Malcolm Burn
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Burn is a Canadian
-born music producer
, recording engineer
and musician
. In 2001, he won a Grammy Award with Jim Watts and Emmylou Harris for his work on Harris's Red Dirt Girl
.
, Burn grew up in Deep River, Ontario
and became lead singer/keyboardist for the 1980s Canadian band Boys Brigade
. Following the dissolution of that group, he turned towards music production and solo work.
In 1988 Burn relocated to New Orleans where he would work with Daniel Lanois
(known for his work with U2
& Peter Gabriel
) on a number of projects. Their collaboration began with Burn playing keyboards and guitar on Lanois' solo debut record Acadie
. Burn recorded again with Lanois for Bob Dylan
on his acclaimed album Oh Mercy
, as well as Yellow Moon by The Neville Brothers
and Living with the Law, which he co-produced for Chris Whitley
.
Burn continued in the role of producer for projects with Blue Rodeo
, Emmylou Harris
(Red Dirt Girl
, Stumble into Grace
), Midnight Oil
(Breathe
), Patty Griffin
, Crash Vegas
(Red Earth
) and Patti Smith
(Gone Again
).
Burn continues to produce and record as well as write music. He is currently also making a documentary film tentatively entitled Touched about a group home for mentally ill people in Kingston, New York
.
1998 Astrid-Boy For You(Nude Records(producer/musician)
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, recording engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. In 2001, he won a Grammy Award with Jim Watts and Emmylou Harris for his work on Harris's Red Dirt Girl
Red Dirt Girl
Red Dirt Girl is an Emmylou Harris album from 2000, which reached #3 on the Billboard country album charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 2001. The album was a significant departure for Harris, as eleven of the twelve tracks were written or co-written by her. She was...
.
Biography
Born in Cornwall, OntarioCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
, Burn grew up in Deep River, Ontario
Deep River, Ontario
Deep River is a town in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. Located along the Ottawa River, it lies about north-west of Ottawa on the Trans-Canada Highway...
and became lead singer/keyboardist for the 1980s Canadian band Boys Brigade
Boys Brigade (band)
Boys Brigade was a Canadian New Wave band in the 1980s. Formed in 1980 in Toronto, the band consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Malcolm Burn, guitarist and vocalist Tony Lester, bass guitar Wayne Lorenz, drummer/bu vocals Billie Brock and percussionists/bu vocals David Porter and Jeff Packer...
. Following the dissolution of that group, he turned towards music production and solo work.
In 1988 Burn relocated to New Orleans where he would work with Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...
(known for his work with U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
& Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
) on a number of projects. Their collaboration began with Burn playing keyboards and guitar on Lanois' solo debut record Acadie
Acadie (album)
Acadie is the debut album by record producer and singer-songwriter Daniel Lanois. It was largely written and recorded in the city of New Orleans. Lanois sings on it in both French and English, sometimes even on the same track....
. Burn recorded again with Lanois for Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
on his acclaimed album Oh Mercy
Oh Mercy
Oh Mercy is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 26th studio album, released by Columbia Records in September 1989.Produced by Daniel Lanois, it was hailed by critics as a triumph for Dylan, after a string of weaker-reviewed albums...
, as well as Yellow Moon by The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
and Living with the Law, which he co-produced for Chris Whitley
Chris Whitley
Christopher Becker Whitley was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Whitley changed his sound frequently, and achieved modest mainstream success while maintaining a small but devoted following...
.
Burn continued in the role of producer for projects with Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
, Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
(Red Dirt Girl
Red Dirt Girl
Red Dirt Girl is an Emmylou Harris album from 2000, which reached #3 on the Billboard country album charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 2001. The album was a significant departure for Harris, as eleven of the twelve tracks were written or co-written by her. She was...
, Stumble into Grace
Stumble into Grace
Stumble into Grace is the 20th major label studio album from Emmylou Harris, which peaked at #6 on the Billboard country albums chart.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Emmylou Harris; except where indicated#"Here I Am" – 3:47...
), Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
(Breathe
Breathe (Midnight Oil album)
Breathe is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1996 under the Columbia Records label.-Reception:-Track listing:-Midnight Oil:* Peter Garrett - Lead Vocals* Bones Hillman - Bass, Vocals* Rob Hirst - Drums, Vocals...
), Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin, born Patricia Jean Griffin, March 16, 1964, is an American Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and musician. She is especially known for her down-home crafting of songs and her connection to musicians including Emmylou Harris, Ellis Paul, and the Dixie Chicks, who have played with...
, Crash Vegas
Crash Vegas
Crash Vegas was a Canadian folk rock band which formed in 1988, and achieved moderate success in the early 1990s.-Biography:The band was formed by Michelle McAdorey and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo in 1988. Jocelyne Lanois joined the band as bassist and shortly after Ambrose Pottie as drummer...
(Red Earth
Red Earth (Crash Vegas album)
Red Earth was the debut album of the Canadian indie band Crash Vegas. It was released by Risque Disque, a label formed by Blue Rodeo. Greg Keelor, one of Blue Rodeo's musicians, collaborated with Michelle McAdorey and co-wrote some of the music for the album, and also provided guitar performances...
