Theres a lot of talk these days about outlaws in country music. Whether part of the new breed or the
old guard, the problem has always been if you have to proclaim yourself an outlaw, you're probably
not one. Arkansas native Billy Don Burns doesn't have to proclaim himself anything. His worn-out
Harley-Davidson t-shirt and dirty red bandanna aren't part of some trendy corporate-sponsored
fashion-statement/marketing campaign. And when putting his songs down on record, no slick, young,
next-bighting Music Row producer need apply, thank you. Billy Don needs only one thing to get his
message across: an open-minded listener unafraid of the dark side-a place Billy Don admittedly
knows all too well. These are not your run-of-the-mill, radio-friendly ditties written by some
publisher-appointed committee in a cushy Nashville office suite. Scan the titles: Runnin' Drugs Out of
Mexico, Dark Side of the Spoon, Full Blown Addict; these are the often harrowing true-life
experiences that have poured out on paper, and on record, in a flood of nerve-rattling, mind-bending
emotion. If you're looking for the primrose path, look elsewhere, friend. But if you're brave enough to
handle it, just push play on any of the 13 tracks on Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls, give
Billy Don three or four minutes of your undivided attention (no problem there, you'll be fully involved
thirty seconds in), and you'll know just what a real honest-to-God outlaw country singer sounds like.
Its real life, says Billy Don. It may be a little darker than people like to recognize, but its there. I wish
my life was more of an Ozzie and Harriet kind of life, but it ain't.
Billy Don Burns was born in the community of 56 in Stone County, Arkansas. A family friend,
songwriter Jimmie Driftwood (Battle of New Orleans", Tennessee Stud) was Billy Dons mothers
schoolteacher, and inspired the naturally-talented youngster to pursue a singing career. While
serving in the US Army, he won a talent competition (his trophy was presented to him by fellow
serviceman and My Three Sons TV star, Don Grady). Billy Don left the Army in 1970 and moved to
California, where he bought a new guitar and began performing in clubs. In 1972, Wanda Jacksons
steel guitar player, Lynn Owsley, endorsed Billy Don so that he could move into a musician's
boarding house in Nashville. By 1973, he was portraying Hank Williams at the Opryland USA theme
park, and soon had his songs cut by the likes of country legends Connie Smith and Mel Tillis.
In 1975, he formed the Travis Brothers with Jimmy Getzen, and recorded a gospel album. He was
also performing around various Nashville clubs, opening for acts such as Boots Randolph and
Ronnie Prophet. Billy Don toured North America throughout the early part of the decade and
then-Arkansas governor Bill Clinton proclaimed March 27th, 1983, Billy Don Burns Day. In the early
1980s, he was engaged for a time to singer Lorrie Morgan. In 1984, the pair recorded a duet, New
Commitments, which they performed on The Nashville Network.
By 1990 things were becoming decidedly darker for Billy Don, both professionally and personally, as
involvement in drugs began to overtake his life and interfere with his musical career. Still, Billy Don
continued recording, touring and working with other artists on various projects. In 1987, he produced
a gospel album for Johnny Paycheck and later recorded a live album for the Take This Job and
Shove It singer, who was an inmate at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio. Due to legal
entanglements, both albums remain unreleased to this day.
By the mid 90's, conditions were improving for Billy Don as artists including Willie Nelson and
Sammy Kershaw began recording his songs. In 1995, his debut album Long Lost Highway was a
critical, if not commercial, success. And in 1996, Billy Don and his frequent co-writer Hank Cochran
topped the Americana music chart with the brilliant Desperate Men, which unseated Johnny Cash's
Unchained from the No. 1 spot in 1997. Although at the time (to the chagrin of promoters and fellow
musicians alike), Billy Don tried unsuccessfully to prevent his own album from overtaking that of his
hero's, the Man in Black graciously faxed him a handwritten note to congratulate him on the
achievement. On 2004s Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls, Billy Don pays tribute to Johnny
Cash with a rendition of his 1957 hit, Give My Love to Rose.
