Ken Burton

Burton's parents relocated from the West Indies to the United Kingdom in the 1960's, and he attributes his love for music to early childhood home experiences, which included listening to older siblings rehearse their instruments, and family spiritual gatherings, where singing would take place, often in harmony.

[3] He attended the Ryelands Primary School in South Norwood, where he was actively involved with music, including playing in the newly formed steel band.

Whilst at the college, he won a prize for the highest marks in aural perception, and was regularly used as an accompanist for instrumentalists, and the chorus.

His choral activities also involves directorship of BBC Songs of Praise session choir, Adventist Vocal Ensemble (AVE).

As a conductor, singer, and instrumentalist, he has performed on many of the world's major stages including Wembley Stadium, Universal Studios (Florida), Sydney Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall.

[10] He has contracted choirs, recorded soundtrack choral parts (some of them his own arrangements) for leading artists including Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, will.i.am, Robbie Williams, and Leona Lewis.

[citation needed] Burton has produced a number of recordings with the Croydon Seventh-Day Adventist Gospel Choir, the first being a selection of songs titled "Until We Reach".

[citation needed] Burton has been presented to Queen Elizabeth II on five occasions: two Commonwealth days, Golden Jubilee 2002 (where he directed the London Adventist Chorale singing two of his arrangements of African-American spirituals at Buckingham Palace), the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall Royal Gala Concert, and at a special jubilee multi-faith environment programme.

Later that year he travelled with his Croydon SDA Gospel Choir to perform at the quinquennial General Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, in San Antonio's Alamodome.

In 2016, he was a judge, alongside Connie Fisher and Katherine Jenkins, for the 2016 BBC Television short series of Songs Of Praise: School Choir Of The Year.

In 2018, he was a judge, alongside Carrie Grant and JB Gill, for the 2018 BBC Television short series of Songs Of Praise; School Choir Of The Year.

Burton was approached to assemble and lead a choir of forty singers for the soundtrack of the Marvel film release Black Panther.

Drawing largely from the professional British opera world, and others from the field of gospel, Jazz, and classical music, Burton was responsible for contracting, and generally advising in the recording sessions at London's Abbey Road Studios.

During the period when the UK was required to be on lockdown, Burton created a number of home-made programmes for his social media network.

Burton also produced a series of twenty short videos, which were shared with his social media network under the title Daily Focus.

During this time he learned piano initially under a local teacher, known only as Mrs Skull, and then under the late Margaret Carr (Singh), to whom Burton attributes his musicianship skills.

Burton works regularly with Songs Of Praise, one of the longest running music programmes on the United Kingdom's premier national television channel, BBC1.

His arrangements have been for choirs, orchestras, ensembles and soloists, including Heather Small, Beverley Knight, Ruby Turner, Jermain Jackman, Ruthie Henshall, Donnie McClurkin, Eddi Reader, Shaun Escoffery, Aled Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Rick Astley, Tommy Blaize, Jaz Ellington, Mica Paris, Pumeza, Angel Blue and Laura Wright.