Song:You're Sixteen
Album:Dreamin': The Very Best Of Johnny Burnette
Johnny Burnette was a rockabilly pioneer who lucked into teen idol stardom with the 1960 hit You're Sixteen. He died in 1964. He was born Mar. 25, 1934 in Memphis. It has been rumoured that he was a high school classmate of Elvis Presley. Not true. Johnny and his brother Dorsey were avid boxers and Golden Gloves champs. They met another boxer named Paul Burlison and in 1952 the three started a band called The Rhythm Rangers. After winning on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour, they signed with Coral Records and were called Johnny Burnette & The Rock and Roll Trio. Despite recording some great rockabilly classics, the group never charted. The three moved to Los Angeles in 1957 and earned a contract with Imperial Records by camping out on Ricky Nelson's doorstep. But they weren't successful there either. Johnny Burnette signed as a solo artist with Freedom Records in 1958. When Liberty Records shut the label down, house producer Snuff Garrett started working with him. Burnette finally charted when Dreamin' reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. You're Sixteen did even better and reached #8 and earned Burnett a gold record. They sold Burnette as a teen idol though he really wasn't. But Burnette suffered a ruptured appendix and was unable to follow up You're Sixteen. He also recorded for Chancellor, Capitol and even his own label but could never repeat the success of You're Sixteen. This comp from Collectibles is the only single CD comp that includes You're Sixteen and Burnette's rockabilly recordings. Johnny Burnette died in a boating accident on Aug. 14, 1964 at age 30. Ringo Starr had a number one hit with You're Sixteen in 1974. His son Rocky Burnette was a successful musician in the 80s. Here's Johnny Burnette performing You're Sixteen 1960.
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