Anthony Burger Passes Away

The Singing News ^ | 2-23-06

[outlaw1_2003]

Pianist Anthony Burger died Wednesday night after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 44. Anthony was in the Caribbean aboard a Bill Gaither Homecoming cruise this week and it was during one of Wednesday's performances when he suffered the heart attack. A family spokesman said Burger was doing what he loved best, playing the piano, just before collapsing.

[outlaw1_2003]

If you ever had the pleasure of seeing Anthony play, or heard any of his music, you would know that the Gospel Music lovers has lost a great musician.

[deport]

I never saw him in person but have watch the Bill Gaither Homecoming tv shows over the years. Sorta reminds me of the all night gospel singings from the past and the touring quartets...

[xJones]

This has been posted before, Anthony Burger, Gospel Pianist dead at 44, but with a forum this large, probably a lot of people missed it who would interested in reading this. The only reason I point out the previous posting is because there were a lot of good comments on the earlier thread.

[dawn53]

Wow, that's sad, he was young to have a heart attack.

I remember seeing one of their TV shows and they had just lost another member of the team to a heart attack (if my memory serves me right)during a series of concerts...I think they were in London.

[outlaw1_2003]

Many people don't know that when he was 8 months old, his hands were severly burned in an accident, and the doctor's said he would never use his hands. He won the Gospel Music Association's "Musician of the Year Awatf" 7 times.

[outlaw1_2003]

The drummer, Doug Riley, for Gold City died also on 1-31-06 in an auto accident.

[ishabibble]

Thank you for reposting this sad news. I might have missed it entirely if you hadn't. A dear friend gave me one of Anthony's CD's during a stressful time in my life.
His beautiful and soothing music is never very far away, whether at home or in the car. His death is quite a shock, but I hope that his family takes comfort in the fact that his music soothed this savaged beast, as I am sure it comforted countless others.

[sangoo]

A couple of years ago. I think it was Rex Nelon.

[Blogger]

It's so hard to lose a hero. Especially one so young. No one has influenced our music anymore than my friend. Anthony was someone who lived his dream with passion and pursued it always with excellence and dignity. Truly, he flew higher than most of us ever dream of. I've known Anthony since he and I were kids. He grew up just down the road from me. We have always been close. Today, I feel like I've lost my brother. This is such a sad day for every singer, musician, and friend of Gospel Music. And it seems to me that pianos of Earth must now cry as they say goodbye to a master.

Phil Cross