Arkansas native Sonny Burgess dies

Albert “Sonny” Burgess, who was an early pioneer of what became known as rockabilly music, died in his home state of Arkansas.

“The entire staff at El Dorado Festivals & Events would like to pass along our heartfelt sympathy to Sonny’s family, friends and fans,” said Mark Givens, vice president/entertainment of the Murphy Arts District.

“Although we had Sonny booked to perform this November at the El Dorado Film Festival, we are still going to follow through with screening the documentary on his legendary career. The Legendary Pacers have agreed to perform a tribute to his music, immediately following the showing,” Givens said.

According to The Dillinger Funeral Home in Newport, Burgess died Friday in Little Rock. He was 88.

Burgess was born in Newport, on May 28, 1929.

He was among a group of singers in the mid1950s who mixed rhythm and blues with country and western music. The sound became known as rockabilly and

included Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Burgess eventually signed with Sun Records in Memphis, where Presley, Cash and Lewis were among the artists under contract.

Burgess formed

the band called “The Pacers,” and their first record was “We Wanna Boogie” in 1956 for Sun Records. The flip side was “Red Headed Woman,” both of which were written by Burgess.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Europe in 1999. The group has also been a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame

since 2002.

Now known as Sonny Burgess and The Legendary Pacers, the group has shows booked to 2018.

Funeral arrangements are pending. His cause of death was not released.

“The world lost a true legend and a link to the past, present and future of rock and roll,” Givens said.