1) Albert Austin "Sonny" … Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists named Sonny Burgess:
1) Albert Austin "Sonny" Burgess (May 28, 1931 – August 18, 2017) was an American rockabilly guitarist and singer.
In the early 1950s, Burgess played boogie woogie music in dance halls and bars around Newport. Burgess, Kern Kennedy, Johnny Ray Hubbard, and Gerald Jackson formed a boogie-woogie band they called the Rocky Road Ramblers. In 1954, following a stint in the US Army (1951–53), Burgess re-formed the band, calling them the Moonlighters after the Silver Moon Club in Newport, where they performed regularly. After advice from record producer Sam Phillips, the group expanded to form the Pacers.
The band's first record was "We Wanna Boogie" in 1956 for Sun Records, in Memphis, about 80 miles southeast of his birthplace. The flip side was "Red Headed Woman." Both were written by Burgess. The songs have been described as "among the most raucous, energy-filled recordings released during the first flowering of rock and roll." Their onstage antics in performance were similarly described. Like other artists such as Ray Harris, Hayden Thompson, Billy Lee Riley and Warren Smith, chart success largely eluded him.
Burgess disbanded the group in 1971 but later found a new audience in Europe.
In 1990 (possibly before and afterward), Burgess toured with The Sun Rhythm Section. This group was composed of former session musicians from the Sun Recording Studio. Beside Burgess, band members included Paul Burlison (electric guitar), J.L. "Smoochy" Smith (piano), Stan Kessler (bass), Marcus Van Story (acoustic guitar & lead vocals), and D.J. Fontana on drums. Fontana was a member of Elvis Presley's band (1955-1968).
Burgess was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Europe in 1999. His group, now called The Legendary Pacers, was a hit that same year in a rockabilly concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. It recorded Still Rockin’ and Rollin’ in 2000, voted the best new album in the country and roots field in Europe. The group was inducted in 2002 into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Sonny Burgess & The Legendary Pacers performed at the 2006 National Folk Festival in Richmond, Virginia to large, enthusiastic audiences.
Burgess hosted a weekly radio program called We Wanna Boogie with co-host June Taylor. The program, named after his first record, aired Sunday nights from 5-7pm Central Time on 91.9FM KASU in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Burgess was born on a farm near Newport, Arkansas to Albert and Esta Burgess. He graduated from Newport High School in 1948. Burgess had two brothers, and three sisters. Burgess was formerly married to Joann Adams starting in 1956, and they have two sons, Peyton and John. Between performances, Burgess lived in Newport until his death in 2017. Burgess died on August 18, 2017 at the age of 86.
2) Sonny Burgess is a country music artist, who released his debut album, When in Texas, in 2001.
Big Black Cadillac
Sonny Burgess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We’ll take it real slow, baby won’t drive you too far
We’ll go to the back in my big black Cadillac
We can rock down the highway, cruise through the middle of town
Take you where you want to go, big ol’ deal goin’ down
Riding in style as the night grows black
In my big black Cadillac
Got a turbo glide and cruise control,
That machine can rock and roll
Strap in on baby, you’re in for a ride
When I shove it on down in over drive
Roll back the rag top, the motor is cooling down
When you’re in need you know were I can be found
So if you ever get lonely remember the back of my big black Cadillac
It’s got a turbo glide and cruise control,
That machine can rock and roll
Strap in on baby you’re in for a ride
When I shove it on down in over drive
The lyrics of Sonny Burgess's song, "Big Black Cadillac" can be interpreted as a call for adventure and a passionate ride in a classic and flashy car. By telling his lover to jump into his car, the singer suggests that he wants to take her on a joyride, but promises to take it slow and not drive too far. The backseat of the car becomes the place of intimacy and excitement, where they can enjoy each other's company and create new memories. As they cruise through the town and down the highway, the singer asserts his confidence in his car - it's a "big ol' deal" - and in his ability to give his lover a good time.
The second verse of the song places emphasis on the power and prowess of the car, which has a "turbo glide and cruise control" and is capable of "rocking and rolling." The singer's desire to take his lover on a ride becomes more explicit when he sings, "you're in for a ride/When I shove it on down in over drive." The chorus repeats the main message of the song - that the back of the big black Cadillac is the place to go for adventure, fun, and passion. When the motor cools down, the singer tells his lover that she can always find him in the back of his car if she ever gets lonely.
Overall, the lyrics of "Big Black Cadillac" celebrate the thrill of driving in a classic car, and the romance and excitement that can be found in a spontaneous adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on baby jump into my big black car
The singer is inviting someone to join him in his large, black car.
We’ll take it real slow, baby won’t drive you too far
The singer promises to drive carefully and not take the passenger too far.
We’ll go to the back in my big black Cadillac
The singer is suggesting that they can be intimate in the back of his car.
We can rock down the highway, cruise through the middle of town
The artist suggests that they can drive on the highway or through the town while listening to rock music.
Take you where you want to go, big ol’ deal goin’ down
The artist promises to take the passenger wherever they want to go, and the offer is exciting.
Riding in style as the night grows black
The singer is confident that they look and feel good while driving at night.
In my big black Cadillac
The singer emphasizes that they are driving in a large, black Cadillac.
Got a turbo glide and cruise control,
The car has turbo glide and cruise control features.
That machine can rock and roll
The car can drive at high speeds and move smoothly like rock and roll music.
Strap in on baby, you’re in for a ride
The artist is asking the passenger to fasten their seatbelt and prepare for an exciting drive.
When I shove it on down in over drive
The singer will push the car to go beyond its usual speed limit, which is called overdrive.
Roll back the rag top, the motor is cooling down
The artist will put the top of the car down, and the engine is getting cooler or less heated.
When you’re in need you know were I can be found
The singer is implying that he can always be found near his car or just a phone call away when the passenger needs someone.
So if you ever get lonely remember the back of my big black Cadillac
The singer is suggesting that if the passenger is ever lonely, they can always find comfort in the back of his large, black Cadillac.
Contributed by James R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Fckng666peter
R.I.P. Sonny
@ronaldpaniccia
One bad a** dude man is music will live on