Don Burrows

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Australian jazz musician (1928–2020)

title: "Don Burrows" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1928-births", "2020-deaths", "musicians-from-sydney", "21st-century-clarinetists", "21st-century-australian-saxophonists", "apra-award-winners", "aria-award-winners", "aria-hall-of-fame-inductees", "australian-jazz-clarinetists", "australian-jazz-flautists", "australian-jazz-saxophonists", "australian-members-of-the-order-of-the-british-empire", "australian-male-jazz-composers", "australian-male-saxophonists", "officers-of-the-order-of-australia", "people-with-alzheimer's-disease", "21st-century-australian-male-musicians", "20th-century-australian-saxophonists", "20th-century-australian-flautists", "21st-century-flautists"] description: "Australian jazz musician (1928–2020)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Burrows" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Australian jazz musician (1928–2020) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

FieldValue
nameDon Burrows
birth_nameDonald Vernon Burrows
birth_date
birth_placeMarrickville, Sydney, Australia
death_date
death_placeTerrey Hills, Sydney
genreJazz
occupationMusician
instrumentClarinet, saxophone, flute
years_active1942–2005
labelColumbia Records, WEA, Polygram
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| name = Don Burrows | image = | birth_name = Donald Vernon Burrows | birth_date = | birth_place = Marrickville, Sydney, Australia | death_date = | death_place = Terrey Hills, Sydney | genre = Jazz | occupation = Musician | instrument = Clarinet, saxophone, flute | years_active = 1942–2005 | label = Columbia Records, WEA, Polygram | associated_acts = Donald Vernon Burrows (8 August 1928 – 12 March 2020) was an Australian jazz and swing musician who played clarinet, saxophone and flute.

Life and career

Donald Vernon Burrows was born on 8 August 1928, the only child of Vernon and Beryl and attended Bondi Public School. In 1937 a visiting flutist and teacher (Victor McMahon) inspired him to start learning the flute. He began on a B-flat flute which he later played at Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival. By 1940 he was captain of the Metropolitan Schools Flute Band and began entering talent quests.

By 1942, aged 14, Burrows had begun playing clarinet and quit school. He began appearing at Sydney jazz clubs, and appeared on The Youth Show, a Macquarie Radio show. In 1944 he was invited to play and record with George Trevare's Australians. He became well known in Sydney jazz circles and was performing in dance halls, nightclubs and radio bands.

During the 1960s and 1970s Burrows had many engagements in Australia and the United States, including six years performing at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. In 1972, he was invited to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival and later the Newport Jazz Festival.

The year 1973 was a watershed for Burrows as he received the first gold record for an Australian jazz musician for his record Just the Beginning, instigated the first jazz studies program in the southern hemisphere, at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music (under the direction of Rex Hobcroft) and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In 1979 he was appointed Chair of Jazz Studies at the conservatorium.

Burrows performed to mostly classical music audiences through tours with Musica Viva and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation concert series. He led the nationally televised show The Don Burrows Collection for six years. He had an extensive recording career with his groups and performed on albums by others.

In the 1980s Burrows mentored and was closely associated with James Morrison. He formed the Don Burrows Quartet with George Golla (guitar), Ed Gaston (double bass) and Alan Turnbull (drums). He also worked with Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, Tony Bennett, Stéphane Grappelli, Cleo Laine, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

In 1981 Burrows played woodwind on a Play School album, Hey Diddle Diddle: it was his only involvement with the show.

In 2005 Burrows toured with a small band that included the Australian jazz pianist Kevin Hunt. He used his photographic images with his music in a show called Stop, Look and Listen.

Burrows had arthritis from age 38. In a 2008 interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Andrew Ford, celebrating his 80th birthday, he said that "arthritis is not the greatest for playing a musical instrument. But playing a musical instrument is very, very good for arthritis". In later years he had Alzheimer's disease and lived in a nursing home in northern Sydney. He died on 12 March 2020, aged 91.

Awards and honours

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. |- | 2004 | Don Burrows | Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music | |}

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. It commenced in 1987. ! Ref. |- | 1988 | Nice 'n' Easy (with Adelaide Connection) | Best Jazz Album | | |- | 1991 | Don Burrows | ARIA Hall of Fame | | |- | 2006 | Non Stop Flight – Great Music of the Swing Era (with The Mell-O-Tones & Phillip Sametz) | Best Jazz Album | | |- | 2016 | In Good Company (with James Morrison) | Best Jazz Album | | |- |}

Australian Jazz Bell Awards

The Australian Jazz Bell Awards recognised the talent and achievements of Australian jazz artists locally and internationally |- | 2008 | Don Burrows | Australian Jazz Bell Hall of Fame | |}

Bernard Heinze Memorial Award

The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia.

