Drummer and one of the founding members of The Royal Guardsmen . He is credited with coming up with the name of the band. He and Bill Balogh and Jay Mayer were in a band called The Posmen at the time, but at a live gig as they were setting up, someone asked him the name of the band, and not feeling comfortable with the name they were using said the first thing that came to mind: The label on his Vox amp that said “Royal Guardsman”. The name stuck, literally, when he slapped it on his drum kit.
Burdett quit the band in 1968 and was replaced by Chris Nunley . He reunited with them in 1976 when they reinvented themselves as a live act, dressed to the nines in disco outfits. This incarnation lasted for three years. Barry Winslow quit the band and guitarist Tom Richards was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and died shortly thereafter.
In 2004, while attending a high-school reunion, most of the remaining members of The Royal Guardsmen , including Burdett, reunited for a six-song set. It was so popular it led them back on the road, where they continue to tour to this day with John being substituted by Rick Cosner as required. He has worked on a band bio entitled True Shaggy Dog Stories by The Royal Guardsmen.
The Royal Guardsmen recordings
I Needed You (Chris Nunley/Barry Winslow )
Snoopy vs. the Red Baron (Phil Gernhard/Dick Holler )
Here are The Royal Guardsmen performing “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron”…
Sources:
1. http://www.theroyalguardsmen.com/
2. http://www.crazedfanboy.com/spotlight/guardsmen.html
3. http://ocalaroyalguardsmen.com/meet.htm
4. http://www.ocalastyle.com/styleadmin/newsadmin/anmviewer.asp?a=479&print=yes
5. http://www.sptimes.com/2005/06/10/news_pf/Citrus/_Snoopy__singers_to_r.shtml