



His death was confirmed by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who called for a moment of silence for the man who wrote its national anthem.




US media reports say Burgie died on Friday as a result of complications from heart failure.


Burgie wrote eight of the 11 songs on Harry Belafonte’s 1956 album Calypso, which was the first album in the US to sell more than a million copies.


His other well-known songs include Island in the Sun, Jamaica Farewell and Mary’s Boy Child, which he co-wrote.


He then used the benefits he received as a war veteran to fund his studies at New York’s prestigious Juilliard performing arts school and went on to launch a career as a singer and guitarist before moving into writing songs for others.