Robert Louis "Bob" Burns (born November 24, 1950) is an American drummer who was in the original line-up of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Burns helped to form the band in 1964 with Gary Rossington and Larry Junstrom and remained until 1974, although by some accounts he left the band for a while during the early 1970s. Burns plays on the band's earliest demos, recorded in 1970, but on the album Skynyrd's First and... Last, a collection of early demos, the drum parts of the songs recorded in 1971 are played by Rickey Medlocke. That album also contains songs recorded in 1972 which feature Burns on drums, suggesting that Burns may have left the band in 1971 and had returned by 1972. During a brief period in the early 1970s, Rickey Medlocke occasionally played alongside Burn on drums for live shows, a two-drummer line-up similar to The Allman Brothers Band.In addition to Skynyrd's First And... Last, Burns also played on the band's first two official albums: (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and Second Helping. Burns left in 1974 due to being overwhelmed by life on the road, and was replaced by Artimus Pyle. In 1996, he participated in a performance to promote Freebird: The Movie. On March 13, 2006, he rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd for one performance as he played alongside Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Ed King, Artimus Pyle and the Honkettes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.Burns currently lives in Cartersville, GA.
November 24, 1950, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Died
April 3, 2015, Cartersville, Georgia, United States
Place Of Birth
Van Buren, Arkansas, USA
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack, Writer
Nationality
American
Spouse
Marsha Burns (m. ?–2011)
Children
Tami Apatow
Star Sign
Leo
#
Trademark
1
Playing his homemade musical instrument, the 'bazooka.'
2
Hillbilly humor, backwoods philosophy, and tall tales
#
Quote
1
Some folks out here get inflated ideas. But they usually have to come down to earth. I know I'm the same fellow I was years ago when I was glad to make $25 a week. I haven't gotten any smarter.
2
If the country folk I tell these stories about don't mind, I can't see why the city people want to kick. City folks are the same everywhere. They ain't different enough to be interesting.
3
I am supposed to be the Ozark Sage, though there are plenty of wise fellows back home who look like William Cullen Bryant and have even longer beards. To be a sage, I guess the formula is to stay a long way off from where you're born, or else you'll get found out.
#
Fact
1
He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1601 Vine Street and for Radio at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
2
Not to be confused with Western actor Bob Burns, or comedy actor Bobby Burns, some of whose credits occasionally pop up in the filmographies of 'Bob Burns (I)'.
3
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 78. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
4
His hobbies included farming, astronomy, shooting, fishing, and a private aviary.
5
His four children: Robert Jr. (first marriage); Barbara Ann, William Robin, Stephen (second marriage).
6
Some published filmographies wrongly credit Bob with roles in several Gene Autry films which should be credited to Bob Burns, a character actor in westerns.
7
Bob Burns coined the word 'bazooka' (which he copyrighted in 1920) for the homemade musical instrument he invented in 1905 from two gas pipes and a whiskey funnel. The weapon of the same name was named after Burns' device during World War II.
8
Father, William Robert Burn, civil engineer; mother, nee Emma Needham.
9
His birth year is sometimes cited as 1893 or 1896; 1890 is correct. His birthplace sometimes given as Greenwood, Arkansas.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Windjammer
1945
Bob Burns
Belle of the Yukon
1944
Sam Slade
Comin' Round the Mountain
1940
Jed Blower
Alias the Deacon
1940
Deke Caswell
Our Leading Citizen
1939
Lem Schofield
I'm from Missouri
1939
Sweeney Bliss
The Arkansas Traveler
1938
The Arkansas Traveler
Tropic Holiday
1938
Breck Jones
Radio City Revels
1938
Lester Robin
Wells Fargo
1937
Hank York - a Wanderer
Mountain Music
1937
Bob Burnside
Waikiki Wedding
1937
Shad Buggle
The Big Broadcast of 1937
1936
Bob Black
Rhythm on the Range
1936
Buck Eaton
Roof Tops of Manhattan
1935
Short
The Arkansas Traveler
Southern Exposure
1935
Short
Jimmie Chase (as Robert Burns)
Lazy River
1934
Slim - Prisoner (uncredited)
Spitfire
1934
Mountaineer (uncredited)
Hoop-La
1933
Barker (uncredited)
Fast Workers
1933
Alabam' (as Robert Burns)
Laughter in Hell
1933
Sheriff with Posse (uncredited)
Tombstone Canyon
1932
Sheriff Mort Langly (uncredited)
If I Had a Million
1932
Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
Heaven on Earth
1931
Marty (uncredited)
Young as You Feel
1931
Colorado Detective (uncredited)
Quick Millions
1931
'Arkansas' Smith (as Robert Burns)
Three Rogues
1931
Newspaper Printer (uncredited)
Up the River
1930
Slim - Bazooka Player (uncredited)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Radio City Revels
1938
"TAKE A TIP FROM THE TULIP" 1938 / performer: "MY SWEETHEART LIVES UP ON THE MOUNTAIN" 1938 uncredited, "SWINGIN' IN THE CORN" 1938, "LOVE, HONOR AND OH BABY" 1938 uncredited, "WHY MUST I LOVE YOU" 1938 uncredited, "SPEAK YOUR HEART" 1938
Wells Fargo
1937
performer: "Where I Ain't Been Before" 1937
Rhythm on the Range
1936
performer: "I'm an Old Cowhand From the Rio Grande", "If You Can't Sing It You'll Have to Swing It" - uncredited
Roof Tops of Manhattan
1935
Short performer: "Sweet Georgia Brown" 1925 - uncredited
Up the River
1930
performer: "St. Louis Blues" 1914 - uncredited
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Windjammer
1945
additional dialogue
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Ed Sullivan Show
1955
TV Series
Himself
The Ken Murray Show
1950
TV Series
Himself
Unusual Occupations L-5-6
1946
Documentary short
Himself
Screen Snapshots Series 25, No. 10: Famous Fathers and Sons
1946
Documentary short
Himself
Soaring Stars
1942
Short
Himself (uncredited)
Picture People No. 3: Hobbies of the Stars
1941
Short
Himself
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 2
1938
Documentary short
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
An Old Chinese Proverb: One Picture Is Worth Ten Thousand Words
$1.6 Million
