Dorsey William Burnette III (born May 8, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee, United States)[1] is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1996.
[1] His father and his uncle Johnny Burnette[1] (singer of the 1960 hits "Dreamin'" and "You're Sixteen") were two of the members of the 1950s band The Rock and Roll Trio, which also included Paul Burlison.
Billy Burnette made his first recording when he was seven,[1] appearing with Ricky Nelson on the song "Hey Daddy (I'm Gonna Tell Santa On You)" (Dot, 1960).
[1] In 1985, Eddy Raven ("She's Gonna Win Your Heart") and Ray Charles ("Do I Ever Cross Your Mind") reached the charts with songs written by Burnette.
[2] Other artists who have sung his songs include Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Gregg Allman, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Pride, Tanya Tucker, and Ringo Starr.
Many of the songs from Coming Home were featured in Burnette's acting debut in the film Saturday Night Special.
Between 1994 and 1998, he appeared in the films Not Like Us, Carnosaur 3: Primal Species, Casper Meets Wendy, Addams Family Reunion, and Richie Rich's Christmas Wish.
In 1982, the Zoo performed on Saturday Night Live as the backing band for Lindsey Buckingham, guitarist and singer for Fleetwood Mac.
In 1984, Burnette co-wrote the song "So Excited" with Christine McVie, who sang and played keyboards in Fleetwood Mac.
[1] Two songs cracked the Billboard country charts: "Try Me" and "Ain't It Just Like Love" When Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac parted ways in 1987, Burnette and guitarist Rick Vito were asked to join the band.
[1] After the Shake the Cage tour, Fleetwood Mac released a Greatest Hits album (1988), featuring two new songs with Burnette and Vito: "As Long as You Follow" and "No Questions Asked".
For their next album, Behind the Mask, Burnette wrote "Hard Feelings" and "When It Comes to Love" and co-wrote "In the Back of My Mind", "Do You Know", and "When the Sun Goes Down".
Vito and Nicks left Fleetwood Mac at the end of 1991 and Christine McVie decided to retire from touring.