BWA KAYIMAN SEREMONI, Haitian Community, Brooklyn, NY

DAY-O COMPOSER IRVING BURGIE INKS PUBLISHING PACT WITH BMG MGMT

(New York) -- "Songwriter Hall Of Fame" member, Irving Burgie, the composer of such standards as Harry Belafonte smashes "Day-O", "Jamaica Farewell" and "Island In The Sun", recently signed a worldwide co-publishing arrangement with BMG Rights Management. He received a significant signing bonus from BMG, which will administer his extensive and world famous catalogue.

Burgie said, "Its gratifying to know that my work has spanned generation and genres, from Belafonte in the 1950's, to "The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" in 1983, to "Beetlejuice" in 1989, to the "Day-O" samples, Lil' Wayne (Six Foot, Seven Foot) in 2010, and Jason Derulo's (I Don't Wanna Go Home) in 2011.

Laurent Hubert, Chief Operating Officer, BMG North America says, "Irving Burgie is truly a national treasure.  His songs are as unmistakable and engaging today as when they were written". The Belafonte album "Calypso" (1956), featuring eight songs written by Burgie, was the first album to sell more than one million copies in the United States, and was #1 on the Billboard Charts for thirty-two (32) weeks. Burgie followed this success by penning material for two more Belafonte albums that likewise became major pop hits. "Belafonte Sings Of The Caribbean" 1958 and "Jump-Up Calypso" 1960.
    

A few years later he had the honor of being commissioned to craft the lyric to the Barbados National Anthem (his mother's homeland 1966).  Irving's artistry has gone on to successive generations of artists who have recorded and performed his compositions, from Mantovani and Mariam Makeba to Julio Igleslas, Jimmy Buffett and Carly Simon. Burgie songs have sold over 100 million records. In Addition, his music has appeared in films such as Daryl Zanuck's, "Island In The Sun" (1958) and Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" (1988.
    

The song "Day-O" served as the official wake-up call for NASA's Atlantis Space Shuttle (1997). Half a century following its debut, "Day-O"  is still regularly heard in sports stadiums around the world. Irving Burgie, a veteran of World War 2, studied music under the G.I BIll at Julliard in New York, the University Of Arizona, and the University Of Southern California. He received honorary doctorate degrees from the Universirty of The West Indies, (1988) , St John's University, NY (2009) and York College NY (2010).
    

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of "Day-O", the ASCAP Foundation, "Irving Burgie Scholarship" was established in 2006 to support  aspiring African-American songwriters. He is currently publishing a new song book, and a double CD of his most famous songs, sung by Burgie and friends.

Now Eighty-seven (87), he is working on a screen adaptation of his 1963 Off B' Way Musical, "Barbados". Irving Burgie has been a member of ASCAP since 1956. He served on the Board Of Directors of the Song Writers Hall Of Fame for the past fifteen (15) years.

Earthly

I spent a few hours last week cleaning up the backyard. As the dog days of summer approve, I need a spot to escape to and chill out. A place where I can hear my heart beats and inhale the night air instead of the air conditioner, without adult children bawling for me same as they did when they were 5 and 7 years old and the man calling me to ask if I see something that is next to him.

I am a real country girl in my soul.  Likes to dance bare feet on the grass, stroll along the beach just as day breaks and watch the sunset as it disappears from the chaos of big city life. There is a huge tree that hangs over my entire backyard. Large branches entertwined, leaves mingling and roots lapping overtime together to became one.

There are very few things in life that makes me happier than when I am creating so I spend a big chunk of time daydreaming .....of the next idea. As a matter of fact tomorrow after a 11 a.m meeting, I'll head out in search of something delightfully Caribbean/Caribbean-American. My new best friend.. a Nikon P100, accompanying me He .. its a he.. is helping to capture a few things of interest. Tonight I'll just lay back and peep into the night sky  through the leaves of that large tree, a glass of Mojito at one of my feet. If it was not so darn hot, I'd put a piece of yellow yam to roast on the grill then plate it with saltfish lightly stewed in homemade coconut oil, lots of onions and pepper.

Ancestral Sounds

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When I set out yesterday afternoon for the park, the rain was coming down in sprinkles. As I got out of the car near the entrance, when  arrived, I heard the drums. I went up the paved area because the grass was wet and the trail muddy.

I love Prospect Park. Its a wonderful hyper real space for urban dwellers. Drummers Grove, my destination, was created around 1968 as 'Congo Square' by drummers wanting an outdoor place.  There is a huge tree that spreads limbs over the area, like the hands of god. In 1997 the space became part of a $ million redevelopment of the East Drive, which is Parkside and Ocean Avenue side of the park. This is and I suppose will always be an ever evolving space where drummers, percussionist, dancers and even vendors come together with audience, on Sunday afternoons til the sun drops behind the New York skyline during summer.

I must admit the last time I made it to Drummers Grove is some 2+ years back. This afternoon, I was there for ''The Global Day of the Drum'. My steps toward Drummers Grove were happy because I wanted to be in a space my spirit wanted to be, doing something it loves.

I turned over a new leaf when I began my deep love affair with Caribbean Arts and Culture. So as I stood at the mouth of the tent, rain drops slipping off the leaves of the gigantic tree on me, my ears fixed on sounds of the drum, my eyes glazing over the drummers,  I allowed myself to embrace the moment and soaked in the rhythms unchecked.

Its been rattling in my brain for near 10 years now, the idea to bring Caribbean Arts to a cohesive place. Now its painfully obvious that the desire is greater than the reality, so I will need to work harder than I anticipated. A pretty hilarious omission... via observation... alot of us are so focused on the work, the importance and relevance of collective is ..well, my looming goal is more theoretical than I wish --- at this juncture. Getting HELL out of the way however is possible, getting the devil in the details will continue to challenge me.

Simple things fills me with joy...  they are gateways to the path of bliss... a serenity garden. I walked away from Drummers Grove about 7:45 PM chatting with one of the drummers. When I turned the corner onto the street I could still hear the sound of drumming.

Una Queen of Hats

Almost there..and the Creative gods are still hanging around in the event I need them to pull off a last minute burst. You all must come. People you know are going to be attending, Baba Menes de Griot, one of our drum king will be drumming, Angela Cooper is singing, Braata Folk Singers are rev up. There be hats, hats and hats...

Una Queen of HATS!

‘Una Queen of HATS!’ Caribbean Literary an Culturai Center @ Brooklyn Public Library, Linden Blvd & Flatvush Ave, on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 6- 8 PM

Whimsical, Creative, Wild, Normal, Bright & Bold Colors
Multi -Brim, Tall,Wide
Textured Fabric, Tiny & Large... even Eco Hats.
Hats that makes us wonder
Hats that will fill us with words


In celebration of Dr. Una S. T. Clarke
former NYC Council Member and Community Activist

For more information email maxineee@aol.com