Anthony John Burger (June 5, 1961 - February 22, 2006)
 Anthony Burger |
Biography
Anthony Burger, a Southern Gospel musician and singer, was the son of Richard and Jean Burger. When he was just eight months old as he was learning to walk in a walker, one of the wheels of the walker got caught on the furnace grate and the walker turned over, throwing him down on the heater. He sustained third degree burns throughout his legs, face and hands. He had to be carried on a pillow for an entire year, during which time he received three medicated baths a day for the burns. Doctors who treated him said he would never be able to move his hands. But God had a plan for his life and his hands. At age 3, Anthony played his first song, The Old Rugged Cross, and was just five years old when he became the youngest student ever to be accepted by the Chattanooga Cadek Conservatory. Playing the piano was more than just a job for Anthony Burger. It was a way of life, as well as a blessing, privilege and a direct gift from God.
Anthony was the pianist for The Celestials, The Kingsmen Quartet and the Gaither Homecoming Series. As a young teenager, barely 16, he joined one of Gospel music's most popular quartets, The Kingsmen Quartet, and by the age of 17 was nominated as one of the Top Five pianists in Gospel music. In fact, he earned that award by subscribers of The Singing News Magazine for 10 consecutive years, from 1980 through 1989. For a few years, the Award became known as the Anthony Burger Award.
He was thrilled to perform at the White House, as well as several Billy Graham Crusades. He also appeared on The Today Show, David's Citadel in Jerusalem and Prime Time Country. Shortly after leaving The Kingsmen Quartet and embarking on his own solo career, he began traveling with Bill Gaither, serving as pianist for the Gaither Vocal Band, the Bill Gaither Trio and the Gaither Homecoming Series. He was a Dove Award nominee this year for Instrumental Album of the Year and recently was endorsed by Steinway & Sons.
Anthony also did a stint with a group comprised of Ivan Parker, Kirk Talley and himself called simply "The Trio" in which he not only accompanied but also contributed vocally. His performances exceeded 250 each year, and he loved every moment on the road, on stage, sitting at the piano.
Anthony died suddenly during a piano performance on February 22, 2006 aboard a Caribbean cruise as it sailed in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the official medical examiner's report, Burger's heart simply burst. He was on board the ms Zuiderdam with his wife LuAnn, Bill & Gloria Gaither, many of his Homecoming friends and more than 1500 passengers, doing exactly what he loved best, playing the piano. He was only 44 years old. His life could easily be summed up with a quote that he himself once stated, "I am a simple man, with a majestic instrument and the power of God behind me." That's the life he lived. That's the life he loved, and that's the legacy he leaves.
Anthony is buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Cleveland, Bradley County, Tennessee, USA.
Awards
SGMA Hall Of Fame (2007)
Singing News Fan Awards
Favorite Musician (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
Solo Discography
hi-res1975 Anthony Burger At The Lowrey Organ (Pinnacle Records/PRS-1002): Love Story; One Note Sambaa; Pearly Shells; Bluegrass Medley; Somewhere My Love; Release Me; If; Tie A Yellow Ribbon; Last Date; Edelweiss; Green, Green Grass Of Home; Misty; I Can't Stop Loving You.
1983 Piano Classics Featuring The Old Ship Of Zion (Riversong Records/ZLP-8301): Just Over In The Gloryland; In The Garden; I Sing The Mighty Power; Hymn Medley: Amazing Grace/To God Be The Glory/His Truth Is Marching On/Hallelujah Chorus/Doxology; When They Ring Those Golden Bells; The Old Ship Of Zion; Keep On The Firing Line; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; Looking For A City; Just Wait Till You See My Brand New Home.
hi-res
1984 Plays The Greatest Hits Of The Kingsmen (Heartwarming Records/RO3760): The Lily Of The Valley; I've Got A Reservation; Excuses; Sweet Beulah Land; Beautiful Home; Child, Child; I'm Standing On The Solid Rock; Shake Hands With A Poor Boy; Saints Will Rise; When My Feet Touch The Streets Of Gold.
1985 Instrumentally Your - Songs Of Squire Parsons (Beulah Records)
1987 Expressions Of My Heart (Riversong Records/2440): I’d Rather Have Jesus; Because He Lives; When They Ring Those Golden Bells; Nothing But The Blood; It Is No Secret; How Excellent Is Thy Name; It Is Well With My Soul; Give Me That Old Time Religion; Undivided; At The Cross.
