Terry Burrus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Terry Burrus
Terry Burrus
Background information
Birth name	Terrance Corley Burrus
Born	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres	Pop, rock, R&B, electro, house, soul
Occupation(s)	Musician, record producer, composer, conductor, dj, bandleader
Instruments	Keyboards
Labels	Ichiban, Ichiban-EMI, Arista, Bee Pee, Easystreet, Blue Corner, Lovelight

Terrance Corley Burrus, known as Terry Burrus, is an amazing American musician. He plays keyboards, writes music, and produces records. He is also a DJ, a conductor, and works in business and fashion. Terry was born in Brooklyn, New York. He started his musical journey very young.

Terry Burrus: A Musical Journey

Terry Burrus began touring as a teenager. While still in high school, he played with jazz violinist Michał Urbaniak. He also performed with singer Jean Carne. Terry took the place of Barry Eastman, who was Urbaniak's keyboardist. Later, Barry Eastman wrote a famous song for Freddie Jackson.

Terry met Jean Carne through Norman Hedman. Norman was a percussionist and producer. He was also one of Terry's early music teachers. These connections helped Terry play with other great artists. He performed with trumpeter Tom Browne and drummer Lenny White. He also played with singer Melba Moore.

Playing with Lena Horne

In 1984, Terry played with the legendary Lena Horne. This was for her award-winning show, Lady and Her Music. Terry was recommended by his friend, pianist Kenny Kirkland. Kenny was the keyboardist for Sting at the time.

The Lena Horne Quintet included Terry on piano and keyboards. Ben Brown played bass, and Rodney Jones played guitar. Wilby Fletcher was on drums, and Ron Bridgewater played saxophone. Linda Twine was the music director. Musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra also joined them. Even while playing for other artists, Terry started releasing his own music. He also began performing his own concerts.

First Solo Music

In 1983, Terry released his first solo song. It was called "Love Rocking" for Arista Records. This song was a mix of funk, electro, and soul music. Terry wrote the song and performed all the vocals and instruments. His high school friend, Omar Hakim, played drums on the track.

This project was known as Terry Burrus and Transe. Terry produced it with another high school friend, Marcus Miller. Terry, Marcus, and other friends played for an off-Broadway show. It was called Young Gifted And Broke. This show was written by Weldon Irvine in 1977. It played at the Billie Holiday Theater in Brooklyn. Weldon Irvine had co-written the famous song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" with Nina Simone.

Sometimes, Lenny White joined the "Young Gifted And Broke" musicians. Lenny White was a famous drummer from the band Return To Forever. Terry was very excited to play with Lenny White. This was a special time in jazz music.

Terry Burrus: A Session Artist

Over time, Terry became a respected recording artist. He played on albums for many famous musicians. These included Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, and Janet Jackson. He also worked with Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, and Diana Ross. Other artists included Lisa Stansfield, Miles Davis, and Madonna. He also played for Aretha Franklin, Phyllis Hyman, and many others.

Terry has always loved classical music. He studied composers like Mozart and Beethoven in school. You can hear classical influences in his piano playing today. He performs classical piano concerts around the world. He also plays jazz and pop music.

Touring and Producing

Terry has been a sideman and music director on many tours. These included Jazz Explosion tours in the 1980s and 1990s. He also played soul, dance, and gospel concerts. He worked with the Harlem Gospel Singers and George Benson. Other artists included Angela Bofill, Bill Withers, and Chaka Khan.

Terry also wrote and produced music with Kenny Gamble. Kenny Gamble was the president of Philadelphia International Records. They created songs like "Living In Confusion" for Phyllis Hyman. Terry wrote "I Just Love You So Much" for Billy Paul. He also wrote and produced "Love Goddess" for Lonnie Liston Smith. Terry wrote and produced other songs too, like for the group Burrell.

Electronic and Dance Music

Terry has helped shape the sound of house music and electronic music. He worked with many famous DJs and producers. These include Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, and Todd Terry. He also worked with Junior Vasquez and Tony Humphries.

Terry has created sounds in electronica. He has used these sounds in Techno, Trance, and Ambient music. His piano style was very popular in the 1990s. It was featured on many recordings by artists worldwide.

Early Life and Musical Roots

Terry Burrus started playing the organ and piano at age five. This was in Brooklyn at the Washington Temple Church of God In Christ. His parents, Carter Lee and James, sang in the church choir. When Terry was five, his parents enrolled him in the Alfred Miller Music School. He began playing gospel hymns about a year later.

He studied music at the La Guardia School of Music And Art in New York City. Later, he attended Long Island University. He grew to love jazz, improvising, classical music, and composing. While in school, he recorded music in his home studio. He also played concerts worldwide as a sideman. He performed with Jean Carne, Michael Urbaniak, and Lena Horne.

Terry always thanks Sticks Evans, his junior high school music teacher. Sticks Evans taught him at John Coleman I.S. 271 Junior High School in Brooklyn. Sticks gave him encouragement and inspiration. Sticks Evans also played drums for Aretha Franklin and Sammy Davis Jr.. Sticks treated Terry like a younger brother or even a son. This relationship gave Terry the strength to continue in music.

Discography

As a leader

• Bust It Out (1989; Easystreet)
• Dance to the Mix (EP) (1990; Easystreet)
• Urban Smooth Jazz (2006; Ichiban)
• Mighty Mouth Vavoom (1985; Zakia/Bee Pee)
• Invisible Weapon (1994; Startrak)
• Love Rocking (in 1983; Arista)
• Nation 2 Nation (1992; Ichiban)
• Free Spirit (1991; Ichiban-EMI)
• Soul of Jazz (1996; Ichiban)
• I Am for You (1996; Lovelight)
• Acid Jazz Hipabop Project (1994; Lovelight)
• At the Konzerthaus in Dortmund (2007; Blue Corner)
• Global Dancefloor Booked (2008; Lovelight)

As a sideman

• George Benson - Big Boss Band with the Count Basie Orchestra (1990; Warner Bros.)
• Lonnie Liston Smith - Love Goddess (1990; Startrak/Ichiban)
• Tom Browne - Yours Truly (1981; GRP/Arista)
• Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone (1995; Epic)
• Toni Braxton – "Un-Break My Heart" (1996; LaFace)
• Cardigans -– Love Fool (1997; Motor/Mercury)
• Mary J. Blige - Everything (1997; MCA/Universal)
• Phyllis Hyman - Prime of My Life (1992; Zoo Entertainment)
• Phyllis Hyman - Living All Alone (1986; Philadelphia International)
• Lisa Stansfield - Change [Ultimate Club Mix] (Remixed by Frankie Knuckles) (1991, Arista)