It was one of the first Cash songs I learned as a kid. My mother bought that album, and something
about it touched me then. I felt like it was one everybody hadn't done a lot.
In 2002, Billy Don Burns released the critically-acclaimed Train Called Lonesome, featuring musical
support from the Reno Brothers (Don and Dale) and longtime musical associate Jeff Williams, plus
backing vocals by John Carter Cash. The lead-off track on Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled
Souls is the revved-up rocker Mississippi, co-written by Billy Don with Hank Cochran and featuring
guest vocalist Tanya Tucker.
Though his heroes and friends are ever-present with him on record, it is perhaps the other troubled
souls to whom his songs will always mean the most; those whose lives are lived out of the spotlight
and in the shadow of some dark, desperate secret. It is those shadows Billy Don Burns knows all too
well--and his music is the light that shines on them, making them real, but ultimately offering hope, a
voice, and a way out of the darkness.
Its been a roller coaster all the way. Every time I play these songs, I hear, Man, you wrote that song for
me. You told my story. Theres a lot of lost souls out there.
old guard, the problem has always been if you have to proclaim yourself an outlaw, you're probably
not one. Arkansas native Billy Don Burns doesn't have to proclaim himself anything. His worn-out
Harley-Davidson t-shirt and dirty red bandanna aren't part of some trendy corporate-sponsored
fashion-statement/marketing campaign. And when putting his songs down on record, no slick, young,
next-bighting Music Row producer need apply, thank you. Billy Don needs only one thing to get his
message across: an open-minded listener unafraid of the dark side-a place Billy Don admittedly
knows all too well. These are not your run-of-the-mill, radio-friendly ditties written by some
publisher-appointed committee in a cushy Nashville office suite. Scan the titles: Runnin' Drugs Out of
Mexico, Dark Side of the Spoon, Full Blown Addict; these are the often harrowing true-life
experiences that have poured out on paper, and on record, in a flood of nerve-rattling, mind-bending
emotion. If you're looking for the primrose path, look elsewhere, friend. But if you're brave enough to
handle it, just push play on any of the 13 tracks on Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls, give
Billy Don three or four minutes of your undivided attention (no problem there, you'll be fully involved
thirty seconds in), and you'll know just what a real honest-to-God outlaw country singer sounds like.
Its real life, says Billy Don. It may be a little darker than people like to recognize, but its there. I wish
my life was more of an Ozzie and Harriet kind of life, but it ain't.
Billy Don Burns was born in the community of 56 in Stone County, Arkansas. A family friend,
songwriter Jimmie Driftwood (Battle of New Orleans", Tennessee Stud) was Billy Dons mothers
schoolteacher, and inspired the naturally-talented youngster to pursue a singing career. While
serving in the US Army, he won a talent competition (his trophy was presented to him by fellow
serviceman and My Three Sons TV star, Don Grady). Billy Don left the Army in 1970 and moved to
California, where he bought a new guitar and began performing in clubs. In 1972, Wanda Jacksons
steel guitar player, Lynn Owsley, endorsed Billy Don so that he could move into a musician's
boarding house in Nashville. By 1973, he was portraying Hank Williams at the Opryland USA theme
park, and soon had his songs cut by the likes of country legends Connie Smith and Mel Tillis.
In 1975, he formed the Travis Brothers with Jimmy Getzen, and recorded a gospel album. He was
also performing around various Nashville clubs, opening for acts such as Boots Randolph and
Ronnie Prophet. Billy Don toured North America throughout the early part of the decade and
then-Arkansas governor Bill Clinton proclaimed March 27th, 1983, Billy Don Burns Day. In the early
1980s, he was engaged for a time to singer Lorrie Morgan. In 1984, the pair recorded a duet, New
Commitments, which they performed on The Nashville Network.
