Another Gospel Great Goes Home

Tribute To Anthony Burger

Written by: Sandi Duncan Clark

I’m almost afraid to answer the telephone any more. For the past month, my phone has startled me into tragic awareness that life is so fragile and very short. Just three weeks ago, we learned of the untimely passing of Doug Riley. The phone call this week rocked my world again with the news of the death of Anthony Burger.

On Wednesday evening, February 22^nd, as he finished playing “Hear My Song, Lord,” aboard a cruise ship with all the Gaither Homecoming friends and many Gospel music fans, Anthony John Burger went home to be with the Lord. 

For more than a quarter of a century, fans of Gospel music have enjoyed the musical talent of Anthony Burger. Anthony came to the fore-front of Southern Gospel when he joined the Kingsmen Quartet as a young teenager. He left to pursue a solo career and for the past few years, he has been a regular part of the Gaither Homecoming dynasty.

Anthony Burger was one of the most gifted pianists in the entire music world. His style was unique, mixing traditional Gospel music with classical music and winning fans where ever he played. Without a doubt, Anthony will be remembered as one who set the standard for other musicians in this industry. Many young musicians have imitated Anthony’s style and stage presence.

When I sat down to put my thoughts into words, pictures were running through my mind. Pictures of a sixteen year old Anthony with the magnificent, mighty Kingsmen: what a superb addition he was to this wonderful quartet. And since the Kingsmen were based in Asheville, North Carolina, a mere 60 miles up the road from my hometown, we saw them often.

I have flashbacks of Anthony growing into one of the most outstanding stage personalities in the world of music. Without a doubt, Anthony’s showmanship created a following that was difficult to match. He added so much to the Kingsmen’s performances.

Somewhere in my files, I have a photo of Anthony holding a newborn AJ, just days after his first-born’s birth. Yes, it was taken at a Gospel concert.

As the years passed, Anthony became a dear friend. He was one of my first interviews as a fledgling writer. In the good times, we laughed together. In the sad times, we cried together, and through it all we prayed together. That’s what friends are for, and Anthony Burger never forgot a friend.

Anthony loved God. That was instilled in him in his youth. He talked often about how good God had been to heal his hands and give him the gift of music. And he loved that music. He once told me that he was always so thankful to get home after a few days of traveling and performing, but after a day or two, he needed to sit down at the piano again. Music was truly a part of him. Anthony was one of the first instrumentalists to introduce a combination of a classical/secular piece of music with a Christian song. The audience loved it, since they could easily relate to both.

As a part of the Gaither Homecoming group, Anthony’s notoriety has spread internationally. Anthony played for the Gaither Vocal Band and for the Homecoming choir, as well as having a solo feature on each concert date. Fans loved him and standing ovations were a regular thing.

Anthony loved his family. He was proud of his wife and children. Anthony encouraged his children to pursue their dreams and he let them know he was there for them.

Anthony was loved by young and old alike. He was the darling of the “grandmothers” in the audience, and I have often heard him often ask a cute little girl standing at his record table waiting for an autograph if she had a boyfriend, and if he could be that boyfriend.

From the depths of his heart, Anthony Burger had a heart for the Southern Gospel industry. When we were together, we often spoke of the changes both in the personnel of various groups and in the music itself. Anthony’s heart hurt when any decisions were made that affected anyone in an adverse manner. Part of that came from his own personal experience and watching others, with God’s help, map their career.

It has been difficult for me to put all my thoughts together for this piece. First of all because Anthony Burger was my friend and my heart hurts. Secondly, because my words could never tell the whole of this man, his talent and his big heart.

Anthony, we will surely miss you. We will miss your smiling face, you intense focus on the piano when you would play. We will miss the way your eyebrows would rise when you made us laugh or said something to make us think. We will miss your big heart as you loved all of us, and gave so much of yourself for our enjoyment.

I can only imagine that the heavenly choir is gathering, the harps are being tuned and the master of the piano has now stepped over to take his place with that heavenly band. What an awesome welcoming that will be when we join our loved ones who have gone on.