From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Thu May 8, 2003  1:18 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Billy Burnette
 
BILLY BURNETTE

Born William Beau Burnette, III, 8 May 1953, Memphis, Tennessee

Billy Burnette's career as a performer began at the tender age of seven. 
Due to his father Dorsey's fame as a rockabilly star (not to mention his
uncle Johnny), Billy cut "Hey Daddy (I'm Gonna Tell Santa on You)" for
Dot Records with Ricky Nelson's band in 1960. Billy followed his recording 
debut with another session in 1964, and toured with Brenda Lee soon after. 
Burnette moved to Memphis in 1969 to work as a guitarist and producer, 
and began his solo career three years later with a self-titled album for
Entrance Records.

He led his father's backing band during the '70s, while his songwriting
talent gradually came to the fore through covers by Dolly Parton and Kin
Vassy. Billy Burnette signed with Polydor in 1979, and recorded a second
self-titled album. "Between Friends" was released in 1980, and after Burnette
signed with Columbia, he issued his third eponymous album. "Don't Say No"
from that LP went to # 68 on the Billboard (pop) charts. 

In 1985, Eddy Raven and Ray Charles both charted Billy Burnette songs, 
and Burnette himself had minor country hits with "Ain't It Just like Love" and
"Try Me." The action earned him honours as ACM's Best New Male Vocalist, 
but he dropped out of country music for several years when Fleetwood Mac
offered him a spot replacing Lindsay Buckingham. He appeared on "Tango
In The Night" (1987) and "Behind the Mask" (1990), and toured with the band 
constantly.

Billy returned to country music in 1992 with a contract for Warner Bros and
the charting single "Nothin' to Do (And All Night to Do It)." He moved to 
Capricorn later that year, and released "Coming Home". After a long absence, 
Burnette resurfaced in the spring of 2000 with "Are You with Me Baby".

(With thanks to All Music Guide.) 

More info: http://www.fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/billy.htm
Official homepage: http://www.burnette-rock.com/BillyBurnette.htm