1989 Piano Classics II (Homeland Records): Gloryland Medley; I Am Bound For The Promised Land; The Easter Song; People Need The Lord; Because He Lives; Goodbye World Goodbye; How About Your Heart; The Lord Has His Hand On Me; Higher Ground; Hymn Medley: Softly And Tenderly/Have Thine Own Way.
1991 An Anthony Burger Christmas (Horizon Records): Sleigh Ridel It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; What Child Is This; O Come All Ye Faithful; Silent Night; Little Drummer Boy; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; Children's Medley; O Holy Night; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
1991 Precious Memories (Pinnacle Records): Victory In Jesus; Amazing Grace; Precious Memories; Whispering Hope; How Great Thou Art; When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder; The Old Rugged Cross; He; Chariots Of Fire; The Lord's Prayer; America Medley.
1992 Burnin' It Up (Pinnacle Records): Overture; Lily Of The Valley; Love Lifted Me; I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now; It Is Well With My Soul; Wish You Were Here; Church In The Wildwood; He's Sending Miracles; I'll Fly Away; When They Ring Those Golden Bells; Who Am I.
hi-res
1993 20 Southern Gospel Piano Favorites (Benson Records/84418-2222-2): Keep On The Firing Line; I Sing The Mighty Power; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; Hymn Medley; Looking For A City; In The Garden; Is That The Old Ship Of Zion; Just Wait Til You See My New Home; Sweet Beulah Land; Give Me That Old Time Religion; It Is Well With My Soul; I'm Standing On The Solid Rock; Child, Child; At The Cross; It Is No Secret; I'd Rather Have Jesus; Nothing But The Blood; Undivided; Anthony's Salute To The Troops; When We All Get To Heaven.
1995 God's Country (Homeland Records): Keep On The Sunny Side; Crying In The Chapel; Take My Hand Precious Lord; Family Bible; Peace In The Valley; Where The Soul Never Dies; He Set Me Free; Suppertime; Where Could I Go; Where No One Stands Alone; I Saw The Light; You'll Never Walk Alone. (Reissued in 2009 on Spring House Records).
1995 The Gift (Homeland Records/9522): My Favorite Things/Carol Of The Bells; Come On Ring Those Bells; The Gift; Go Tell It On The Mountain/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Mary Did You Know; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Away In A Manger/Joy To The World/Hark The Herald Angels Sing; Brahms Lullaby; Reprise-The Gift. (Reissued in 2009 on Spring Hill Records)
hi-res
1996 New Born Feeling (Homeland Records): Marvelous God; New Born Feeling; Blessed Assurance; Goodbye World Goodbye; Old Friends; Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee; Gloryland Medley; Give Thanks; Praise Medley; We Shall Behold Him. (Reissued in 2009 on Spring Hill Records).
1997 The Story (Horizon Records): Tell Me The Story Of Jesus; I Love To Tell The Story; Power In The Blood; Jesus Paid It All; Nothing But The Blood; Are You Washed In The Blood; At Calvary; Near The Cross; The Old Rugged Cross; Ten Thousand Angels; There Is A Fountain; Cleanse Me; When I Survey The Wondrous Cross; Shall We Gather At The River; No Not One; More About Jesus; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; The Lord's Prayer; Sweet Hour Of Prayer; Trust And Obey; Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus; I Must Tell Jesus; Softly And Tenderly; Just As I Am; Have Thine Own Way; I'd Rather Have Jesus; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; This Is My Story; How Great Thou Art; Wonderful Peace. (Reissued in 2001 as an Independent Release) (Several songs are repeated throughout the album for a total of 38 tracks).
1997 My Best To You (Horizon Records): Lily Of The Valley; It Is Well With My Soul; The Promised Land; Wish You Were Here; When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder; When They Ring Those Golden Bells; Victory In Jesus; Easter Song; People Need The Lord; Because Of Who You Are; Who Am I; I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now; Higher Ground; Chariots Of Fire; Softly And Tenderly; How Great Thou Art; Church In The Wildwood; The Old Rugged Cross; How About Your Heart; Anthony's Anthology.
