King Burnett

about

Watty Burnett, also known as King Burnett(born Derrick Burnett in Port Antonio, Jamaica, early 1950s) is a reggae artist who had a long association with Lee "Scratch" Perry. Burnett grew up in Port Antonio, the eldest of nine children, and learned to sing in the Baptist church his family attended. 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. Burnett formed a duo with Jimmy Nelson in the late 1960s, known alternately as The Soul Twins and Jimmy & Derrick, and they travelled to Kingston on Sundays, hoping to get a recording session. 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. The song was a moderate success in Jamaica in 1968, and placed in the Festival Song Contest. They recorded several more tracks for Perry, although their tracks were often miscredited to other artists such as The Bleechers. Burnett moved to the Allman Town district of Kingston, living with his brother Fitzy, and also recorded as "King Burnett" for Perry in late 1974, releasing "I Man Free" and "Babylon a Fall" under that name. Burnett became a regular session vocalist and instrumentalist (drums, percussion and bass guitar) for Perry at his Black Ark studio, and reco

top songs

albums

Produced and Directed by the Upsetter

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The Black Ark Years

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DIP Presents The Upsetter (LP)

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The Black Ark Years (CD1)

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Lee Scratch Perry And Friends Presents The Black Ark Years

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Sipple Out Deh - The Black Ark Years

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Produced & Directed By The Upsetter

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D.I.P. Presents The Upsetters

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Sipple Out Deh: The Best of the Black Ark Disc 1

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Produced And Directed By

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Chapter 3 - Live As One

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Lee Perry - Produced And Directed By The Upsetter

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