Kirk Talley
Mar 8, 2006
 

Hello Krew Hope this finds everyone well. I have had so many comments on the last newsletter that gave the account of Anthony Burgers funeral in Nashville. Many of you wanted a recap of the one in Cleveland. I just didn't have the energy to write another one when I came home from that funeral. I left the next morning going to PA to sing, so I am just now getting settled enough to reflect on it. In the meantime, a friend of mine, Dee Bailey, wrote a great account and she has given me permission to use it. Here it is: Anthony John Burger – Home Where I Belong On Wednesday evening, February 22nd, another soul was promoted to heaven. On Wednesday, March 1st, we saw in a celebration of his life at Christ Church, Anthony John Burger, professional musician. This celebration also gave us glimpses at his love of family and friends. Today, March 3rd, at a Home-going Celebration, we saw Anthony John Burger, the man who was a professional musician. One of the things that amazes me most often is how God works so many different ways at different times and places. The service today began with a slideshow of Anthony's life, with his piano CD playing an accompaniment. A picture, the one in the recent Singing News article sat on the empty piano. This was followed by a welcome and remarks by Mayor Tom Rowland, of Cleveland, TN. Mayor Rowland had known Anthony since he was about 3. He told of the Joint Resolution signed by the Governor of Tennessee, the House and Senate honoring the memory of Anthony John Burger. He spoke of watching Anthony grow up, and of advising Richard and Jean Burger not to let their son go with the Kingsmen because if they sent their sixteen year old off to travel with a 'bunch of singers' he would never amount to anything. Amid the laughter, he smiled at the Burgers and said "I'm sure glad you didn't listen to me!" He told that the funeral was being broadcast on local station WCLE Radio, the first place Anthony was ever broadcast from as he played at the station. He shared how Anthony never forgot his hometown and what that had meant to the people there. As he told of hearing the news of Anthony's death, he related how his wife had gotten in her car on Thursday morning. Anthony's cd was in the deck and when she started the CD it skipped the first track and went to track 2 "Home Where I Belong". As that song finished, it skipped track 3 and went to track 4 "Feeling at Home". They later played the CD in another player and it worked fine. To them it was a message saying 'everything is fine'. Next the Voices of Lee did a tremendous rendition of 'The Old Rugged Cross'. This was the very first song Anthony ever played so it was fitting it be the first song at the service. Kevin Williams then played 'Unclouded Day' on his guitar. As he finished he told how this was the song that he played just before the artist were to take the stage and it was Anthony's cue to head that way. Anthony's mom had asked him to share some funnies of traveling with Anthony. First, he told us that he was wearing Anthony's tie because when you are on the road together, you just borrow each other's things. He shared how he was teaching a guitar class as Stamps Baxter and Anthony walked in while he was teaching, picked up a guitar and began to play, his student sat there with his mouth open. Obviously not knowing Anthony could play almost anything, the student was speechless. He told of keyboards falling on Anthony's feet (and wondering if he come make that happen again). And of arriving in Bangor, Maine but their luggage not arriving so they had nothing to wear on stage. They finally found two pairs of black Levis, a size 30 and a size 36. Anthony squeezed into the 30s, leaving Kevin to try to keep on the size 36. Kevin then proceeded to imitate Anthony moving on stage in the Levis a couple of sizes too small. From the hilarious to the center of who Anthony was, Pastor Ricky Vaughn began by quoting from Revelation 14:13 "… Blessed are the dead, that die in the Lord…". Blessed- happy, we know that Anthony is happy today as he is with the Father. From Romans 12:6-8, he spoke of gifts and named four gifts he was sure Anthony had. They were the gift of ministry, the gift of friendship, the gift of family and the gift of God. From there he moved to Romans 6:23, and explained the need to accept the gift of God as payment for our sins. He told of Anthony's salvation at age nine, explaining this gift using Ephesians 2:8-9. He concluded by urging us to take the gift of God if we did not already know Him and to give ourselves to God to the best of our abilities. He said if Anthony were here today, he would say "Give your all". Kirk Talley then sang, "He Is Here" and truly you could feel the presence of God in that place. Tabitha Huff, Anthony's niece, talked about Anthony while a song he and her dad had written played in the back ground. "Angels Dancing" was the title and while they had written the music, they had never put words to it. As a slideshow of Anthony flashed in the background, Tabitha's remembrances of Anthony filled in the words. She told of his love for his parents. He called them every day to see how they were. She told of how he loved his children and the rest of his family. She told how they had taken for granted he would be there and she wished she had known that wasn't so. The lesson to cherish