By 1990 things were becoming decidedly darker for Billy Don, both professionally and personally, as
involvement in drugs began to overtake his life and interfere with his musical career. Still, Billy Don
continued recording, touring and working with other artists on various projects. In 1987, he produced
a gospel album for Johnny Paycheck and later recorded a live album for the Take This Job and
Shove It singer, who was an inmate at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio. Due to legal
entanglements, both albums remain unreleased to this day.
By the mid 90's, conditions were improving for Billy Don as artists including Willie Nelson and
Sammy Kershaw began recording his songs. In 1995, his debut album Long Lost Highway was a
critical, if not commercial, success. And in 1996, Billy Don and his frequent co-writer Hank Cochran
topped the Americana music chart with the brilliant Desperate Men, which unseated Johnny Cash's
Unchained from the No. 1 spot in 1997. Although at the time (to the chagrin of promoters and fellow
musicians alike), Billy Don tried unsuccessfully to prevent his own album from overtaking that of his
hero's, the Man in Black graciously faxed him a handwritten note to congratulate him on the
achievement. On 2004s Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls, Billy Don pays tribute to Johnny
Cash with a rendition of his 1957 hit, Give My Love to Rose.
It was one of the first Cash songs I learned as a kid. My mother bought that album, and something
about it touched me then. I felt like it was one everybody hadn't done a lot.
In 2002, Billy Don Burns released the critically-acclaimed Train Called Lonesome, featuring musical
support from the Reno Brothers (Don and Dale) and longtime musical associate Jeff Williams, plus
backing vocals by John Carter Cash. The lead-off track on Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled
Souls is the revved-up rocker Mississippi, co-written by Billy Don with Hank Cochran and featuring
guest vocalist Tanya Tucker.
Though his heroes and friends are ever-present with him on record, it is perhaps the other troubled
souls to whom his songs will always mean the most; those whose lives are lived out of the spotlight
and in the shadow of some dark, desperate secret. It is those shadows Billy Don Burns knows all too
well--and his music is the light that shines on them, making them real, but ultimately offering hope, a
voice, and a way out of the darkness.
Its been a roller coaster all the way. Every time I play these songs, I hear, Man, you wrote that song for
me. You told my story. Theres a lot of lost souls out there.
The Johnny PayCheck Story.
Billy Don Burns is one of Country Music's unheralded unsung honky tonk heroes. He has written hits for
Willie Nelson, Connie Smith, Mel Tillis and the great Johnny PayCheck. Amongst all this, Billy Don has also
recorded with country music greats such as Porter Waggoner and Merle Haggard.
As a solo artist for more than 30 years, he’s played over five thousand shows in fifteen countries around
the world.
The following article, recounted by Billy Don Burns is presented here with Billy Dons' approval, for which we
thank him. The article is copyright Billy Don
Billy Don Burns is one of Country Music's unheralded unsung honky tonk heroes. He has written hits for
Willie Nelson, Connie Smith, Mel Tillis and the great Johnny PayCheck. Amongst all this, Billy Don has also
recorded with country music greats such as Porter Waggoner and Merle Haggard.
As a solo artist for more than 30 years, he’s played over five thousand shows in fifteen countries around
the world.
The following article, recounted by Billy Don Burns is presented here with Billy Dons' approval, for which we
thank him. The article is copyright Billy Don
The first time I remember Donald Eugene Lytle a.k.a. Johnny Paycheck was at Charlie Ammerman's house
in Donelson, TN, a suburb of Nashville. I met and became friends with Charlie when I recorded for 4-Star
Records with Joe Johnson in 1977. I ran into Charlie in 1987 and he asked me if I would like to co-produce
an album with him on Johnny Paycheck. I accepted. We worked out an agreement that satisfied the two of
us. Charlie told me that Johnny was staying at his house in Nashville for a few days and that it would be a
good time for Johnny and I to meet. He asked me to come by his house the next morning. When I showed
up about ten thirty, Johnny was sitting at the kitchen table with Charlie. I gave a friendly knock on the door
and entered to the sound of, "Come on in!".
