From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Tue May 28, 2002  1:12 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Sonny Burgess
 
SONNY BURGESS (By Shaun Mather)

Born 28 May 1931, Newport, Arkansas

Sonny Burgess stands with Billy Lee Riley as the finest Sun artist to fail
to make the grade. Despite this, they have both continued to record through
the decades and are still popular attractions on the live circuit. Perhaps
less versatile than Riley, Burgess has few equals at flat out rockabilly
music. With a wild band, The Pacers, in support, they arrived in Memphis
and were quickly rewarded with their first release, Red Headed Woman and
We Wanna Boogie. The single was a wild combination and should have
scored, especially as they promoted it with manic stage shows as part
of the touring Sun circus.
The follow-up, Ain't Got A Thing c/w Restless was again inspired but failed
to chart nationally. When Sonny introduced his 3rd single (My Bucket's Got
A Hole In It) in South Wales a couple of years ago, he said "Me and Ricky
Nelson sold a million between us on this. I sold one, he sold the rest!"
His last Sun single was a shared instrumental with Billy Riley, Itchy and
Thunderbird, an ode to the spirit they were endulging in during the session.

His output at Sun was exceptionally high and we are now able to enjoy some
great rockabilly tracks that didn't see the light of day until the 70's, things
like Daddy Blues, The Prisoner's Song, Fannie Brown, Tomorrow Never
Comes and one of my favourites, Truckin' Down The Avenue.

Sonny recorded during the 60's but really found his biggest, most receptive
audience in Europe during the rockabilly revival of the 70's and 80's. He
also toured and recorded with the Sun Rhythm Section. He has recorded
during the 90's, the best being Tennessee Border for Hightone.

Recommended listening:
The Classic Recordings 1956-1959 - Bear Family
Tennessee Border - Hightone

More info: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/SonnyBurgess.html
See also: http://www.legendarypacers.com/