Burns Cotton & Morris
| Company type | Rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Albums, live performances |
Burns Cotton & Morris was an Australian rock group established in 1996, comprising the singer-songwriters Ronnie Burns, Darryl Cotton, and Russell Morris. Each member had achieved multiple hit singles across Australia during the 1960s and 1970s. The trio embarked on a nationwide tour and launched a self-titled album in 1996, which featured their solo hits alongside three newly recorded songs. This was succeeded by two additional albums: Hear and Now (1997) and Three (1998).
1996–2000: History
The band came together in 1996 but dissolved in 2000 following the departure of Burns. Subsequently, Jim Keays joined the lineup, prompting a rebranding to Cotton Keays & Morris.
Ronnie Burns
Born on 8 September 1946, Ronnie Burns initially served as lead vocalist for The Flies in the early 1960s before pursuing a solo career. In recognition of his contributions to entertainment and community service, he was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in 2013.
Darryl Cotton
Darryl Cotton (4 September 1949 – 27 July 2012) was a founding member of the rock band Zoot, alongside Beeb Birtles (Mississippi/Little River Band). Following Zoot’s disbandment, Cotton spent time working internationally before returning to Australia to continue his solo endeavors. His career also included starring roles in the Australian staging of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, television appearances such as on The Young Doctors, and hosting duties for The Early Bird Show.
His notable works encompass Zoot’s tracks "1x2x3x4" and a hard rock adaptation of "Eleanor Rigby", Mississippi’s "Will I?" co-written with Birtles, as well as his solo singles "Don't Let It Get to You" and the acclaimed "Same Old Girl".
Cotton succumbed to liver cancer on 27 July 2012.
Russell Morris
Russell Morris, born 31 July 1948, initially found success in 1966 with his band Somebody's Image through their rendition of "Hush". His solo career reached prominence with the iconic "The Real Thing". Between 1969 and 1972, Morris released seven singles that charted, five of which entered the Top 10. In recognition of this legacy, "The Real Thing" was featured on an Australian postage stamp in 1998. He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2008.
Morris contributed several key hits to the group’s catalog, including "Hush", "Rachel", "Mr America", "Wings of an Eagle", "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", "Sweet, Sweet Love", and "The Real Thing".
Albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Burns, Cotton & Morris |
|
| Here and Now |
|
| Three |
|