Page 84 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

Steve Burris
ARTISAN, MUSICIAN
AND JEWELER
by Ted Wilson
n 2014, a lady is captured by an
“Opening Soon” sign under a
Ilogo, “Artisan Jewelers,” so she
enters the store despite the windows
being covered. The gentleman inside
informs the lady that they are not
yet open. The lady, nonplussed,
informs him and his daughter
that she is there for them and asks
permission to pray for their soon-to- convenient enough to pursue his
open business and promptly does
when eagerly given permission.
That is how Jody Wilson met Steve
Burris and how our two worlds
became connected.
Steve Burris is a native-born Texan
(Kermit), raised in Bartlesville,
Oklahoma where his dad worked
84 Lubbock Senior Link
for Phillips
Petroleum. After
graduating
from high Steve with 6’7” Billy Dean
school, Steve
tried higher shows. He sang with or opened for
education, but his dreams were
bigger than college. Branson, many Grand Ol’ Opry musicians.
Missouri was only 2.5 hours away, Once, while visiting folks back at
Bartlesville, Steve was in the back
dream of becoming a country music seat of a Jeep heading west when
star. He was encouraged when he he noticed the driver of a Camaro
landed a gig as guitarist and vocalist heading east. He told the driver to
for a band that played in the venue turn around. When they caught
right across from the Donnie and the Camaro, Steve “caught” the
Marie Osmond Theater. He also driver—his future bride, Kelly. They
spent time in Nashville, attempting married on August 30, 1985, and in
to get a recording deal. During those
years, he opened for many big stars, the ensuing years added Stephen,
Michael, and Rachael to their troupe.
including
Reba The dream of landing a recording
McEntire and contract grew more elusive. Like
the Judds any starving artist, if a musician is
(Wynonna not a headliner, he must augment
and Naomi) his passion with another trade to
among support a family. Steve and Kelly
others. One had owned a couple of businesses
of his favorite in Missouri, but the musician
celebrities was attracted to something more
was Little creative. His drummer owned a
Jimmy jewelry store, and Steve thought to
Dickens, with himself, “I can do that.” He soon
whom he learned that one doesn’t “start out
performed as good as you think you are, but in
twenty or so time … mastery.”