My eyes connected with Johnny's almost immediately. I nodded. Charlie broke the silence with "Check, this
is Billy Don Burns". Johnny and I shook hands. Charlie told me to help myself to a cup of coffee, after
which I sat down at the table opposite Paycheck and joined in the conversation about a new album on
Johnny. I mostly listened to what they had to say, interjecting very little. These guys had worked together
before and I wanted to take it easy, not appearing too aggressive to this country music superstar that I had
just met. We had a good first meeting. I agreed to get some songs together for the first session while
Charlie would make the arrangements concerning the studio, time and place.
Charlie booked the first recording session at Gene Breeden's studio. We had a good session and every
thing went great. Johnny recorded a song of mine, "The Outlaw and the Preacher". Again, I kept a low
profile, making most of my suggestions to Charlie. I knew I had to win Johnny's respect if we were going to
be working together. I could tell he was not the kind of guy that you should move too fast with. I wanted this
relationship to work.
Charlie made a deal to buy Fireside Studio. We recorded the second session there with Doyle Grisham as
the engineer. This was probably the best session ever of the "Outlaw at the Cross" project. Ken McDuffie
and I had a music publishing company called Gypsy Women Music. Johnny recorded three or four of Ken's
songs from this company. Afterwards, Charlie and I went out and had a couple of cocktails to celebrate the
good session while Johnny went home with John Long, his band leader. Part of the agreement we made
with Johnny was that his band would be used to record the album. John Long was guitar player and leader.
His brother Rick Long played bass. The drummer was Danny Breeden, Chuck Mandez played steel guitar
and Jerry Pearson played piano. Johnny didn't have a fiddle player in his band at the time so we hired
Kenny Sears, a buddy of mine who was in the Mel Tillis Band..
in Donelson, TN, a suburb of Nashville. I met and became friends with Charlie when I recorded for 4-Star
Records with Joe Johnson in 1977. I ran into Charlie in 1987 and he asked me if I would like to co-produce
an album with him on Johnny Paycheck. I accepted. We worked out an agreement that satisfied the two of
us. Charlie told me that Johnny was staying at his house in Nashville for a few days and that it would be a
good time for Johnny and I to meet. He asked me to come by his house the next morning. When I showed
up about ten thirty, Johnny was sitting at the kitchen table with Charlie. I gave a friendly knock on the door
and entered to the sound of, "Come on in!".
My eyes connected with Johnny's almost immediately. I nodded. Charlie broke the silence with "Check, this
is Billy Don Burns". Johnny and I shook hands. Charlie told me to help myself to a cup of coffee, after
which I sat down at the table opposite Paycheck and joined in the conversation about a new album on
Johnny. I mostly listened to what they had to say, interjecting very little. These guys had worked together
before and I wanted to take it easy, not appearing too aggressive to this country music superstar that I had
just met. We had a good first meeting. I agreed to get some songs together for the first session while
Charlie would make the arrangements concerning the studio, time and place.
Charlie booked the first recording session at Gene Breeden's studio. We had a good session and every
thing went great. Johnny recorded a song of mine, "The Outlaw and the Preacher". Again, I kept a low
profile, making most of my suggestions to Charlie. I knew I had to win Johnny's respect if we were going to
be working together. I could tell he was not the kind of guy that you should move too fast with. I wanted this
relationship to work.
Charlie made a deal to buy Fireside Studio. We recorded the second session there with Doyle Grisham as
the engineer. This was probably the best session ever of the "Outlaw at the Cross" project. Ken McDuffie
and I had a music publishing company called Gypsy Women Music. Johnny recorded three or four of Ken's
songs from this company. Afterwards, Charlie and I went out and had a couple of cocktails to celebrate the
good session while Johnny went home with John Long, his band leader. Part of the agreement we made
with Johnny was that his band would be used to record the album. John Long was guitar player and leader.