) and Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
(Gone Again
Gone Again
Gone Again is an album by Patti Smith, released June 18, 1996 on Arista Records. The production of the record was preceded by the deaths of many of Smith's close friends and peers, including her husband Fred "Sonic" Smith, her brother Todd, Robert Mapplethorpe, Richard Sohl and Kurt Cobain, with...
).
Burn continues to produce and record as well as write music. He is currently also making a documentary film tentatively entitled Touched about a group home for mentally ill people in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
.
Awards and recognition
- 2001: Winner - Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk AlbumGrammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album was awarded from 1987 to 2011. Until 1993 the award was known as the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording. In 2007, this category was renamed Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album...
, with Jim Watts (engineer) and Emmylou Harris for Red Dirt GirlRed Dirt GirlRed Dirt Girl is an Emmylou Harris album from 2000, which reached #3 on the Billboard country album charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 2001. The album was a significant departure for Harris, as eleven of the twelve tracks were written or co-written by her. She was... - 2004: Nominee - Juno AwardJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for "Producer of the Year" for "Here I Am" / "I Will Dream", Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
Solo
- 1983 - Boys Brigade (Anthem/Capitol Records) - album produced by Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
of RushRush (band)Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart... - 1988 - Redemption
Producer / musician
- 1982 - Blue PeterBlue Peter (band)Blue Peter was a Canadian new wave synthpop founded in 1978 in Markham, Ontario by Chris Wardman and Paul Humphrey. In their heyday, Blue Peter opened for major international acts such as The Police and Simple Minds...
- "Chinese Graffiti" from Up To YouUp To You (Blue Peter EP)Up To You was an EP by the Toronto-based New Wave band Blue Peter. Released in 1982, it included the single "Chinese Graffiti", which garnered the band their biggest radio exposure to date, winning a CASBY Award for Single Of The Year...
(keyboards) - 1988 - Daniel LanoisDaniel LanoisDaniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...
- AcadieAcadie (album)Acadie is the debut album by record producer and singer-songwriter Daniel Lanois. It was largely written and recorded in the city of New Orleans. Lanois sings on it in both French and English, sometimes even on the same track....
(recorded and co-written/mix) - 1988 - Crash VegasCrash VegasCrash Vegas was a Canadian folk rock band which formed in 1988, and achieved moderate success in the early 1990s.-Biography:The band was formed by Michelle McAdorey and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo in 1988. Jocelyne Lanois joined the band as bassist and shortly after Ambrose Pottie as drummer...
- Red EarthRed Earth (Crash Vegas album)Red Earth was the debut album of the Canadian indie band Crash Vegas. It was released by Risque Disque, a label formed by Blue Rodeo. Greg Keelor, one of Blue Rodeo's musicians, collaborated with Michelle McAdorey and co-wrote some of the music for the album, and also provided guitar performances...
(produced and recorded/mix) - 1988 - Blue RodeoBlue RodeoBlue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
- Diamond Mine (co-producer/mix) - 1989 - Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
- Oh MercyOh MercyOh Mercy is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 26th studio album, released by Columbia Records in September 1989.Produced by Daniel Lanois, it was hailed by critics as a triumph for Dylan, after a string of weaker-reviewed albums...
(engineer/musician/mix) - 1989 - The Neville BrothersThe Neville BrothersThe Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
- Yellow Moon (recorded/musician/mix) - 1990 - Chris WhitleyChris WhitleyChristopher Becker Whitley was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Whitley changed his sound frequently, and achieved modest mainstream success while maintaining a small but devoted following...
- Living with the LawLiving with the Law (album)Living with the Law is the debut album by singer-songwriter and guitarist, Chris Whitley.Malcolm Burn produced, mixed and played on the album...
(producer/musician/mix) - 1991 - The Neville Brothers - Brothers Keeper (producer/musician/mix)
- 1992 - Daniel Lanois - For the Beauty of WynonaFor the Beauty of WynonaFor the Beauty of Wynona is the second album by Canadian songwriter and record producer Daniel Lanois. It was released in 1993 .The album cover photograph was taken by renowned Czech artist Jan Saudek.-Track listing:...
(musician/engineer/mix) - 1992 - The DevlinsThe DevlinsThe Devlins are an alternative rock band originating from Dublin, Ireland. Their most recognized songs are Waiting, featured in remix form on the 2002 Six Feet Under soundtrack, but originally from their 1997 release Waiting; and World Outside, which was included in the 2004 drama Closer and also...
- Drift (producer/musician) - 1992 - Lisa GermanoLisa GermanoLisa Germano is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released seven albums featuring her often-hushed vocal style, confessional lyrics, and distinctive violin. Her 1994 album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim, including being featured as a top album of...
- HappinessHappiness (Lisa Germano album)Happiness is the second album by Lisa Germano. It was originally released by Capitol Records in 1993, and re-released by 4AD Records the next year.-Track list :# "Around the World"# "You Make Me Want To Wear Dresses"...
