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Disco soul singer songwriter & guitarist

Born in July 28, 1955, Washington, D.C.
Died September 23, 2022 (Age 67)
Though never achieving superstar status, Burch had an impressive decade of hits from 1975-85, and also played an important role backing other stars as a guitar whiz.

With elements of Parliament and many of the self-contained funk band of the era, Burch recorded for a half dozen labels, including stints on Columbia, United Artists and Casablanca. In the process, he landed big R&B and dance hits with “Do It To me” and “Changes,” and his dance hit “Get Up” became the foundation for the Deee-Lite smash hit “Groove Is In The Heart” more than a decade later.
But many soul music fans may know Burch for his time working in a series of legendary R&B acts. He was a teenage prodigy when he joined The Delfonics’ band, and he later played with the Bar-Kays for a half decade, backing many of the Stax Records albums of the time.

As the 2000s arose, Burch became a minister, and in 2011 recorded The Inside Out Project as Reverend Vernon Burch.

ALBUMS


Vernon Burch
Lovely Lady / Joy And Pain
2019, 7", Dynamite Cuts
Vernon Burch / Donald Byrd
Changes (Messin' With My Mind) / Changes (Makes You Want To Hustle)
1994, 7", RE, Collectables
Vernon Burch
Playing Hard To Get
1982
Vernon Burch
Once In A Lifetime Thing
1982
Vernon Burch
Playing Hard To Get
1982
Vernon Burch
Do It To Me
1981
Vernon Burch
Get Up / Try A Little Tenderness
1980, 7", Single, Casablanca
Vernon Burch
Fun City
1980
Vernon Burch
Steppin' Out
1980, Vinyl Keel Press, ,
Disco/Funk/Soul
Vernon Burch
Fun City
1980
Vernon Burch
Steppin' Out / Get Up
1980
Vernon Burch
Get Up / Arrogant Lady
1979, 12", Casablanca
Vernon Burch
Sammy Jo Anne - One Half Woman One Half Man / Get Up
1979
Vernon Burch
Get Up
1979
Vernon Burch
Never Can Find A Way (Hot Love) / Dr. Do It Good
1979
Vernon Burch
Once Again In My Life
1979
Vernon Burch
Love-A-Thon
1978
Vernon Burch
Brighter Days / Love-A-Thon
1978
Vernon Burch
Love Is / When Summer's Over
1978
Vernon Burch
Leaving You Is Killing Me
1977
Vernon Burch
When I Get Back Home
1977, ,
Soul
Vernon Burch
Sexasonic
1977
Vernon Burch
And You Call That Love / Loving You Gets Better With Time
1975, 7", United Artists Records, ,
Disco/Soul
Ike & Tina Turner / Vernon Burch
Baby-Get It On / And You Call That Love
1975, 7", Jukebox, United Artists Records, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Funk
Vernon Burch
Ain't Gonna Tell Nobody
1975, ,
Soul
Vernon Burch
I'll Be Your Sunshine
1975
Vernon Burch
Changes (Messin' With My Mind)
1975, ,
Soul/Funk
Vernon Burch
Frame Of Mind / Loving You Gets Better With Time
1975
Vernon Burch / The Conway Brothers
Do It To Me / Turn It Up
12", EP, Pebo Music
Foxy / Gwen McCrae / Vernon Burch
Madamoiselle / All This Love That I'm Givin' / Lovely Lady
12", W/Lbl, Not On label
Vernon Burch / Earth, Wind & Fire
Get Up / Let's Groove
12", Original Disco Records, Original Disco Records
Rockers Revenge / Vernon Burch
Walking On Sunshine / Do It To Me
Various
Playlist Pier Vol. 2
1981, LP, Comp, P/Mixed, Mercury
Top Secret
Pretty Little Nasty Thang
12", Mono, Headquarters Records
Silky
Special Christmas
12", Silky Enterprises
Bar-Kays
Do You See What I See?
1996, CD, ,
Soul/Funk
Vernon Burch
Playing Hard To Get
2024, ,
Soul/Funk

