Bio of John Burnett
1967 – Thunder Bay, Ontario – Bobby Curtola, “Fortune Teller”
Crawling around on the floor beneath his Grandpa Hurdon’s piano, John Burnett didn’t know at age three what kind of a wild ride he was in for as a musician. He didn’t know that he was gifted with an ear and a heart like his grandfather’s, and he didn’t know how much music would shape his life. But it all started then, that Christmas night, when Dyer Hurdon took a break from writing for Canada’s first Gold Album heartthrob and dedicated a song to the grandson who would carry on his songwriting legacy. “Dish Delish” didn’t make it onto the charts – in fact it didn’t even make it into the studio – but it was the first bite of the music bug for Burnett.
1976 – Mound, Minnesota – Kiss, “Beth/Detroit Rock City”; Rush, “2112”
At age 12, Burnett was still playing the drums on the bottoms of empty ice cream buckets nailed to a board. His love for music continued to evolve and grow through high school, where he fronted bands and killed the ladies with his dark good looks, sexy voice and wild style. He was coming into his own as a musician; the usually shy Burnett was finding a new confidence and a love for performing.
1982 – Wayzata, Minnesota – Prince, “1999”
Everything changed: College cemented his technical skills; work with a music production company honed his style; but when “1999” was released, Burnett heard a sound that compelled him to buy his own studio equipment and head to California. A fellow Gemini (they were born on the same day, in fact), Prince’s style and skill, sound, and most of all passion, opened up a whole new world for Burnett.
From California to Minneapolis, to Arizona and back again to Minneapolis, Burnett worked hard, played hard, wrote hard and sang hard for years. Fine-tuning his sound, he built a repertoire of rock, dance, pop and funk.
1997 – Minneapolis – Raffi, “Baby Beluga”
Enough said.
2004 – Minneapolis – John Burnett, “Love me Like You Do”
Now more than 30 years after those nights singing along with his Grandpa Hurdon, Burnett’s style reflects the twists and turns his life has taken: at times his music is introspective and gentle, as when he writes about his love and his family; other times – in a style that harks back to his years in garage bands – he’s louder and a little bit naughty. He always stays close to top 40 styles, but with a maturity and depth found only through a lifetime of love for music.