Even as he dreamed of playing professional baseball, Burrell never turned his back on music. While working for the A's, he adopted the moniker "MC," for "Master of Ceremonies," and performed at various clubs when the A's traveled out of town. It was also during this time that he acquired the nickname "Hammer," for his resemblance to home-run king Hank "The Hammer" Aaron.
After a short stint at a local college and three years in the Navy, during which he worked as an aviation storekeeper, Hammer returned to Oakland and performing.