Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the same year the song "On a Slow Boat to China" was a hit, David Colin Burt came into the world crying a "high C". At first his family lived near the steel mills and junk yards, later moving to the country where Dave spent his childhood hanging out with kids who learned to play either music or hockey.
On many an evening his musical, artistic mother Maybelle would send Dave off to sleep by spinning classics on the family Hi-Fi (Nutcracker Suite, William Tell Overture, Theme from Exodus, etc). Young Burt's imagination would run wild, creating dramatic, imaginary sequences to follow the music until he fell into dreamland. After school he would hike in the back forests and follow the railroad tracks, humming invented movie themes along the way.
His earliest influences were the shining guitars of local artists. After that it was Elvis, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and instrumental bands like Duane Eddy, The Shadows and The Ventures. Then came Motown, Blues, and R&B, with James Brown, Wilson Picket, and Hamilton's historical band, The Bishops ... not to mention The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cream, and jazz greats Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderly.
After playing in a series of local bands, in the late 60's Burt drove to California with the powerhouse group Merryweather. He spent several years touring with Rick James and recording with Steve Miller, Big Joe Turner and members of the Quincy Jones orchestra. To his delight, Burt found himself in a front row seat while Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter and Frank Zappa used his band's equipment for after-hours jams at the Experience in Hollywood.
Not long afterward, disheartened by a string of failed business dealings, Viet Nam body-counts, premature rock'n'roll deaths and California earthquakes, Burt headed for Canada with some honeymooners who needed an extra driver. In the town of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, he met a curious, dynamic and engaging singer-actor-composer-playwright named André Paiement. André knew of Dave through his Merryweather recordings and immediately hired him as Musical Director for his theatre company. With other like-minded musicians they formed CANO Musique, and after one show and one demo recording the group landed a recording contract with A&M Records. |
Today, Dave Burt has found a second career working with victims of torture from war-torn countries, as well as other newcomers to Canada (mostly highly-educated, unemployed professionals). He's also a TESL teacher trainer, and has spoken at annual TESL conventions ... a "slight" achievement for a high school drop-out who gave it all up for music at the age of seventeen!
Still, Burt is not finished with music. He's created award-nominated film scores and established the beginnings of a highly spirited blues and R&B band with alumni from CANO, The Bishops and Merryweather.
As his mother used to say, "When it comes to making decisions, always take the challenge" ... and his father: "Find a proper job to back up your music."
David Burt's philosophy? When the world makes no sense, another dream makes all the sense in the world! |
