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Irving Burgie, Songwriter Who Helped Bring Calypso To America, Dies At 95
The Brooklyn-born Burgie studied at Juilliard and co-wrote many of the songs on Harry Belafonte's breakthrough album, Calypso, including his genre-defining hit, "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)."
Irving Burgie, a songwriter whose adaptation of the traditional Jamaican folk song "Day-O" became one of the definitive calypso songs of the 20th century, died on Friday. He was 95.
Burgie died as a result of complications from heart failure. His death was confirmed by his son Andrew Burgie.
Burgie performed in nightclubs as Lord Burgess, but he was best-known as a songwriter who helped Harry Belafonte bring calypso to the mainstream.
"Day-O," or as it's sometimes known, "The Banana. Belafonte's version of "Day-O" went to No. 5 on the singles chart and helped become the first full-length album ever credited with selling 1 million copies in the United States.
