One of the figures who will forever be tied to Barbados’ Independence has passed away.
Irving Burgie, the writer of the lyrics of the National Anthem, passed away last night in New York.
He was 95 years old.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley observed a moment’s silence for the songwriter this morning before delivering the address at the Independence Day Parade marking the 53rd anniversary of Independence at Kensington Oval.
Burgie was born in Brooklyn, but his mother was the granddaughter of a freed Barbadian slave, who left Watts Village, St George, in 1917.
CLICK HERE: For more on Irving Burgie.
He shot to fame in the 1950s when he teamed up with Harry Belafonte to write songs for the 1956 album Calypso, the first to go gold. It included the iconic Day-O, Island In The Sun and Jamaica Farewell.
In 1989, Burgie was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters Degree from the University Of The West Indies and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007. (SAT)
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