Irving Burgie

Irving Burgie (pronounced; Bur'jee) is best known as the writer of such classic calypso tunes as "Day-O" and "Jamaica Farewell." The composer of eight songs on Harry Belafonte's groundbreaking 1956 album Calypso, the first album in the United States to sell one million copies, Burgie went on to write another 28 songs recorded by Belafonte. Additional songs by Burgie, including "The Seine," "El Matador," and "Wish You Were Here" were recorded by such folk acts as the Kingston Trio, Jimmy Buffett, and Miriam Makeba. In 1966, Burgie wrote the lyrics for the National Anthem of Bar...