the important things was there. Tabitha told how in February, 1962, Anthony had fallen on the furnace and got 3rd degree burns. The burns were so bad he wasn't even crying, it had taken his breath away. She then related a story told by someone at the concert that last night. The lady said as Anthony was playing she felt something brush by her, and she saw an angel in white and gold go up to stand behind Anthony at the piano. Tabitha said as the angel laid his hand on Anthony's back, in February, 2006, it was so wonderful, it took his breath away. You may not believe we can see angels, but seen or unseen angels surely ushered Anthony into the presence of the Lord. Before singing again, Kirk shared what a true friend Anthony had been. He told how Anthony called him every week as he was going thorough his struggles, often inviting Kirk to travel with him and Lu on a weekend. Then he talked about how Anthony was a perfectionist with his music and how he loved his smoke machine. He said the weekend after Anthony's death as he was flying to Florida a lady seated beside him said Anthony was probably playing for the angels. Kirk grinned and said "I just said, yeah but in my mind I thought, no, he won't play until he finds an extension cord for that smoke machine!" Kirk then thanked LuAnn for making his friend so happy. Kirk talked of how Anthony could encourage and uplift and audience. And he reminisced about seeing Anthony with his hands raised in the air as the smoke cleared after playing a song. "Serenaded By Angels" was his closing. The Voices of Lee then performed the last solo Anthony ever played, "We Shall Behold Him". Again the presence of the Lord was so real during this service. Pastor James Vaughn closed out the speaking part of the service with words of encouragement and hope for the entire family. He then said a prayer for God to help them in the coming days. As the prayer ended the first notes of the "Hallelujah Chorus" began to play and this song from the Masterpiece DVD was shown on the screen with the Voices of Lee joining in from the choir. This was a fitting celebration to a wonderful life of Christian service. At the grave site after the pastor has spoken a few words and prayed with the family, we were all asked to move so the family could see up the hill. Up a little way from us was a man with a basket. Another man spoke but from our position we couldn't hear all of what he said, but what we caught was about how the soul that leaves is caught up to meet the Lord and those gone before. They then released a basket of doves. After waiting a couple of moments, the man took another basket and released a single dove. The group, circled around to meet the one released alone. I can't speak for anyone else but it gave me chills! The pallbearers for today's service were, Danny Murray, Steve Allen, Travis Burger, John Allen, Kirk Talley and Kevin Williams. Today's service was attended by family, friends and some fans, not many have names that would be recognized. But Anthony would recognize them and he would call most of them by name. That was the type of man he was. That is one of the reason's why he will be so greatly missed. Anthony Burger, as a musician, there will never be another like him. As a friend, he can never be replaced. As a Christian he has left a legacy for others to follow. D. Ann Bailey 3/3/06 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ This past weekend was great. Saturday night I sang in Elizabethtown PA. Well actually I wasn't in town. I was out in the middle of a Corn Field. I kept asking where "town" was and everyone laughed. Nathan Oweiler hosted me at Shenks Brethren Church and it was a great great concert. I saw lots of people who used to come to Garden Spot Concerts. The church opened several side sections and put out extra chairs to accommodate the crowd. Sunday night I was in Brownsville/Knoxville MD. Again I was out in the country and even the audience couldn't decide where we were! Paul Heavener was the host for the evening and the church seemed very excited about the evening. It was great to see Charlie and Evelyn Summers again. They used to promote concerts in Jefferson MD for the Cathedrals when I was with them years ago! ______________________________________________________________________________________ Just a reminder that Thursday the 9th of March is the deadline for getting the reservation to go to see Steel Magnolias with the group on March 26th. If you are planning on going with us, call the office immediately at 865 933 2100. The Cumberland County Playhouse is holding a group of seats for us in the front section and we have to have an exact number by Thursday. After Thursday, you won't be guaranteed a seat with the KirksKrew group. After the play, we will go to the Cumberland County State Park and have the buffet and a fun time of fellowship. Hope you all are making plans to come to Maryville TN on the 25th of April. It's gonna be great! Poet Voices, First Love, Allison Speer and myself! Dot will have tickets. Call the office. This weekend, I am heading to NC. Dunn NC, and Archdale NC. Complete details on the website- www.kirktalley.com Hope to see a bunch of Krew members! Kapt Kirk Here are some upcoming dates March 10 Dun, NC March 11 Archdale, NC March 12 Archdale, NC March 19 Orlando, FL March 25 Maryville, TN Details are on the webpage.