1999 All Aboard Live (Parable Records): Revive Us Again/Gettin' Ready To Leave This World; Worship The Name; When The Morning Comes; Chattanooga Choo-Choo; Brotherly Mischief; Keep On The Firing Line; Tell Me The Story/I Love To Tell The Story; I'd Rather Have Jesus/It's My Desire; A J And Austin; We Shall Behold Him; America The Beautiful; Remembering Our Veterans; Salute To The Troops; Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee; Great Is Thy Faithfulness/How Big Is God/How Great Thou Art; Champion Of Love.
1999 The Best Of Anthony Burger (Homeland Records): Unclouded Day; A Mighty Fortress Is Our God; Just A Little While/Meeting In The Air; Marvelous God; Praise Medley; Goodbye World Goodbye; Keep On The Sunny Side; Where The Soul Never Dies; Gloryland Medley; He Set Me Free; Blessed Assurance; Morning Has Broken; Mary Did You Know; The Gift; Feelin' At Home In The Presence Of Jesus; Holy Ground; Give Thanks; I Saw The Light; In Christ Alone; Champion Of Love.
hi-res
2000 A Mighty Fortress (Homeland Records): Unclouded Day; Home Where I Belong; Holy Ground; Feeling At Home In The Presence Of Jesus; Morning Has Broken; A Mighty Fortress Is Our God; Just A Little While/Meeting In The Air; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; In Christ Alone; Champion Of Love. (Reissued in 2009 on Spring House Records).
hi-res
2000 Hands Of Time (Anthony Burger Productions?/ABP0001D): Holy Holy Holy; Balm Of Gilead/The Holy City; Theme From Exodus; More Than Wonderful; Angels Dancing; Class of '79 Medley; What A Savior Medley; God Gave The Song; He Lives Medley; I Will Serve Thee; Lily Of The Valley; I Wish We'd All Been Ready.
2001 The Story - Christmas (Custom Records): Emmanuel; The Birthday Of A King; O Come O Come Emmanuel; Ave Maria; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Silent Night; Away In A Manger; O Holy Night; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy To The World; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; What Child Is This; The First Noel; Do You Hear What I Hear; Angels We Have Heard On High; Hark The Herald Angels Sing; We Three Kings Of Orient Are; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Go Tell It On The Mountain; Let There Be Peace On Earth. (Several songs are repeated throught the album for a total of 24 tracks).
2001 The Story Continues (Custom Records): Tell Me The Story Of Jesus; Satisfied; I Stand Amazed In The Presence; Pass Me Not; I Surrender All; Where He Leads Me I Will Follow; Follow Me; It Is Well With My Soul; Heaven Came Down; Were You There When They Crucified My Lord; Blessed Assurance; Victory In Jesus; Wonderful Grace Of Jesus; To God Be The Glory; Amazing Grace; Higher Ground; Down At The Cross; When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder; Blessed Be The Name; He Is Lord; Onward Christian Soldiers; There Is A Savior; Take The Name Of Jesus With You?; Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know; Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow; O How I Love Jesus; Standing On The Promises; Are You Washed In The Blood; Grace Greater Than All Our Sin; The King Is Coming/Redeemed; In The Sweet By And By; I Love To Tell The Story. (Several songs are repeated throughout the album for a total of 38 tracks).
2002 Masterpiece (Gaither Music Group/2547): Rhapsody In Blue/Shout To The Lord; I Sing The Mighty Power; Clair De Lune/Jesus Loves Me; God Leads Us Along; Hallelujah Chorus; Swingin’ My Way Back Home; Old Time Religion/William Tell Overture; Over The Rainbow; Friends Medley; Ain’t No Mountain High Enough; No Longer A Stranger; Doxology.
hi-res
2002 Let Freedom Ring (Spring House Records/SHD2407): The Star Spangled Banner/Statue Of Liberty; Through It All; America The Beautiful; Battle Hymn Of The Republic; God Bless America; Let Freedom Ring; Salute To The Troops; People Need The Lord; The King Is Coming; The Church Triumphant.
2003 A Christmas Gift (KRB Records): My Favorite Things/Carol Of The Bells; Come On Ring Those Bells; The Gift; Go Tell It On The Mountain/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Mary Did You Know; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Away In A Manger; Joy To The World/Hark The Herald Angels Sing; Brahms' Lullaby.
