Steve Wright Burton

Steve W. “Tipper” Burton made his earthy debut on November 3, 1947, to Ida A. Burton and Caleb Wright Burton in Philadelphia, PA. Tipper attended Grover Cleveland Elementary, Gillespie Junior high and Simon Gratz High School, all in Tioga Section of North Philly.

Steve Burton accepted the Lord and was baptized at a young age. In the early 1990s, Steve was licensed to preach the Gospel by the renowned late Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, former Pastor of Canaan Baptist Church of Christ, New York City.

Tipper lost his mother to breast cancer when he was nine years of age. The next two years were very hard on Tipper. He was raised by his Aunt Sarah Alston, who also took on the task of raising his sister along with her two sons Darryl and Derek Alston.

While attending Gillespie, a physical education teacher got him interested in running track and his music teacher had him play the violin. Tipper entered Simon Gratz H.S. in September 1962. He excelled in football and track, running the high & low hurdles and the 400 meters. After graduation in 1965, Tipper joined the United States Air Force, at 17 years of age. While in the Air Force, he became a member of the military police, (security). After finishing his military obligation, Tipper entered Cheyney State College. He was a member of the football team and pledged Groove Phi Groove in 1969. After leaving Cheyney, he enrolled at the American Academy of Broadcasting, upon completion of broadcasting school, there were no radio vacancies available because of the Philly DJ’s Butterball, Georgie Woods, Jimmy Bishop & Sonny Hopkins. These well-known DJs were lifetime DJs at their stations.

Tipper left Philadelphia and relocated to Baltimore, staying with Groove Brothers Sugar Bear & Philly Dog. He managed to land a job with downtown Baltimore’s largest record shop, The Record Rack, eventually becoming the manager. Tipper began taking classes at Morgan State University. Because of Brett Lewis (Road Runner) and Curtis Anderson, he became a gopher for Sir Johnny O, reading requests and dedications over the air. At Morgan, Tipper majored in history/political science, and took Russian, German, & Spanish. He later mastered Japanese. Also, at Morgan Tipper met Kweisi Mfume, and Debyii Sababu-Thomas and began working to bring about a radio station, W.E.A.A. Catherine Pugh, Wendy Deese, Lamont Germany, Gary Nye, Larry Dean & Chauncey Keven Lewis, were all involved in bringing about W.E.A.A. FM at Morgan State.

While at Morgan, Tipper became a member of the Ira Aldridge Theater Group. He appeared in many college productions including “Day of Absence,” “Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death,” Hedda Gabler,” & Raisin in the Sun.” Eventually Tipper got the call to audition for a role with Center Stage’s (Baltimore) “Petrified Forest,” Where he met lifelong friends, Mareva Haufrect, Lane Smith and Jon Perother. After Center Stage, Tipper was cast in his first motion picture, Broadcast News, where he spent downtime talking with Jack Nicholson, William Hurt & Holly Hunter. Tipper went on to be cast in “Hear no Evil, See no Evil” with Richard Pryor & Gene Wilder, “Hairspray” with Rikki Lake and numerous day player roles. In addition, Tipper did station promos for “WJZ” and numerous TV shows, Kojak, NY Under Cover, commercials for companies, such as Wendy’s etc. Tipper also appeared in numerous industrials.

Tipper also worked with Port East Translator/Hale container lines. He was Assistant Terminal Manager. For 5 years there, Tipper learned international transportation management, being able to ship anything in the world from door to door. Eventually, Tipper took a position in New York with K-Line Kerr Steamship Lines, moving freight. He tracked movements and shipped across the country and world, Asia, and other countries.

Tipper promoted shows in Baltimore bringing such artists as, Kool and the Gang, Donald Byrd & Blackbirds, Grover Washington, Funkadelic, Roy Ayers, Connie Huston Smith, Gil Scott Heron, Bobbi Humphries, Jimmy Castor Bunch, Norman Connors, Jean Carn & others. While in N.Y Tipper worked for his friend Earl the Pearl Monroe’s Pretty Pearl Record Company.

However, the most satisfying career was in education. Tipper served as an educator for 28 years at three school systems, working at one school in each system. P.S 208 in Harlem, N.Y. (10 years,) and 8 years at Annapolis Middle School, in Anne Arundel County School System. Tipper retired from teaching in 2013, and went to Anne Arundel Community College to study music, bass guitar, vibraphones, and keyboard. Also, he refreshed his foreign language skills in Russian, Spanish and Japanese.

Tipper earned his bachelor’s degree in history, a Master’s in Education, and Master’s in School Administration and Leadership.

Tipper was a member of American Legion Post 172, Price Hall Mason (Enterprises), the East Coast Chapter of the Tuskegee Airman Inc., a Life Member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship.

To cherish his memory, Tipper leaves behind his beloved wife of 30 years, Ikumi Hatanaka (married: December 31, 1993), and two sons, Brandon, and Sean. He also leaves a loving daughter (from a previous marriage) Dr. Shakira Wanda Burton, a practicing surgeon. Precious memories will also be held in the minds and hearts of a host of cousins and friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.robertevansfuneralhome.com for the Burton family.