Chris Burnett

Chris Burnett
Photo taken of Chris Burnett outside of the America Jazz Museum in Kansas City.
Background information
Birth name	Christopher LeRoy Burnett
Born	(1955-11-02) November 2, 1955 (age 61) Olathe, Kansas
Origin	Paola, Kansas
Genres	big band, swing, jazz, marching band, wind ensemble, bossa nova, avante garde, classical
Occupation(s)	Musician, conductor, producer, arranger, composer,
Instruments	alto saxophone
Years active	1975 – present
Labels	MP3.com, Artists Recording Collective (ARC), CD Baby
Associated acts	U.S. military bands, Chris Burnett Quartet
Website	Official Chris Burnett Website

Chris Burnett (born Christopher LeRoy Burnett on November 2, 1955) is an American saxophone player, composer, veteran of US military jazz bands and band leader. Born in Olathe, Kansas, Burnett's family moved relatively frequently during his early childhood due to his father being a member of the active US military service. His sibling family lived at places such as: France, Michigan, and Colorado prior to settling permanently back home in the Kansas City metro area. His brother, Richie Pratt (March 11, 1943 – February 12, 2015), who was also a musician (Lionel Hampton, Junior Mance, Aretha Franklin, New York Jazz Quartet, Broadway, films, studios ...), and the eldest sibling in his family continually served as a significant professional role model and mentor.

Burnett was first exposed to music at an early age through the piano by his mother (Violet Lorraine Burnett), and later studied vocal music through the youth choir program at his church under the direction of Nevada Rosbia. Burnett took to music intuitively and his introduction to saxophone and clarinet began through the instrumental music program at school. James R. Fuchs was his primary music teacher who also exposed him to some of the local and internationally recognized professional saxophone players like Charles Molina and Gary Foster who visited the school periodically during the early 1970s. Unable to afford college tuition, prior to graduation from high school in May 1974, Burnett auditioned for and was accepted to the music programs of both, the US Air Force and US Army bands. He has ultimately studied with numerous significant teachers and at the Armed Forces School of Music, Webster University, Columbia College (Missouri), Berklee College of Music, and American University.