His brother Rick Long played bass. The drummer was Danny Breeden, Chuck Mandez played steel guitar
and Jerry Pearson played piano. Johnny didn't have a fiddle player in his band at the time so we hired
Kenny Sears, a buddy of mine who was in the Mel Tillis Band..
Billy Don and Johnny PayCheck
during the taping of a TV commercial
in Nashville 1987.
during the taping of a TV commercial
in Nashville 1987.
On this page you will find a compilation of articles that we have found from numerous sites, either about
Billy Don Burns or Written By Billy Don. You can feel the pain and the passion in all of the
accomplishments listed.
Now you can be a part of the next phase in Billy Don Burns Career. Contact us today for Booking
information, song licensing (for recording one of Billy Dons Songs), To get a copy of any of his Cd's
and to keep up to date on his performances. Sign his Guest book and join his email list of dates and
brand new merchandise.
Join the BDB Outlaws and get an official certificate of membership signed by Billy Don Burns Himself.
Billy Don Burns or Written By Billy Don. You can feel the pain and the passion in all of the
accomplishments listed.
Now you can be a part of the next phase in Billy Don Burns Career. Contact us today for Booking
information, song licensing (for recording one of Billy Dons Songs), To get a copy of any of his Cd's
and to keep up to date on his performances. Sign his Guest book and join his email list of dates and
brand new merchandise.
Join the BDB Outlaws and get an official certificate of membership signed by Billy Don Burns Himself.
Billy Don Burns
Train Called Lonesome
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not long after he left mountains of Arkansas and headed to Nashville in 1972, Billy Don Burns was hired by Harlan Howard to write songs. Billy Don
has penned songs for the likes of Mel Tillis, Connie Smith, Johnny Paycheck, Willie Nelson, and Lorrie Morgan, among others. So it would be no
wonder Billy Don's own life reads like a country song.
Upon his arrival in Nashville, he started out singing on street corners for tips. Soon afterward, he met steel guitar player, Lynn Ownsley, who found him
a place to live in a boarding house for musicians. Through Lynn, Billy Don began making connections in the music community, which led to his job
writing for Harlan Howard at Wilderness Music. Here Billy Don began meeting people of such stature as Tex Ritter, Bobby Bond, Waylon Jennings and
Lefty Frizzell.
The following year, in 1973, he played Hank Williams at Opryland, and met both of Hank's wives- Miss Audrey and Miss Billy Jean. He also met Ken
McDuffie (aka/ Cadillac Johnson), who'd written songs for Mel Tillis and played fiddle in Marty Robbins band. The two started co-writing songs
together. The following year, Billy Don had his first major cuts: "Be Alright In Arkansas" recorded by Connie Smith, and "I Always Come Back To Loving
You" recorded by Mel Tillis.
In 1975, Billy Don and Jimmy Gretzen formed the duo The Travis Brothers. They toured the country and played gigs all over Nashville, making several
appearances on the Midnight Jamboree. That same year Billy Don roomed with Leonard Snipes (aka/ Tommy Collins), who penned Merle Haggard's
"Roots Of My Raising Run Deep." However, Tommy wound up with a severe substance abuse problem that led to him trashing his and Billy Don's
place, and several brushes with the law. Ironically, Tommy was the inspiration for and subject of Merle Haggard's "Leonard."
For the next several years, Billy Don continued performing and writing, through the death of his father and a broken engagement to Lorrie Morgan,
and a marriage to wife Penney. By 1986, Billy Don had his own substance abuse demons to wrestle, and checked into Cottonwood Drug Rehabilitation
Center in Arizona to clean up. Upon his release later that year, he decided to give up music, and started an import business, where he spent much of
his time in Asia. The business was a success, however, his heart was still in music. At his wife's urging, he moved his family to California, and then
decided to return to music.
In 1988, Billy Don hooked up with an old friend, Charlie Ammerman, who managed Johnny Paycheck. However, a few short weeks later, Charlie was
sentenced to Federal Prison, and Billy Don was left to deal with country's most notorious outlaw, Johnny Paycheck, alone. Billy Don took it in stride,
and set about producing Johnny's gospel album, "Outlaws At The Cross."