! Ref. |- | 1999 || Don Burrows || Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award || || |-

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Don Burrows won one award in that time. (wins only) |- | 1992 | Don Burrows | John Campbell Fellowship Award | |-

Discography

Albums

::data[format=table title="List of albums, with Australian chart positions"] | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | AUS | On Camera (as Don Burrows Plus Six) | A Tribute to Freddy Gardner | The Jazz Sound of the Don Burrows Quartet (as Don Burrows Plus Six) | 2000 Weeks | Just the Beginning (as The Don Burrows Quartet) | Live! at Montreaux (as The Don Burrows Quartet) | At The Sydney Opera House (as The Don Burrows Quartet) | Duo (with George Golla and Luis Bonfa) | The New Don Burrows Quintet (as The New Don Burrows Quintet) | The Tasman Connection | St James (with Galapagos Duck) | Steph 'n' Us (with George Golla and Stephane Grappelli) | Don Burrows and the Brazilian Connection (with The Brazilian Connection) | Cool Yule | Back in Town (with Don Andrews, Andy Brown and Alan Turnbull) | Other Places Other Times (with George Golla Duo) | Don Burrows with Neil Thurgate Orchestra (with Neil Thurgate Orchestra) | Bonfa Burrows Brazil (with Luiz Bonfá and George Golla) | Other Places Other Times (with Luiz Bonfá and George Golla) | This Time Tassie (with George Golla Duo) | Sara Dane | Fluteman (John Sangster with Don Borrows) | A Retrospective (as Burrows' Jazz Brothers) | Burrows at the Winery | Makin' Whoopee! (with The Adelaide Connection) | Jazz at The Opera House (as The Don Burrows Quintet with The Australian Vocal Ensemble & The Chris Hinze Combination) | Flute Salad (with Chris Hinze) | Nice 'n' Easy (as The Don Burrows Quintet with The Adelaide Connection) | With Orchestra (as The Don Burrows Quintet) | Quintet (as The Don Burrows Quintet) | Duets (as The Don Burrows Quintet) | Together at Last (with Julie Anthony) | In Flight (Marilane with Don Burrows) | Bob Barnard's Jazz Party 2004 (Bob Barnard) | Eye to Eye Vol 1+2 (Kevin Hunt) | In Good Company (with James Morrison) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | align="center" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | align="center" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | align="center" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | align="center" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 98 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 92 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 86 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Compilations

::data[format=table] | Title | Album details | The Babinda Trilogy | The First 50 Years: Volume One (1944–1965) | The First 50 Years: Volume Two (1967–1976) | The First 50 Years: Volume Three (1977–1979) | The First 50 Years: Volume Four (1980–1984) | The First 50 Years: Volume Five (1985–1992) | Non-Stop Flight: Great Music of the Swing Era (with The Mell-O-Tones) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

References

References

  1. (1 April 2020). "Don Burrows, Australia Jazz Legend, Dies at 91".
  2. "Jazz in Australia".
  3. Ford, Andrew. (9 August 2008). "DON BURROWS AT 80 YEARS OF AGE – The Music Show on ABC Radio National".
  4. (7 January 1993). "GOOD TIMES Fifty of Don Burrows' best". Canberra Times.
  5. (17 October 2012). "Bassist's style was music to the ears".
  6. "Montreux Sounds official website".
  7. "'Just the Beginning' on australianscreen online".
  8. [https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1087976 It's an Honour] – Member of the Order of the British Empire
  9. ''Hey Diddle Diddle: Songs from Kindergarten / Songs from Play School'', ABC Records, 1981.
  10. [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~kevsy/biography.htm Award-winning jazz performer Kevin Hunt] {{webarchive. link. (15 March 2007)
  11. (9 August 2008). "Don Burrows transcript". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) The Music Show.
  12. (31 July 2016). "Don Burrows: Jazz legend who mentored James Morrison plays on, despite dementia". Australian Boroadcasting Corporation.
  13. Rasmussen, Henry. (13 March 2020). "Remembering Don Burrows (1928–2020)". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC).
  14. [https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870076 It's an Honour] – Officer of the Order of Australia
  15. "2004 Winners – APRA Music Awards". [[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA).
  16. "ARIA Awards Best Jazz Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
  17. Jackson, Andra. (3 May 2007). "For jazz Hall of Fame, it's plain and simple: is Don, is good". The Age.
  18. "Woodworks Gallery".
  19. "MO Award Winners".
  20. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
  21. Foster, Michael. (23 September 1985). "Extra enjoyable".
  22. Sharpe, John. (15 June 2007). "JAZZ. Eye to Eye The Don Burrows and Kevin Hunt Duo".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1928-births2020-deathsmusicians-from-sydney21st-century-clarinetists21st-century-australian-saxophonistsapra-award-winnersaria-award-winnersaria-hall-of-fame-inducteesaustralian-jazz-clarinetistsaustralian-jazz-flautistsaustralian-jazz-saxophonistsaustralian-members-of-the-order-of-the-british-empireaustralian-male-jazz-composersaustralian-male-saxophonistsofficers-of-the-order-of-australiapeople-with-alzheimer's-disease21st-century-australian-male-musicians20th-century-australian-saxophonists20th-century-australian-flautists21st-century-flautists