Songwriter Irving Burgie steps into the spotlight with new autobiography http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2007/11/27/2007-11-27_s...

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Hall of Fame songwriter Irving Burgie in front of his photo wall at his St. Albans home. The wall is a collection of photos of people he has worked with and met over the last 50 years.

Songwriter Irving Burgie steps into the spotlight with new autobiographyBY LAUREN DARSON

Tuesday, November 27th 2007, 4:00 AM

Harry Belafonte took one man'swords and brought them to life over 50 years ago, but now songwriter Irving Burgie steps into the spotlight with his new autobiography about bringing calypso music to America.

"Day-O" and seven other songs were written by Burgie for Belafonte's first calypso-themed record, which was No. 1 for 32 weeks in 1956 and 1957 - the first album to sell over 1million copies.

"It was a terrific smash and it is still a popular song today," said Burgie, noting that "Day-O" is played as a wakeup call to astronauts in outer space. "Generations of people are familiar with my music."

Burgie, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year, also wrote the theme song for the 1957 film "Island in the Sun," which starred Belafonte. His name also is on the celebrity path in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He has written 34 published songs and has sold over 100 million records.

The story of his life, published this year, is called "Day-O!!!, The Autobiography of Irving Burgie," (Xlibris, $22). It chronicles Burgie's life from his birth in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in 1924. His mother was from Barbados and he grew up surrounded by calypso and Caribbean influences. Later, after serving in World War II, Burgie attended the Juilliard School of Music, then decided to dedicate his time to studying and researching Caribbean culture and introduce it to American society through song.

"The average person didn't know about the Caribbean sound and I awakened the public at large. These songs introduced a whole new genre of music to the world," said Burgie.

Burgie's songs have become the international paradigm of calypso music, making him a superstar in the Caribbean.

In 1966, Burgie was asked to compose a national anthem for Barbados after the country gained its independence from England - a task that might have seemed arduous, since he had never lived there, but it only took Burgie a couple of weeks.

"It wasn't too difficult, because at the time I was involved in the civil rights movement in America and many of the same elements were involved in Barbados gaining independence," said Burgie.

Burgie said civil rights movements around the world like those in India, North America and the Caribbean were his inspiration for the Barbados national anthem, and that the symbols relating to any oppressed people are universal.

Burgie has spent the past 52 years living in St. Albans, most of them with his wife of 47 years, Paige Turner, who died two years ago. They have two children - Irving Jr., 50, and Andrew, 42.

"I enjoy living in Queens. It is the greatest town in the world," said Burgie. "I traveled all over the world and New York is it."

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