APPEARANCES +


Various
Funk Yourself!
2010, CD, ,
Jazz-Funk/Funk/Disco/P.Funk
Elmer Bernstein
Report To The Commissioner (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2008, CD, Album, Ltd, Varèse Sarabande
Various
Sampled!
2008, CD, ,
Disco/Fusion/Jazz-Funk/Smooth Jazz/Soul
Various
Hot Grits Volume 2
2007, CD, Comp, EmArcy, Universal
Nicky Siano
Nicky Siano's Legendary The Gallery (The Original New York Disco 1973-77)
2004
Various
Zipmania 02
2002, CD, Comp, Mixed, Intercord Japan, ,
Trance/Europop/Euro House/Tech House/Eurodance/Dance-pop
Various
The New Pepsi Chart Album
2001, 2xCD, Comp, Virgin, EMI, EMI, ,
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock/House/Novelty/Vocal/Synth-pop/Ballad/Trance
Chris Sheppard
Chris Sheppard's Club Cutz 404
2001, CD, Comp, Mixed, BMG Music Canada, Ariola, ,
Hip Hop/RnB/Swing/UK Garage/Progressive Trance/Euro House/Trance/Hard Trance/Progressive House/House/Latin
Various
Eskimo - Vol. 2*
2001, ,
House/Funk/Disco
Various
Cold Sweat
2001, ,
Jazz-Funk/Funk
Jamiroquai
A Funk Odyssey
2001
Various
Dance 2000
2000
Madison Avenue
The Polyester Embassy
2000, CD, ,
House
Madison Avenue
Who The Hell Are You
2000, CD, ,
House
Skye
The Breaks (Original B Boy Street Funk & Block Party Classics)
2000
E-40
The Element Of Surprise
1998, ,
Gangsta
Various
More Soul Selections
1996
B.B. Seaton
Pleasure & Pain
1988, LP, Album, Studio One
Various
Furacão 2000
1982, Vinyl, ,
Disco/Funk/Boogie/Soul/Go-Go/Jazz-Funk
Pato C
Presents: Hollywood Studio Show
1981, LP, Comp, Mixed, Mercury
Sabor De Mel
Pra Rimar Com Amor = Special Rhyme
1981, 7", Single, Polydor
Randy Brown
Check It Out
1981, Vinyl, ,
Soul
Various
Disco Top Hits Vol. 2
1980, LP, Comp, Mixed, Polystar (3), Polystar (3), Polystar (3), ,
New Wave/Pop Rock/Disco
Various
The Best Funky In Town Vol. 2
1980, LP, Comp, Mixed, Mercury
Various
Four Hot Imports
1979, 12", EP, Casablanca, Casablanca
The Love Machine
Desperately
1977
The Love Machine
The Love Machine
1977
Albert King
The Pinch
1977
Various
Heading In The Right Direction
1976, LP, CBC Radio Canada Broadcast Recording,
The New Ventures*
Rocky Road
1976
Various
All Right! Original Disco Hits
1976
Various
20 x Disco Power
1976
Various
UA Promo Sampler 5
1975, 7", EP, Promo, Smplr, United Artists Records
The Ventures
Superstar Revue = Revista Superstar
1975, 7", Single, United Artists Records
Eric Mercury
Eric Mercury
1975, Vinyl Terre Haute Pressing, ,
Soul/Funk
The Ventures
Superstar Revue
1975
Lea Roberts
Lady Lea
1975
Various
Black Flash
1975, Vinyl, ,
Soul/Funk
Lea Roberts
Laughter In The Rain / She Will Break Your Heart
1974
Various
80's Soul Classics Volume #8 - Sweet Soul Vibes And Funky Club Tunes
2024, 2xCD, Comp, PTG Records
Cut Chemist
Cut's Crate #7 More Disco Break 12" Singles Remastered
2021, 20xFile, WAV, Comp, Not On Label
Mr. K
Digital Edits Volume 14
2020, 9xFile, WAV, Comp, Not On Label (Mr. K Self-released)
Various
Captain Vinyl Presents Diggin' Disco