In 1989, Johnny was sentenced to a minimum of three years in prison, and they decided to do an album and video from the prison. Merle Haggard
came in to record with Johnny, and Hank Cochran helped secure the financing for the project. However, due to countless problems and setbacks, the
album was ultimately never released.
In 1991, broke and defeated by the prison project, Billy Don was back to playing for tips. Shortly thereafter, he met Sue Scarletta, and they formed a
publishing company and began work on Billy Don's Long Lost Highway album. But the burden of going back and forth from his home in California to
Nashville, was taking it's toll, and he wound up divorcing wife Penney. As his life began yet another downward spiral, he finally got off hard drugs, and
in 1993, remarried Penney.
The following year, Long Lost Highway was released, and met with critical acclaim, especially in Europe. He went to Europe to tour in support of the
album. When he returned from Europe, he and Hank Cochran formed a publishing company called Hank And Me, and began work on a joint album,
titled "Desperate Men."
"Desperate Men" was released in Dec. of '96, and received excellent reviews. By Feb. of '97, it had reached the #1 spot on the Gavin Album Chart,
unseating Johnny Cash, who had held the spot for nearly 4 months. Right after "Desperate Men" hit #1, Billy Don received a fax from his biggest idol,
Johnny himself, congratulating him.
Now, 4 years after the chart topping success of "Desperate Men", Billy Don Burns has released his highly anticipated follow-up, "Train Called
Lonesome".
This is a rich, acoustic effort, heavily laden with fiddles, mandolins and Dobro's, sung with the voice of a road warrior that let's you know he's lived
these songs. The inspiration for the songs comes from a lifetime of traveling the road, of people he's met and known, and of women he's loved and
lost. His songs are well crafted, and he ranks in the elite company of such songwriters as Kris Kristofferson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Rodney Crowell- and
even Harlan Howard himself.
"Train Called Lonesome" both opens and closes with two of the most outstanding songs I've heard in a long time- both are haunting, lonesome, chilling
ballads. "Lonesome 77203" is named for a train that rides the lonesome rails by itself, never stopping, never picking up riders. In this song Billy Don
compares himself to this train, singing "I'm a train..."
The CD's closer, "Hank William's Woman" (co-written with Earl Clark)- is dark and haunting, about a man riding the interstate, stopping at a truck stop
and picking up a Hank Williams tape. As he listens to the songs, he finds just how closely he can relate to them, so close in fact, that he could have
written them himself. As he's driving along, he's "telling" the woman he's leaving, that she was probably just like Hank's woman- treating him cruelly,
and realizing why Hank was always singing songs about being lonesome and blue- and maybe even the cause of his untimely death.
"The One That Got Away" is the tale of lifelong pals- who stick together through thick and thin, and always will, until the day they die. "James Dean"
(co-written with Hank Cochran) is a tribute to an idol a kid worshipped growing up- and how he still does, even after he's long since gone. "Sarai Green
And Ruby Red" tells about a young, beautiful girl of the Arkansas hills, "the princess" who rides her horse, Ruby Red, and sets all the boys' hearts to
fluttering.
"Where Was Love" finds Billy Don asking the woman who's cheated on him, what thoughts were going through her mind when she did so. "Fall On My
Sword" (co- written with Hank Cochran) and "Can I Come" are songs that tell the woman that he can't go on living without her, if she were to leave.
"Down Her Memory Lane" (co-written with Karen Brooks) has Billy Don as the one who's doing the leaving. "Talk About Crazy" (co-written with Karen
Brooks), another standout, talks about his own failings, mostly with the bottle.
"Train Called Lonesome" is a huge, healthy dose of some of the most excellent, solidly written and played, traditional country music out there. It pulls
no punches, and is country music...like it was meant to be.
