Anthony Burger, Gospel Music Pianist, Dies at 44

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: February 24, 2006

NASHVILLE, Feb. 23 (AP) — Anthony Burger, a gospel music pianist who played for the popular Gaither Homecoming shows and earned Dove Award nominations for his albums of instrumental music, collapsed and died during a performance on Wednesday. He was 44.

He died while performing on a Gaither Homecoming cruise out of Miami, said a family friend, Tom Rowland, the mayor of Cleveland, Tenn., where Mr. Burger grew up.

"They have not done an autopsy yet, but they suspect it was a heart attack," Mr. Rowland said.

Mr. Burger, who lived near Nashville in Brentwood, released many albums and videos of his music. His records included renditions of "Old-Time Religion" and the Hallelujah Chorus alongside secular classics like Debussy's "Clair de Lune."

Most recently, he had been a guest artist and pianist for Gaither Homecoming concerts, headlined by the gospel star Bill Gaither.

Two Gaither albums featuring Mr. Burger, "Gaither Homecoming Tour: Live From Toronto" and "Canadian Homecoming," are currently in the Top 10 on contemporary Christian album sales charts, and the video versions are in the Top 10 on Billboard's music video chart.

This year, Mr. Burger's album "A Tribute to Bill and Gloria Gaither" was nominated by the Gospel Music Association for its Dove Award in the instrumental album category.

As a small child, Mr. Burger fell onto a furnace grate and was burned on his hands, legs and face. He later wrote that "gradually, the Lord healed my hands because he had a job for me to do." Mr. Burger started playing when he was 3 years old and made his debut on the radio at age 5, Mr. Rowland said.

Mr. Burger is survived by his wife, LuAnn, two sons and a daughter.