2018, 2xCD, Comp, Mixed, Universal Music
DJ Koco a.k.a. Shimokita
Break 2 Super Disco (68 Minutes Of Funky Joints)
2018, CD, Mixed, Tower Records (4)
The Reflex
Free Edits
2018, 43x File, ,
Disco/Classic Rock/House
Various
Disco Train 2
2015, CD, Album, Mixed, Universal Music, ,
Disco
The Reflex
Archive Edits Vol. 1
2015, 15x File, ,
Nu-Disco/Funk/Rhythm & Blues/Soul/House
Various
80's Soul Classics Volume #5 - Sweet Soul Vibes And Funky Club Tunes
2014, 2xCD, Comp, PTG Records, Vinyl Masterpiece, ,
Soul/Funk/Disco/P.Funk
Various
80's Soul Classics Box Set
2014, 10xCD + Box, Comp, PTG Records, PTG Records, PTG Records, PTG Records, PTG Records, PTG Records, ,
Soul/Funk/Disco/Boogie
DJ Neil Armstrong
Original5
2014, M/Stick, MP3, WAV, Comp, Mixed, Not On Label (DJ Neil Armstrong Self-released)
Various
Golden Eighties The Rare Funky Selection Volume 19
2013, CD, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Funk/Soul/Disco
Various
Celebration ~Super Disco Hits~
2011, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Universal Music, ,
Disco
Various
80's Soul Classics Volume 1 - Sweet Soul Vibes And Funky Club Tunes
2010, 2xCD, Comp, PTG Records, Vinyl Masterpiece, ,
Soul/Funk/Disco
Various
Rare Funk & Disco Vol.1
2010, 2xCD, Comp, Good Vibes Productions (2), ,
Funk/Disco
Various
Disco Around 50 - Super Freak~Soul & Funky
2010, CD, Comp, Promo, EMI
Various
The Wants List 3 (17 Classic, In Demand And Soulful Rare Grooves)
2007, CD, ,
Soul
DJ Neil Armstrong Presents Various Featuring DJ Steve 1-Der*
The Certified Majestic Mixtape Series
2006, CD, Comp, Mixed, Not On Label, ,
House/Disco
DJ Koco a.k.a. Shimokita
Time To Make The Floor Burn
2006, CD, Mixed, Promo, Donuts Record
Skratch Bastid
Satisfaction Guaranteed
2006, CD, ,
Cut-up/DJ
Nakata.net Music
Free Style Vol. 2 - Dance & Soul
2005, CD, Mixed, Universal, ,
Funk/Disco/House
Muro
Super Disco Breaks
2004, CD, Mixed, Universal, ,
Funk/Disco/Soul
DJ Haze
Street Funk
2004, CD, Comp, Mixed, Not On Label
Various
I Specialize In Funk...Too
2004, CD, Comp, Musicast L'autreprod
Various
The Disco
2004, 2x CD, ,
Disco
Various
Sampled Volume 3
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Virgin, Virgin, ,
Pop Rock/Disco/Roots Reggae/Big Band/Funk/Easy Listening/Jazz-Funk
DJ Goodka
Music From Soundtrack Of Jungle Boogie
2002, CD, Comp, Ltd, Promo, Supapeople
Various
Ultimate Rare Groove Party Vol.1
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Back In The Day Productions,
Various
Disco Fever Afro Boogie
2002, CD, Comp, Mono, Universal,
Various
Disco Fever 2
2001, CD, Comp, Universal
Various
Eskimo Vol 2
2001, LP, Comp, Eskimo Recordings
Skye
The Breaks (Original B Boy Street Funk & Block Party Classics)
2000, CD, ,
Soul/Funk
Kenny Dope*
Break Beats
1999, Cassette, ,
Soul/Funk/Disco
Various
Non-Stop Dance Classics
1998, CD, Comp, Mixed, Prime Cut, ,
Disco/Funk/P.Funk/Soul
DJ Mitsu
The Great Dance Classics
1998, Cass, Mixed, Mixtape, $tax Records
