Memorial services for Anthony Burger, gospel music pianist for Bill and Gloria Gaither's Homecoming shows, were held Tuesday and Wednesday at Christ Church in Nashville. Additionally, services are scheduled in Burger's hometown of Cleveland, Tenn., at Clingan Ridge Baptist Church, with a viewing tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m., and a funeral scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Burger died Wednesday at age 44 of a suspected heart attack while performing on a Gaither Homecoming cruise in the Caribbean.

Two “Homecoming” albums and videos currently at the top of the charts feature Burger: Canadian Homecoming is No. 1 on the Christian SoundScan Christian Video chart (week ending Feb. 26) and features his “Gettin' Ready to Leave This World,” while Gaither Homecoming Tour: Live From Toronto is No. 3 on the same chart, and has Burger's “Shout to the Lord/Rhapsody in Blue Medley.” Burger also is featured on A Tribute to Bill & Gloria Gaither CD, which has been nominated for a 2006 GMA Award in the Instrumental Album of the Year category. The Gaither Music Group is scheduled to release The Best of Anthony Burger on CD and DVD April 21 (EMI CMG).

Burger is survived by his wife, LuAnn; two sons, AJ and Austin; a daughter, Lori; his mother and father, Richard and Jean Burger; and two brothers, Randy and Clinton Burger.

Tributes can be viewed online at www.anthonyburger.com , www.gaither.com/news/news1101.html and www.steinway.com/noteworthy/news/anthony_burger.shtml.

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