Ann Marie Harrington Take Country Back April 2002
Train Called Lonesome
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not long after he left mountains of Arkansas and headed to Nashville in 1972, Billy Don Burns was hired by Harlan Howard to write songs. Billy Don
has penned songs for the likes of Mel Tillis, Connie Smith, Johnny Paycheck, Willie Nelson, and Lorrie Morgan, among others. So it would be no
wonder Billy Don's own life reads like a country song.
Upon his arrival in Nashville, he started out singing on street corners for tips. Soon afterward, he met steel guitar player, Lynn Ownsley, who found him
a place to live in a boarding house for musicians. Through Lynn, Billy Don began making connections in the music community, which led to his job
writing for Harlan Howard at Wilderness Music. Here Billy Don began meeting people of such stature as Tex Ritter, Bobby Bond, Waylon Jennings and
Lefty Frizzell.
The following year, in 1973, he played Hank Williams at Opryland, and met both of Hank's wives- Miss Audrey and Miss Billy Jean. He also met Ken
McDuffie (aka/ Cadillac Johnson), who'd written songs for Mel Tillis and played fiddle in Marty Robbins band. The two started co-writing songs
together. The following year, Billy Don had his first major cuts: "Be Alright In Arkansas" recorded by Connie Smith, and "I Always Come Back To Loving
You" recorded by Mel Tillis.
In 1975, Billy Don and Jimmy Gretzen formed the duo The Travis Brothers. They toured the country and played gigs all over Nashville, making several
appearances on the Midnight Jamboree. That same year Billy Don roomed with Leonard Snipes (aka/ Tommy Collins), who penned Merle Haggard's
"Roots Of My Raising Run Deep." However, Tommy wound up with a severe substance abuse problem that led to him trashing his and Billy Don's
place, and several brushes with the law. Ironically, Tommy was the inspiration for and subject of Merle Haggard's "Leonard."
For the next several years, Billy Don continued performing and writing, through the death of his father and a broken engagement to Lorrie Morgan,
and a marriage to wife Penney. By 1986, Billy Don had his own substance abuse demons to wrestle, and checked into Cottonwood Drug Rehabilitation
Center in Arizona to clean up. Upon his release later that year, he decided to give up music, and started an import business, where he spent much of
his time in Asia. The business was a success, however, his heart was still in music. At his wife's urging, he moved his family to California, and then
decided to return to music.
In 1988, Billy Don hooked up with an old friend, Charlie Ammerman, who managed Johnny Paycheck. However, a few short weeks later, Charlie was
sentenced to Federal Prison, and Billy Don was left to deal with country's most notorious outlaw, Johnny Paycheck, alone. Billy Don took it in stride,
and set about producing Johnny's gospel album, "Outlaws At The Cross."
In 1989, Johnny was sentenced to a minimum of three years in prison, and they decided to do an album and video from the prison. Merle Haggard
came in to record with Johnny, and Hank Cochran helped secure the financing for the project. However, due to countless problems and setbacks, the
album was ultimately never released.
In 1991, broke and defeated by the prison project, Billy Don was back to playing for tips. Shortly thereafter, he met Sue Scarletta, and they formed a
publishing company and began work on Billy Don's Long Lost Highway album. But the burden of going back and forth from his home in California to
Nashville, was taking it's toll, and he wound up divorcing wife Penney. As his life began yet another downward spiral, he finally got off hard drugs, and
in 1993, remarried Penney.
The following year, Long Lost Highway was released, and met with critical acclaim, especially in Europe. He went to Europe to tour in support of the
album. When he returned from Europe, he and Hank Cochran formed a publishing company called Hank And Me, and began work on a joint album,
titled "Desperate Men."
"Desperate Men" was released in Dec. of '96, and received excellent reviews. By Feb. of '97, it had reached the #1 spot on the Gavin Album Chart,
unseating Johnny Cash, who had held the spot for nearly 4 months. Right after "Desperate Men" hit #1, Billy Don received a fax from his biggest idol,
Johnny himself, congratulating him.
