Neil Patrick Burgess, known professionally as Neil Patrick, is a singer and songwriter whose path through music reflects both resilience and a deep love for the craft. Born in Santa Cruz, California, and raised in Reno, Nevada, Neil was given the gift of singing at a young age. His mother, Alice Faye Spurlock, one of thirteen children raised on a farm in South Carolina, was a passionate music enthusiast who even attended Elvis's funeral. Music filled their home, even through a tough childhood marked by frequent moves. Those early years shaped Neil into an entertainer at heart, drawn to the spotlight as a way to connect and stand out.
After graduating from Reno High, he moved to Hawaii and formed the rock band Sunburn. The group released three albums and won the Rock Album of the Year at the Nā Hōkū Awards in 1999. The following year, Neil presented the award live on television in Hawaii from the Sheraton Ballroom. Sunburn's song "Spread So Thin" was the number one requested song in 1997 on KPOI 97.5 The Rock. They gained heavy rotation on Honolulu's KPOI rock station from 1996 through 1999, a rare feat for a local band, and shared stages with major acts including Van Halen, Soundgarden, Matchbox Twenty, Candlebox, Blink-182, and Eddie Vedder. Managed by Scotty Ross, former tour manager for Van Halen, Sunburn embarked on three national tours—one East Coast and two West Coast. The band's music even appeared on MTV's The Real World: Hawaii. After Sunburn, Neil joined the island-rock-reggae band Koi with longtime friend and guitarist Jeff Bruckman. Years later he reunited with Jeff to form Reef Bound Sol, which earned a nomination for World Album of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards around 2012. Most recently, Reef Bound Sol released the album Riffs and Tides.
Neil is now working on his first solo album, using the tools of the AI age to bring his vision to life with accompanying videos. Through it all, his voice and songwriting remain at the center of a career built on passion, persistence, and the joy of performance. He brings a renewed inspiration to his work: writing music that makes a real impact on people—not just lyrically, but emotionally and spiritually.
About Neil...
