Sonny Burgess facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonny Burgess
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Burgess playing at Riverfest in Little Rock, Arkansas, 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Albert Austin Burgess |
| Born | May 28, 1929 Newport, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 2017 (aged 88) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Genres | Boogie-woogie, rockabilly |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Associated acts | Rocky Road Ramblers |
Albert Austin "Sonny" Burgess (born May 28, 1929 – died August 18, 2017) was an American musician. He was famous for his rockabilly music. Sonny played the guitar and sang.
Contents
Sonny Burgess's Life and Music
Early Life and First Bands
Sonny Burgess was born on a farm. This was near Newport, Arkansas. His parents were Albert and Esta Burgess. He finished high school in Newport in 1948.
In the early 1950s, Sonny started playing music. He played boogie woogie music. He performed in dance halls and bars. Sonny formed a band with his friends. They called themselves the Rocky Road Ramblers. The band members were Kern Kennedy, Johnny Ray Hubbard, and Gerald Jackson.
Forming The Pacers
Sonny joined the United States Army for a short time. After that, in 1954, he started his band again. They were called the Moonlighters. This name came from the Silver Moon Club. They played there often.
Later, a record producer named Sam Phillips gave them advice. Sam Phillips was famous for finding new talent. He suggested the group get bigger. So, they added more members and became The Pacers.
First Records and Fame
The Pacers made their first record in 1956. It was for Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. The songs were "Red Headed Woman" and "We Wanna Boogie." Sonny Burgess wrote both songs. People said these songs were very energetic. They were some of the most exciting songs of early rock and roll. The band was also known for their wild performances.
Sonny Burgess did not become a huge star right away. But his music was very important. He stopped the band in 1971. Later, he found many new fans in Europe.
Later Achievements
Sonny Burgess was honored for his music. In 1999, he joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Europe. His group, now called The Legendary Pacers, also played a big concert. This was in Las Vegas in 1999.
In 2000, they recorded a new album. It was called Still Rockin’ and Rollin’. This album was voted the best new album in Europe. In 2002, the group was added to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Sonny Burgess & The Legendary Pacers also performed at the 2006 National Folk Festival (USA). This event was in Richmond, Virginia.
Sonny Burgess also had his own radio show. It was called We Wanna Boogie. This was named after his first record. He hosted it with June Taylor. The show was on 91.9FM KASU in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Sonny's Family Life
Sonny Burgess had two brothers and three sisters. He married Joann Adams in 1956. They had two sons together. Their names were Peyton and John.
Sonny passed away in August 2017. He was 88 years old. He died in a hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Selected Music Albums
- Country Rock (1969)
- The Old Gang (1976)
- We Wanna Boogie (1984)
- Sonny Burgess and the Pacers (1985)
- Raw Deal (1986)
- Spellbound (1986)
- We Wanna Boogie (Best-of compilation) (1989)
- I'm Still Here (1990)
- The Razorback Rock & Roll Tapes (with Bobby Crafford) (1992)
- Tennessee Border (with Dave Alvin) (1992)
- Hittin' That Jug (Best-of compilation) (1995)
- The Arkansas Wild Man (Sun Records recordings) (1995)
- Sonny Burgess (1996)
- God's Holy Light (1997)
- Tupelo Connection (2001)
- Back to Sun Records (2003)
- Tear It Up! (2006)
- Gijon Stomp! (2009)
- Live at Sun Studios (2012)
