Died On This Date (September 27, 2003) Paul Burlison / Rockabilly Pioneer
themusicsover Paul Burlison
February 4, 1929 – September 27, 2003
Paul Burlison was a founding member of The Rock and Roll Trio, a rockabilly band who would heavily influence rock ‘n roll bands for generations to come. He formed the band with brothers, Dorsey Burnette and Johnny Burnette in the early ’50s, and by 1956, they were in New York City recording for the Coral label. And although their records were never quite hits, they became popular and thus influential due to many television appearances during their short run. They appeared on American Bandstand, Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour, The Tonight Show and Kraft Music Hall, but despite the remarkable promotional blitz, it never resulted in many record sales. The band called it quits in 1957 and Burlison all but retired from the music business, only to make a comeback during the rockabilly revival of the ’80s. It wasn’t until 1997 that Burlison made his first solo album, Train Kept A-Rollin’. Guests on the album included Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Cesar Rojas, David Hidalgo, Mavis Staples, and the second generation of Burnettes, Rocky Burnette and Billy Burnette. Paul Burlison died of cancer at the age of 74.
Jimmy McCulloch was a rock guitarist who played with Thunderclap Newman, Stone the Crows, and most famously, Paul McCartney’s band Wings from 1974 to 1977. His most celebrated contribution to Wings was his lead guitar work on “Junior’s Farm.” Jimmy McColluch died of a heroin overdose at the age of 26.
Beau Velasco was the founding drummer for up-and-coming electro-punk band, The Death Set. Formed in Australia in 2005, the band quickly moved to New York City and then settled in Baltimore where they began to build a following for their aggressive genre-bending music. In 2008, they signed to hip indie label, Counter Records, who released their debut album, Worldwide to positive reviews. Beau Valesco died on September 27, 2009. Cause of death was not immediately released.
