Vernon Burch

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.