEN”, VHI STORYTELLERS, as well as the LILLITH FAIR TOUR and the ERIC CLAPTON EUROPEAN TOUR. Rick was featured both in duet with Bonnie and also performing songs from “PINK AND BLACK”.
In 2001 Rick’s CD, “LUCKY DEVILS” was released in Europe on the German-based HYPERTENSION MUSIC label. Containing eleven original cuts, “Lucky Devils” picked up where his previous CDs left off. Reviewers found it it to be “an exciting and innovative continuation of Rick’s devotion to his blues dominated stylings” (Hamburg Music Review). “Lucky Devils” (also the name of his new band) then kicked off with a critically acclaimed solo tour of Germany and Switzerland where he also appeared on the much heralded “OHNE FILTER” TV concert series. Rick managed to squeeze in yet another tour during 2001 with rock icon, John Fogerty, appearing on TINA TURNER’s epic Farewell Tour.
In 2007 and 2008 Rick began forging new ground with old friend and bandmate MICK FLEETWOOD. The two have partnered in two ensembles, the ISLAND RUMOURS BAND, and the MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND.
“Soulful singer, brilliant guitar player, you got to check out Rick Vito, for sure!” – Keb Mo’
Billy Burnette is the epitome of a rock star – he exudes talent, good looks, and the rock star aura wherever he goes and understandably so, given his journey as a musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist.
Born in Memphis, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Dorsey William Burnette III (aka Billy Burnette) spent most of his youth in the presence of father Dorsey and uncle Johnny (of the legendary Rock and Roll Trio). The Trio made the Rockabilly name famous by combining the name Billy and his cousin Rocky for the 1953 “Rockabilly Boogie” – thus making the term Rockabilly a household name.
The legendary Rock and Roll Trio influenced a diverse array of Rock icons including: the Elvis, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, Aerosmith, and Ricky Nelson. Elvis used to spend many evenings jamming with the band in the Lauderdale Courts laundry room. Recounts Billy: “I met Paul McCartney once and he said that the Trio were one of his and John’s (Lennon’s) influences – nobody was making music like that back then.”
It’s not surprising given his upbringing that Billy’s list of accomplishments in the music arena is both impressive and diverse. Billy has amassed four decades of experience recording music, writing songs, and performing since embarking upon his career at age 7.
His first single, a Christmas song, “Hey Daddy” was recorded on Dot Records. When he was only 11, Billy recorded several songs for A&M Records, including one from Dr. Seuss titled “Just Because We’re Kids,” which Herb Albert produced and played trumpet on. By 13, the young Burnette was entertaining the troops with Brenda Lee in the Far East.
But it wasn’t until he was 15 or 16 that Billy picked up a guitar and began writing songs. Heavily influenced by the Beatles, Delaney, Bonnie & Friends, and his dad’s music, Billy learned the songwriting craft from some of the greats. “It’s really funny because I grew up thinking that everyone wrote songs. I mean my dad did it, my uncle did it…”
At 18, Billy Burnette was only a week out of high school when he recorded his Columbia Records album with famed Memphis hit-making producer Chips Moman (“Suspicious Minds” and “In the Ghetto” for Elvis as well as multiple hits for the likes of Aretha Franklin and BJ Thomas).
In his early 20’s, Billy played guitar for Roger Miller as well as for his father, Dorsey Burnette. Meanwhile, Billy also continued his solo career, which included recording records and writing for such hit makers as Rod Stewart, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Eddy Raven, and many more.
In 1980, Billy Burnette made the biggest solo record recording deal in history with Columbia Records. Shortly after signing on with Columbia Records, Burnette met Mick Fleetwood (of Fleetwood Mac) at an “American Bandstand” party. The two musicians became fast friends and formed the band Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo in 1983.
The Zoo was a Hollywood star-studded jam band, which was sometimes joined by artists such as Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Bob Seger, Eddy Van Halen and others. During that time, Burnette continued to expand his solo career. He constantly penned new tunes while introducing Country music to a new sound.