Various
70's & 80's Dance ‹Green›
1997, CD, Comp, Mercury, ,
Disco/Europop/Synth-pop/Funk/Soul
Various
The Cream Of... Rare Groove Volume 1
1997, 3xCD, Comp, Life On Mars, Hubbub Records, ,
Soul-Jazz/Funk
Various
Super Dance Classics Volume 1
1995, CD, Comp, Prime Cut, Mercury
Various
Free Soul Colors
1994, ,
Soul/Jazz-Funk/Rhythm & Blues/Easy Listening
Various
Free Soul Lovers
1994
Various
Jazzy Tunes Part 2
1985, Cass, Comp, PT. Aquarius Musikindo
Various
Super Funk
1985, LP, Comp, Som Maior
Various
Funk Explosion
1983, LP, Comp, Elenco
Various
Disco Action
1982, LP, Comp, Young, RGE
Various
Discjockeys Unidos Argentinos (Pato C & Bronco)
1982, LP, Comp, Polystar (3)
Various
O Homem Proibido (Internacional)
1982, Vinyl, ,
Soundtrack/Ballad/Funk/Disco/Hard Rock/Country
Various
Original Metallic Funk
1981, LP, Comp, Mixed, Mercury, ,
Disco/Soul/Funk
Various
Original Disco Gigolo
1981, LP, Comp, P/Mixed, Casablanca
Various
Radio Latina Presenta: "Hot Punch Music"
1980, LP, Comp, Casablanca
Various
Casablanca Disco Special
1980, LP, Comp, Casablanca, ,
Disco
Various
Estacion Contacto
1975, LP, Comp, United Artists Records
Various
Black Flash
1975
Various
Midnight Hotline Rendezvous
CDr, Mixed, Not On Label
Various
Untitled
LP, Album, Comp, W/Lbl, Not On Label
Various
Limited Edition Rare Groove Double Album
LP, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Soul
DJ Nutty Nut Cracker
Fantastic Breaks 7
CD, Mixed, Atimeinyourlife Recordings
Various
The Gallery Volume 3
2009, 12", Comp, Unofficial, Gallery Classics
Camilo Rocha
Disco Demolition Derby
2007, File, MP3, Mixed, Unofficial, 192, Spannered
Various
Rare Groove Story
2005, 5x CD,
Various
Voodoo Death Breaks
1999, LP, Comp, Unofficial, Pre-School Records
Albert King
The Blues Don't Change
1998, CD, ,
Electric Blues/Soul/Funk
Various
The Very Best Of Rare Groove Vol 3 & 4
1997, CD, Comp, Ltd, Unofficial, Connoisseur Records (2), Connoisseur Records (2)
Various
Classic Disco Dance
1987, 12", Comp, Unofficial, Classic Disco Dance
Various
Untitled
1987, Vinyl Black Label,
DJ Seth Dean
Regal Funk Volume 14
1985, CD, Mixed, Unofficial, Not On Label (DJ Seth Dean)
Various
Black-Out 1
1981, 12", S/Sided, Mixed, Unofficial, Not On Label, ,
Funk/Disco
Various
Disco Snow
1980, Cass, Comp, Unofficial, Romance Co., Romance Co.
Various
Blackout Records
1980, LP, Comp, Unofficial, Blackout Records (3), ,
Disco
Various
Prambors Disco IX
1980, Cass, Comp, Unofficial, Concert (3)
Various
The Very Best Of Raw Records Vol-1
3xLP, Comp, Unofficial, Raw Records (3)
The Studio Sound, Vernon Burch
Give Me Some More Reggae / My Lovely Lady
12", Unofficial, Underground Records (26)
various
Rare Funk & Disco
CD, Comp, Unofficial, The Collector Series (2)
DJ Seth Dean
Forever Oldschool
CD, Mixed, Unofficial, Not On Label,
Various
Untitled
LP, Comp, Unofficial, W/Lbl, Not On Label, ,
Funk/Disco
Various
Untitled
LP, Comp, Unofficial, W/Lbl, Not On Label, ,
Soul/Funk