2003 The Story - Praise And Worship (Custom Records): Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome; Surely The Presence; In The Presence Of Jehovah; I Love You Lord; Sweet Sweet Spirit; We Have Come Into This House; Holy Ground; He Is Here; I Exalt Thee; Jesus We Crown You With Praise; We Sing Praises To Your Name; There's Something About That Name; His Name Is Wonderful; I Love The Lord; More Than Enough; He's All I Need; Change My Heart Oh God; Have Thine Own Way; Sanctuary; Flow Through Me; Alleluia; Bless The Lord; Hallelujah Praise The Lamb; Majesty; He Is Lord; Let's Just Praise The Lord; Let There Be Glory And Honor To Jesus; All Hail King Jesus; Shout To The Lord; Center Of My Joy; Oh How He Loves You And Me; This Is The Day; What A Mighty God We Serve; Awesome God; As The Deer; All Rise; Above All; Give Thanks.
2004 A Tribute To Bill And Gloria Gaither (Gaither Music Group): He Touched Me; Let's Just Praise The Lord; These Are They; I Will Serve Thee; Feeling At Home In The Presence Of Jesus; Going Home; Sinner Saved By Grace; The Longer I Serve Him; There's Something About That Name; Gentle Shepherd; God Gave The Song; Then Came The Morning; The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference; I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary; Something Beautiful; Get All Excited; Because He Lives; The King Is Coming; I've Just Seen Jesus; It Is Finished; He's Still The King Of Kings. (A couple of songs are repeated throughout the album for 23 total tracks).
2005 The Best Of Anthony Burger: Goodby World Goodby; Great Is Thy Faithfulness Medley; Just A Little While Medley; Theme From Exodus; The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Medley; Keep On The Firing Line; Salute To The Armed Forces; Holy, Holy, Holy; Hallelujah Chorus; I've Got That Old Time Religion In My Heart Medley; I've Just Seen Jesus; We Shall Behold Him.
2007 The Kingsmen Years (Horizon Records): Victory In Jesus; Amazing Grace; Higher Ground; The Old Rugged Cross; The Lily Of The Valley; Whispering Hope; The Church In The Wildwood; When They Ring Those Golden Bells; When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder; It Is Well With My Soul; I Am Bound For The Promised Land; Softly And Tenderly; Love Lifted Me; The Lord's Prayer; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; What Child Is This; O Come All Ye Faithful; Silent Night; The Little Drummer Boy; O Holy Night.
2007 Christmas With You (Spring Hill Records): Good Christian Men Rejoice; I'll Be Home For Christmas; Deck The Halls; White Christmas; The Christmas Waltz; We Need A Little Christmas; The Gift; Mary Did You Know; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/What Child Is This; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; Christmas With You.
2008 Hymns (Spring Hill Records): Tell Me The Story/I Love To Tell The Story/Tell Me The Story (Reprise): There Is Power In The Blood/Nothing But The Blood/At Calvary; In The Cross/At The Cross; At Calvary (Reprise)/Old Rugged Cross/Ten Thousand Angels; More About Jesus/What A Friend/When I Survey The Wondrous Cross/What A Friend (Reprise); The Lord's Prayer/Sweet Hour Of Prayer; Trust And Obey/I Must Tell Jesus; Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Softly And Tenderly; Just As I Am/Have Thine Own Way/I'd Rather Have Jesus; Great Is Thy Faithfulness/This Is My Story/How Great Thou Art/Wonderful Peace; Were You There/Blessed Assurance; Victory In Jesus/To God Be The Glory; Amazing Grace/When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder/Blessed Be The Name; He Is Lord/Onward Christian Soldiers/There Is A Savior; Standing On The Promises/Are You Washed In The Blood; It Is Well With My Soul; The King Is Coming/Interlude; In The Sweet By And By/Tell Me The Story; I Love To Tell The Story/Amazing Grace.
2010 Best Loved Melodies (Spring Hill Records): Snowbird; You Are The Sunshine Of My Life; Born Free; Green, Green Grass Of Home; The Impossible Dream; Joyful Joyful; You Light Up My Life; Theme From Exodus; Morning Has Broken; Autumn Leaves; We Shall Behold Him.
2012 The Christmas Collection (Spring Hill Records): (This album is a reissue of The Story - Christmas from 2001).
Songwriter's Résumé
(Partial List)
My Days Are Getting Brighter