Irving Louis Burgie (July 28, 1924 – November 29, 2019), sometimes known professionally as Lord Burgess,[1] was an American musician and songwriter, regarded as one of the greatest composers of Caribbean music.

Burgie joined the US Army in World War II, and served in Burma, China and India, where he started playing guitar and singing.

[3][6] Using the name Lord Burgess, he began singing and playing guitar in New York City clubs, developing a repertoire based around songs from the Caribbean that he had learned as a child or collected in visits to the area.

[6] Burgie and Attaway wrote a version of the lyrics for the "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" for the Colgate Comedy Hour, and it was then recorded by Belafonte for RCA Victor.

"Day-O" was a traditional Jamaican song that was sung by dock workers who worked throughout the night loading bananas onto ships.

[6][7][8] His death was announced by Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at the nation’s Independence Day Parade.