(producer/musician) - 1993 - Iggy PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
- American CaesarAmerican Caesar (album)American Caesar is a 1993 album by Iggy Pop. After the success of Brick by Brick, Pop opted to continue with that album's lyrical themes while toughening up the musical foundation. Consequently, the album is often considered one of his stronger 90's albums.The cover of the UK edition contained the...
(producer/musician) - 1993 - John MellencampJohn MellencampJohn Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
- Human WheelsHuman WheelsHuman Wheels is the 12th album released by American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp in 1993. Released on Mercury Records, it peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. The single "What If I Came Knocking" was Mellencamp's last No...
(co-producer) - 1994 - Giant SandGiant SandGiant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album...
- Glum (producer/musician) - 1994 - Charlie SextonCharlie SextonCharles Wayne Sexton is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known for the 1985 hit Beat's So Lonely and as the guitarist for Bob Dylan's backing band from 1999 to 2002 and since 2009...
Sextet - Under the Wishing Tree (producer/musician/mix) - 1994 - JunkhouseJunkhouse-History:Formed in 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Tom Wilson, guitarist Dan Achen, bassist Russ Wilson and drummer Ray Farrugia....
- StraysStrays (Junkhouse album)- Track listing :# "Jesus Sings The Blues" – 5:46# "Out Of My Head" – 3:45# "Weight On Me Mama" – 3:57# "The Sky Is Falling" – 3:06# "Gimme The Love" – 3:15...
(co-producer/musician) - 1996 - Midnight OilMidnight OilMidnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
- BreatheBreathe (Midnight Oil album)Breathe is an album by Midnight Oil that was released in 1996 under the Columbia Records label.-Reception:-Track listing:-Midnight Oil:* Peter Garrett - Lead Vocals* Bones Hillman - Bass, Vocals* Rob Hirst - Drums, Vocals...
(producer/musician)
1998 Astrid-Boy For You(Nude Records(producer/musician)
- 1998 - Better Than EzraBetter Than EzraBetter Than Ezra is an American alternative rock trio based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Formation and early success:Better Than Ezra was formed in 1988 by its four original members - vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin; Joel Rundell, the lead guitarist; bassist Tom Drummond; and drummer, Cary...
- How Does Your Garden Grow?How Does Your Garden Grow?How Does Your Garden Grow? is a 1998 album by American alternative rock trio Better Than Ezra. It was the band's fourth album, and their second with drummer Travis Aaron McNabb. It was released on August 25, 1998 by Elektra Records....
(producer/engineer/mix) - 1999 - Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
- Red Dirt GirlRed Dirt GirlRed Dirt Girl is an Emmylou Harris album from 2000, which reached #3 on the Billboard country album charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 2001. The album was a significant departure for Harris, as eleven of the twelve tracks were written or co-written by her. She was...
(producer/engineer/musician) - 2000 - The NormalsThe NormalsThe Normals were an Christian alternative rock band formed in 1998 by Andrew Osenga, Mark Lockett, and Clayton Daily. The name of the band honors their hometown of Normal, Illinois. The band's lineup also included B.J. Aberle, Cason Cooley, Mike Taquino, and Steve Hindalong...
- Coming to Life (producer/mix) - 2001 - Luthea SalomLuthea SalomLuthea Salom is a multi-cultured & bilingual indie folk singer-songwriteroriginally from Spain and Canada based in New York City. She has released three albums and has been invited to perform on many Spanish National TV shows broadcast on RTVE, EITB, TV3 and Canal 33 as well as Canal Nou, BTV,...
- Out Of Without (producer/engineer/musician) - 2005 - Chris WhitleyChris WhitleyChristopher Becker Whitley was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Whitley changed his sound frequently, and achieved modest mainstream success while maintaining a small but devoted following...
- Soft Dangerous ShoresSoft Dangerous ShoresSoft Dangerous Shores is the twelfth album by singer-songwriter and guitarist, Chris Whitley. It is his tenth studio album.Malcolm Burn produced, mixed, and played on the album...
(producer/recorded/musician) - 2007 - Luthea SalomLuthea SalomLuthea Salom is a multi-cultured & bilingual indie folk singer-songwriteroriginally from Spain and Canada based in New York City. She has released three albums and has been invited to perform on many Spanish National TV shows broadcast on RTVE, EITB, TV3 and Canal 33 as well as Canal Nou, BTV,...
- Sunbeam Surrounded By Winter (producer/engineer/musician) - 2008 - A Fragile TomorrowA Fragile TomorrowA Fragile Tomorrow is an indie rock/jangle pop band from Charleston, South Carolina, formerly from Montgomery, New York The group formed in 2003 and included brothers Sean Kelly, Dominic Kelly, and Brendan Kelly. In 2006, bassist Shaun Rhoades joined the group. The band has put out three albums...
- Beautiful Noise (producer/recorded/musician) - 2008 - Kaki King - Dreaming of Revenge (producer)
External links
- Malcolm Burn official website
- MySpace site
- Jam: Boys Brigade (references Malcolm Burn)
- Octopus Media: Malcolm Burn profile