Mike Burney Explained

Mike Burney
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Michael Burney
Birth Date:1 November 1938
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Genre:Jazz, pop, glam rock
Instrument:Flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone

Mike Burney (1 November 1938 – 13 November 2014) was an English jazz saxophonist, most notable for his tenure in Roy Wood's Wizzard.[1]

Early life

Burney was born in the Great Barr area of Birmingham, and educated at Bromsgrove College of Further Education.

Career

Between 1968 and 1970, Burney was in Billy Fury's backing band. Following this, he was a member of Wizzard, playing on records such as "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday". He also wrote its b-side, "Rob Roy's Nightmare (A Bit More H.A.)".

More recently, he worked with the Million-Airs Big Band & Concert Orchestra and spent eight years with The Syd Lawrence Orchestra.[2] He also worked on a joint project with other Wizzard members called The Old Horns Band. He had a residency at Miller & Carter in Sutton Coldfield.[3] He died on 13 November 2014 at the age of 76.[4] [5]

Session and live work

Burney toured, accompanied and sessioned with Chaka Khan, The Beach Boys, Sammy Davis Jr., Petula Clark, Memphis Slim, Steve Winwood, Ruby Turner, Adam Faith, Bob Hope, Cliff Richard, Cilla Black, Dionne Warwick and Matt Monro;[6] covering a range of blues, jazz and big band genres.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Burney. 1973 Wizzard Tour Programme. 4 November 2009. 1 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181101175827/http://www.wizzard.rsamuel.me.uk/tourprog/mike.htm. dead.
  2. Web site: Meet the Band. The Old Horns Band. 4 November 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090105200758/http://oldhornsband.com/meet_the_band.html. 5 January 2009.
  3. Web site: The Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield. Miller & Carter. Mitchells & Butlers. 4 November 2009.
  4. Web site: Wizzard star Mike Burney dies aged 70. ITV. 18 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Wizzard star Mike Burney, who also played with The Beach Boys, Sammy Davis Junior and Bob Hope has died. Birmingham Mail. 18 December 2014.
  6. Web site: Mike Burney. Bearwood Jazz. 4 November 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516230923/http://www.bearwoodjazz.co.uk/visitors/burney.html. 16 May 2008.