[1][2] Burnett grew up in Port Antonio, the eldest of nine children, and learned to sing in the Baptist church his family attended.
[2] His nickname of "Watty" was given to him by childhood friend Murvin Smith Jr (aka Junior Soul), in reference to Burnett's prominent stutter as a child.
[2] Although they were rejected by several producers (including Duke Reid who told them "You're too young, come back in five years"), Lee Perry saw potential in their song "Pound Get a Blow", a commentary on the attempts of Canada and the United States to replace the island's currency.
[2] Burnett became a regular session vocalist and instrumentalist (drums, percussion and bass guitar) for Perry at his Black Ark studio, and recorded singles in his own right for the producer, with "Rise and Shine", "Open The Gate", which became the title track of a Trojan Records collection of Perry productions, and his biggest hit, "Rainy Night In Portland" (a version of Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia").
[3] Burnett sang on seven tracks on the Heart of the Congos album, and also contributed mooing noises, recorded earlier by Perry, who got Burnett to moo down a cardboard tube from a roll of tin foil, and these sounds were also used on other Black Ark recordings.