Now, 4 years after the chart topping success of "Desperate Men", Billy Don Burns has released his highly anticipated follow-up, "Train Called
Lonesome".
This is a rich, acoustic effort, heavily laden with fiddles, mandolins and Dobro's, sung with the voice of a road warrior that let's you know he's lived
these songs. The inspiration for the songs comes from a lifetime of traveling the road, of people he's met and known, and of women he's loved and
lost. His songs are well crafted, and he ranks in the elite company of such songwriters as Kris Kristofferson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Rodney Crowell- and
even Harlan Howard himself.
"Train Called Lonesome" both opens and closes with two of the most outstanding songs I've heard in a long time- both are haunting, lonesome, chilling
ballads. "Lonesome 77203" is named for a train that rides the lonesome rails by itself, never stopping, never picking up riders. In this song Billy Don
compares himself to this train, singing "I'm a train..."
The CD's closer, "Hank William's Woman" (co-written with Earl Clark)- is dark and haunting, about a man riding the interstate, stopping at a truck stop
and picking up a Hank Williams tape. As he listens to the songs, he finds just how closely he can relate to them, so close in fact, that he could have
written them himself. As he's driving along, he's "telling" the woman he's leaving, that she was probably just like Hank's woman- treating him cruelly,
and realizing why Hank was always singing songs about being lonesome and blue- and maybe even the cause of his untimely death.
"The One That Got Away" is the tale of lifelong pals- who stick together through thick and thin, and always will, until the day they die. "James Dean"
(co-written with Hank Cochran) is a tribute to an idol a kid worshipped growing up- and how he still does, even after he's long since gone. "Sarai Green
And Ruby Red" tells about a young, beautiful girl of the Arkansas hills, "the princess" who rides her horse, Ruby Red, and sets all the boys' hearts to
fluttering.
"Where Was Love" finds Billy Don asking the woman who's cheated on him, what thoughts were going through her mind when she did so. "Fall On My
Sword" (co- written with Hank Cochran) and "Can I Come" are songs that tell the woman that he can't go on living without her, if she were to leave.
"Down Her Memory Lane" (co-written with Karen Brooks) has Billy Don as the one who's doing the leaving. "Talk About Crazy" (co-written with Karen
Brooks), another standout, talks about his own failings, mostly with the bottle.
"Train Called Lonesome" is a huge, healthy dose of some of the most excellent, solidly written and played, traditional country music out there. It pulls
no punches, and is country music...like it was meant to be.
Ann Marie Harrington Take Country Back April 2002
Recently Billy Don and I met at "The Recording Studio" in Puxico, Missouri. After more than 25 years working in and out of Nashville and meeting
numerous songwriters such Hank Cochran, Dave Lowe, Mike Duncan, The late Chris Bain, and many more. But the day I met Billy Don Burns
will be a day I could never forget. It was Friendship at first Hand shake. I look forward to a long lasting friendship and business relationship.
Come back here to this site and keep up with all the Billy Don Burns Activities. Thank You: and enjoy the all the fine accomplishments of
Billy Don. A.J. Siegler
numerous songwriters such Hank Cochran, Dave Lowe, Mike Duncan, The late Chris Bain, and many more. But the day I met Billy Don Burns
will be a day I could never forget. It was Friendship at first Hand shake. I look forward to a long lasting friendship and business relationship.
Come back here to this site and keep up with all the Billy Don Burns Activities. Thank You: and enjoy the all the fine accomplishments of
Billy Don. A.J. Siegler
| Train Called Lonesome |
| Hero's Friends and Other Troubled Souls |
| Interview Links to Other Sites Just Click on the Logo! |
An Interview with Billy Don Burns
By CSO French Contributing Journalist, Hélène Dagorn.
By CSO French Contributing Journalist, Hélène Dagorn.
Country Music Singer Billy Don Burns & his country
music CD
music CD
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