Billy Don Burns is a true Country Music Warrior. He wears his battle
scars with honor, depicting the stories of his life in his songs with
brutal and beautiful honesty. He’s respected far and wide for his long
career in songwriting and performing, and he’s still out there. He’s
lived it and breathed it through lifetimes of country music passion and
pain. Carrying the guitar like a sword on his back, he battles for the
Poet. He battles for the Artist. He battles for the souls who defy
modern convention. And every time he strikes a chord in some
smoke-filled Honky Tonk, he wins. Billy Don Burns started out in this
business working with legends, and somewhere along the way he became one
himself.
Below is his interview with Andrea Fennel.
AF: It is obvious you live your music with fierce
determination and passion, Billy Don. When did you first realize music
was the life for you?
BDB: I entered this talent contest when I was in the Army, mostly to
get out of all the hell in basic training. There were several acts and
the whole post was there on the big night. Don Grady, TV star of My Three Sons,
presented the winner with a big trophy. When I won that, I thought
maybe I do have something going on for me. It was a pretty big deal.
When I got out of the Army, I knew for sure this is what I was going to
do.
AF: Who were your influences growing up?
BDB: I grew up in Stone County Arkansas, in Mountain View. I was into
Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. Jimmy Driftwood, who won a Grammy and
wrote some great songs, was my mother’s school teacher. Jimmy always
encouraged me. Those guys would be my first influences. There were many
more before I figured out who I was.
AF: Tell me about when you received your first Publishing deals…
BDB: When I got out of the Army, Merle Haggard was becoming the
hottest country act on the planet. It was 1971 and I had a band living
in the Palm Springs area of California. I told the guys that I was going
to go to Bakersfield and meet Merle. They said “you ain’t gonna meet
him.” I had read that Merle had a Publishing company called Shade Tree.
He couldn’t write for it at the time because he was under contract to
write for Buck Owens. So, I go to Bakersfield and look in the phone book
and there was Shade Tree listed on Niles Avenue. I went there and said I
was a songwriter and would like to play them some songs. The lady
running the office said I needed to see Roy Nichols as he was in charge
of that. Roy was a star to me. He was a big part of Merle’s sound,
playing lead guitar in his band. I met Roy and played him a couple of
songs. He said “yeah, man, we will publish those.” Then he asked me if I
wanted to meet Merle who was in an office with Bill Woods. I said Yes.
He called Merle and and we went in his office. Roy introduced me to
Merle. It was so great. He autographed two of his albums for me. Then,
he said to Bill Woods “why don’t you get him on Jimmy’s TV show this
afternoon, Bill?” Bill Woods was a piano player on the show that was on
Channel 32 there in Bakersfield. That was my first time to do a TV show.
It was all so great. Then some 18 years later, I got to produce Merle
on one of the Johnny Paycheck albums. The great Harlan Howard signed me
first as a staff writer in 1972 in Nashville.
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| Billy Don Burns with Frank Ehlinger and Ronnie Hymes © Rusty Knuckles Music 2012 |
AF: Who was the first artist besides yourself that cut one of your songs?
BDB: Connie Smith was on Columbia Records and she recorded my first
song the year 1973. Of course, she is now Mrs. Marty Stewart.
AF: What was it like working with Johnny Paycheck and tell me how all of that came about…
BDB: I liked Johnny Paycheck. He was not easy to work with in 1988 –
the cocaine and the booze pretty much had him a lot then. However, I am
not saying anything bad about Johnny. Hell, it has whooped the hell out
of my ass a bunch of times, too. When it was good- it was good. But, it
was not an easy gig. When Johnny’s manager went to federal prison in
1988, I became his producer and manager and, hell yeah, it was a pretty
rough ride, but I loved him.
AF: Any good road stories you want to share?
BDB: I think I will pass on the road stories. Most of mine are either
X-rated or incriminating, so I better pass on that for now.
AF: What has been one of your favorite moments in your career?
BDB: My biggest moment in the business would be when Johnny Cash sent
me a one page letter. That was the biggest thing that has ever happened
to me. I gave it to the Stone County Museum in Mountain View, my
hometown in Arkansas.
AF: On your CD Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls, you have several guest stars. Who would be your dream person to cover one of your songs?
BDB: I guess I wanted a Willie Nelson record more than anyone else.
He has always been such a great writer. So when that happened, it was so
good. My first one he did was on his Sony Records Born for Trouble
CD. My song was “I Don’t Have A Reason To Go To California Anymore.” I
would have loved to have had a Johnny Cash cut and I think if he would
have lived longer that may have happened. He had just found out who I
was not too long before he died.
AF: What has been happening with you lately?
BDB: This kid from South Carolina, Aaron Rodgers, ran me down and
told me he was a big fan and wanted to produce a new CD on me. We did
that and I am proud of it and I think it is one of my best ones. The CD
is called (Nights When I’m Sober) Portrait of a Honky Tonk Singer and will be out soon.
AF: What about Music means the most to you?
BDB: What I love about this business the most is expressing myself
and then have people write all these great things about what my songs
mean to them. That makes me feel like a success. That is the best and it
humbles me when I hear the nice things that people say about my music.
It is not easy being Billy Don Burns, but that is who I am and the only part that I know how to play.
Hit up Billy Don Burns on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BillyDonBurns
Note: Billy Don Burns has just signed with a new label, Rusty Knuckes Records.
~ Andrea Fennel
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Andrea Fennel is native Texan who was raised outside of San
Antone, and now resides in the outskirts of Phoenix. She’s a freelance
writer for several music publications. She plays the piano, saxophone,
guitar and cello and enjoys hiking, hang gliding, and certain hippie
activities.
Outlaw Magazine. Country, Rock and Roll, Blues, Folk,
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| Outlaw Magazine featuring an interview with Billy Don Burns |
