Eddie Burns Born:  July 31, 1933 Died:  January 12, 2013

About The Artist Eddie Burns came onto the country music scene in the late 1960s, early 1970s. He was born in Colorado City, Texas. When he was still very young, the family moved to a town named Giddings, just south of Austin. When he graduated from high school, he enlisted with the U. S. Air Force and was also a paratrooper. Musically, he was said to have performed on stage for the first time when he was just ten years old. He started out playing rhythm and blues, but every band he hooked up with told him he would be better off being a part of a country music band. The only problem was getting into that genre. At the time, Charley Pride was just coming onto the scene. But like any other musician who had that inner fire, he didn't let such things deter him. He went to Abilene, Texas where he formed at least six bands a 1972 article noted. He taught many younger musicians as well. He made demo tapes of his efforts which eventually led to his first record. That session appears to have included three songs, "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "Helpless" and a tune he wrote, "My Lucky Day". That demo tape found its way to Nashville, Tennessee where Shelby Singleton had his Plantation Record label. He liked what he heard and had Eddie fly in for an interview. That meeting led to a recording contract. Eddie appears to have been signed by the Shelby Singleton Corporation to record for Plantation records in early 1970. Clark Bentley was going to produce his first recording session. In early 1971, Royce Clark was stated to be completing the direction of an album of tunes by Eddie Burns for Plantation. He made appearances on the Fort Worth television show, Cowtown Jubilee that originated from the famed Panther Hall. He shared the stage with such acts as Waylon Jennings, Hank Snow, Jack Greene and numerous others. The 1972 article noted that he and Kitty Wells put on a memorable show in Abilene, Texas. Of his Plantation recordings, "Color Me Country" and "Southside of Chicago" were the ones that generated the most attention. Billboard listed "Southside of Chicago" as a new release in April 1971. At the same time, Charley Pride was releasing his first gospel tune, "Did You Think To Pray." His recording of "Color Me Country" may have caused a swirl of talk back then. One magazine photo shows a picture of Eddie shaking hands with a DJ named Lloyd Mayberry in Breckenridge, Texas to as the caption noted, "...let bygones be bygones" in Eddie's first appearance in Breckenridge in over two years back then. Roaming around the internet, it appears that a young 15 year old by the name of Danny Ray was part of Eddie's band early on. He went to school during the day and then played with Eddie at night at various country music night spots. Mr. Ray mentioned that Bill Holman played bass. Danny also mentioned being on the Plantation recording sessions as well. Another article by R. Serge Denisoff compared Eddie's "Color Me Country" to some of Woody Guthrie's dustbowl ballads. The song was about a displaced farmer from Texas who "...drives a worn out car pulling a homemade trailer with everything we own..." But it appears the Breckenridge Texas Chamber of Commerce took a little offense to the what Denisoff termed "...this Grapes of Wrath type song." Perhaps an indication of the uneasiness between artist and the genre at that time, the article notes that once fans and journalists alike got to know him, they couldn't help but like him. And similarly, it took Eddie a while to understand the ways of country music people. Eventually, it all comes down to the music and its connection with the fans. Billboard magazine tells us that around the April 1970 time frame, Eddie was doing personal appearances in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. In February 1971, Shelby Singleton was in the midst of realigning his products and personnel. At the time, about 50 percent of the Plantation record label business was in the Pop music field with 25 percent coming from rock music and 25 percent from country music. It was said there was to be new country releases by Ben Story and Eddie Burns around this time. Jim Garland noted in an early 1973 article that Eddie was "...over due for recording, but when he does, "he does"." Eddie made the rounds at the local country music scene back then. He was among several artists who would visit Julian Tharpe after he formed his new group at the Pink Panther Club in Fort Worth. Julian was a former steel guitar player for Ray Price's band. He also did appearances at Ray Chaney's Stagecoach Inn. Note: The above was written back around 2011 or so. It was included in Eddie's 'obituary' on the findagrave website. Below are the results of additional research as technology has evolved. Our later research uncovered an article that provided the lyrics to "Color Me Country." Color Me Country Written by: Clark Bentley, Jerri Clark and Ray Riley From Breckenridge to Dallas is a long way for me to go. With a worn out trailer for everything we own. Looking for a new life for my kids and my wife. We couldn't make it on that worked out farm no more. Color me country; and color me poor. I may not read but I can sign my name. Color me country; color me strong. I'm not so smart but I know right from wrong. From a worked out farm in Breckinridge to the Dallas flats. When we left Stephens County, we hoped for more than that. A poor man with no learning finds living mighty low. But when you're strong enough, you can carry the load. Color me country; and color me poor. I may not read but I can sign my name. Color me country; color me strong. I'm not so smart but I know right from wrong. Credits & Sources Billboard; May 23, 1970; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio Billboard; January 9, 1971; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio Billboard; February 6, 1971; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio Country Music Reporter; Volume 3, Number 6; September 1972; Country Music, Inc.; Fort Worth, Texas Country Music Reporter; Volume 3, Number 7; October 1972; Country Music, Inc.; Fort Worth, Texas Country Music Reporter; Volume 3(4), Number 2; February 1973; Country Music, Inc.; Fort Worth, Texas Country Music Reporter; Volume 4, Number 3; March 1973; Country Music, Inc.; Fort Worth, Texas Breckinridge Chamber Officials Don't Like Song; June 4, 1970; Tyler Morning Telegraph; Tyler, TX Texans Don't Like New Song About Poor Man in Worn Out Car; June 7, 1970; Albuquerque Journal; Albuquerque, NM New 'Nashville Sound' Song Under Attack; June 7, 1970; The Monitor; Breckinridge Aims Fire At 'Color Me Country'; June 8, 1970; Lubbock Avalanche Journal; Lubbock, TX New Country Song Stirs Texans To Angry Words; June 9, 1970; Tulsa World; Tulsa, OK Ballad Banned in Breckinridge; June 11, 1970; Bryan Station Eagle; Bryan, TX 'Color Me Western' Upsets Breckinridge; June 11, 1970; The Amarillo Globe Times; Amarillo, TX Just Color Breckenridge Purple (Furious) - Burns Song Inflames; June 12, 1970; Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Fort Worth, TX Sound Sample—(YouTube Video Format) Long Gone Lonesome Blues Sound Sample—(YouTube Video Format) No Greater Love Appearance History This Month

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

AOK
Rec. No.	Side	Song Title
AOKR-1056	A	Long Gone Lonesome Blues
AOKR-1056	B	Helpless
Plantation
Rec. No.	Side	Song Title
PL 57	A	Color Me Country
PL 57	B	Walk On By
PL 71	A	Southside of Chicago
PL 71	B	No Greater Love