Sonny Burnette

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 13 Feb 2013 1:01 pm

Just received an e-mail from a friend that Sonny has passed. No further details at this time...

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Feb 2013 1:36 pm

Wow. Sad news. My thoughts go out to Sonny's family and friends. Another of the great one's has left us.

bruce fischer · Post by **bruce fischer** » 13 Feb 2013 2:23 pm

so sorry to hear this.
prayers for all..............
bruce & lynn

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 13 Feb 2013 2:45 pm

Very sad, I enjoyed Sonny's playing and style. Thoughts & prayers for the Burnette family.

Robert Rogers · Post by **Robert Rogers** » 13 Feb 2013 5:38 pm

I really hate to hear this.I remember seeing Sonny on the ralph emery early morning show and on the opry.He was such a fine player.Peace to his family.

Dave O'Brien · Post by **Dave O'Brien** » 13 Feb 2013 5:52 pm

More sad news...one of the best ever.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 13 Feb 2013 6:09 pm

A true icon in the steel world has left us.
My condolences to the Burnette family.

Jim Means · Post by **Jim Means** » 13 Feb 2013 6:35 pm

Another great has left us. Prayers going up for his family.

Jim and Helen Means

Jimmy Youngblood · Post by **Jimmy Youngblood** » 13 Feb 2013 8:33 pm

I'm getting to where I hate to come on this site. We never know who we're going find out who has left us.

R.I.P. Sonny

Jim Priebe · Post by **Jim Priebe** » 14 Feb 2013 12:00 am

RIP Sonny
My greatest steel guitar influence ever. First time I heard him I had to play that instrument.
So hard to get to hear much of his playing on record now.
What a shame and a huge loss.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 14 Feb 2013 12:14 am

Enjoyed working the Opry with you and Hal and Weldon,rest in Our Fathers Arms Ole friend.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 14 Feb 2013 3:37 am

I just got an e-mail from Marty Martel about his passing. I remember seeing him in the mornings on the Ralph Emery show, and the Opry.

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 14 Feb 2013 10:10 am

Another great loss for the steel guitar community. May God comfort his family and friends during this difficult time.

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 14 Feb 2013 12:18 pm

RIP Sonny. I can't help but remember the Opry "string section" of Sonny, Hal, and Weldon.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 14 Feb 2013 2:26 pm

I can never forget Sonny and Weldon playing a duet and when they stood for a bow, Weldon told Sonny to Stand up and Sonny replied...I am standing up !! What a grand spirit we have lost ! God speed and Rest In Peace, Sonny.

Regrets, Paul

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 14 Feb 2013 3:20 pm

Sonny Burnette’s early session work with Webb Pierce is documented on The Webb Pierce Bear Family Box Set “The Wondering Boy 1951-1958.”

From January 12, 1954 to October 3, 1958 Sonny Burnette was on 26 Webb Pierce session dates for Decca. Sonny is listed on 47 released sides including: “More and More” “In the Jailhouse Now” “I Don’t Care” “Love, Love, Love” “Why Baby Why” “Teenage Boogie” “I’m Tired” “Tupelo County Jail” “New Panhandle Rag.”

A great steel player and well respected by all the players that were around him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEqi_X-pnII

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 14 Feb 2013 3:41 pm

Bob Browning introduced me to Sonny, one day at Little Roy Wiggins' music store. He told me Sonny had perfect pitch and was the best at tuning a guitar.

Adair Torres · Post by **Adair Torres** » 14 Feb 2013 4:39 pm

Another great has left us......R.I.P. Sonny...

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 14 Feb 2013 5:22 pm

Received via email:

Hattie Dickens wrote:I saw on this forum that Sonny Burnette died years ago...I have lived within a mile of him ever since he has moved to Center Hill lake.....please inform them that Sonny passed away this week...I talked with his daughter Andrea, and he didn't want any funeral services. I guess it will not be in the news or anything. since Sonny was a very private man..... Thanks so much...

Ron Elliott · Post by **Ron Elliott** » 15 Feb 2013 7:39 am

Sonny "Burr" was my good friend,..we hunted, fished, and played the Opry for 25 years. I and we all will miss him. Sonny, Go rest high on the mountain, my dear friend.

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 15 Feb 2013 9:25 am

Just came across his photo the other day while browsing through Winnie Winston's book. RIP and may God bless Sonny.

Weldon Myrick · Post by **Weldon Myrick** » 15 Feb 2013 12:59 pm

I remember the first time I met Sonny Burnette as clear as if it were yesterday.It was in Lubbock, TX at a "Grand Ole Opry Show" and I had gone to it because Webb Pierce was going to be there and I wanted to hear the sound of "Slowly" and see the guitar that would do that sound. Webb came on and did a great performance of a long medley of his songs that was popular at that time. The steel was loud and beautiful. The applause, whistling and people standing was all a sight to behold. When the show was over, I managed to push enough people aside to get to Sonny and he allowed me to look at the guitar top side and underneath. I wasn't able to grasp it all. It wasn't until 1963 that I got to see him again. We became the best of friends. I learned that he had played on so many of Webb's recordings starting with the followup to "Slowly", "More & More". We picked our steels a lot together,rode motorcycles everywhere and we both loved putting auto bombs on everybodies autos!
If we missed your auto I'm sorry! I'm also sorry to have lost such a great buddy. Time marches on.....
Weldon

Danny Letz · Post by **Danny Letz** » 15 Feb 2013 1:23 pm

I sure miss the Jayton jams, Weldon. Sorry about Sonny's passing.

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 15 Feb 2013 2:50 pm

Sonny was very special to me as well. Not only as a steel player and friend, but as a very wise advisor on life issues. Wish I had listened more. Sonny, Hal and Weldon raised me backstage at the Opry from the time I was 12. He will be missed.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 16 Feb 2013 12:21 am

That is really sad news. My condolences go out to Sonny's family.

Walter Stettner
Vienna, Austria

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Sonny Burnette

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My condolences to the Burnette family

Email from a neighbor

Sonny B.

My Dear Friend, Sonny