By 1985, Burnette signed on with MCA/Curb. During that year, Billy was nominated as “Best New Male Vocalist” by the Academy of Country Music in competition against Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, Marty Stuart, and T. Graham Brown.
His promising Country music career took a sudden turn with one phone call. Burnette tells the story: “I was in an LA studio with Roy Orbison cutting a song I’d written, “Dream You,” for the Mystery Girl album when Mick (Fleetwood) called and asked me to join Fleetwood Mac.” With a number one record worldwide and a sold out world tour, Billy began his journey as a member of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Burnette toured with Fleetwood Mac between 1987-1995 and appears on such records as: The Chain, Fleetwood Mac/Greatest Hits, Behind the Mask and The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac.
At the height of his Fleetwood Mac stint, Billy’s songs were being recorded by such famed artists as: Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Cher, Faith Hill, and Greg Allman.
Billy’s natural good looks and ease on stage did not go unnoticed in Hollywood. Burnette landed parts in several feature films including: Richy Rich, The Addams Family Reunion, Casper and Wendy, Not Like Us, and the leading role in Saturday Night Special, which featured Burnette’s songs throughout the film.
Later, Burnette returned to Nashville and landed a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records, for whom he recorded the aptly named Coming Home. With Coming Home, Burnette re-entered the Country charts with the hit “Tangled Up in Texas.”
Burnette then teamed up with Bekka Bramlett, also of Fleetwood Mac association, to record Bekka and Billy. The Bekka and Billy record was well-received by music fans, artists, and critics alike.
During this period, around 2003, Billy co-wrote a tune for Bonnie Raitt and Ray Charles called “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.” This tune appeared on the album Genius Loves Company, which was the last studio album recorded and completed by Charles. Genius Loves Company garnered 10 grammy nominations and won Album of the Year.
In 2006, Billy Burnette recorded one of the most revered Rockabilly albums of his career, Memphis in Manhattan. Memphis was recorded “live” in Manhattan at St. Peter’s Church. Burnette thrived on the live approach to recording: “Doing it live brings out a certain energy in you, because you know you’re under the gun and you have to get it right then and there. And there’s something to be said for that. It was pretty wild. I had a lot of fun recording this record…it was a great experience, and it’s something I’m really proud of overall.”
On Memphis, Burnette not only recorded several original tunes – five of which were written with friend Shawn Camp (a successful songwriter and Bluegrass recording artist), but also payed tribute to his father and uncle, by recording “It’s Late” and “Tear it Up.” In addition, Burnette recorded an Everly Brothers classic, “Bye, Bye Love,” and a song made popular by none other than Burnette’s own Memphis neighbor, Elvis: “Big Hunk of Love.”
In 2007, Billy collaborated with Shawn Camp on the album Bluegrass Elvises Vol. 1, which rose to the Top 5 on the Americana charts.
A collaboration with Shawn Camp and Dennis Morgan became the hit song “River of Love.” George Strait recorded the tune for his 2008 album Troubador, and “River of Love” went on to become Strait’s 44th Number One hit single.
In 2009, Billy had a song he co-wrote entered into the Eurovision Song Contest. The song was performed by Tone Damli Aaberge and went on to reach Number One on Norway’s music charts. Billy was also awarded an honorary doctorate in music by Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.
In the last few years, Billy Burnette contributed his talents as a guitar player and singer on tours with legendary musicians Bob Dylan and John Fogerty. Additionally, Burnette has also collaborated regularly with the Mick Fleetwood Band.
And so, that brings Billy Burnette’s incredible musical journey up to the present. Where to from here? Billy continues to write, record and perform. He has a number of projects in the works including a new solo album. Despite over 40 years of making and sharing his songs with the world, Burnette’s musical journey is far from over.
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=0D=0A=Ages 19 & over
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