Dan Bursey named gospel artist of the year

With the release of the children’s album “God Is In My Corner,” Dan Bursey has been recognized by the membership of Music Newfoundland and Labrador (Music NL) as the 2011 Gospel Artist of the Year.

This is the first award for Bursey, who has previously been nominated for one other Music NL award, in 2009, and three national Covenant awards through the Gospel Music Association.

“It’s nice to receive this award because you put a lot of hard work into this and sometimes you don’t see it pay off, but to be recognized by my peers is a good feeling,” he said.

This year has been a busy one for Bursey. “God Is In My Corner” was one of three albums he released in 2011. The other two were adult audience albums that included a live album recorded at By The Bay Museum and Roots By The Water’s Edge.

For the children’s album, Bursey enlisted the talent of some young local singers, including two of his children, Maxwell and Samara.

“It was a different experience being in the recording studio with children, but a fun one,” he said. “They walk into the studio and none of them really knew what to expect. They were really excited.”

Bursey thought it made sense to make an album of music for children.

“When I was working at the church here I was a youth and children’s pastor,” he said. “I found there wasn’t a lot of church music for children that you could use in a children’s service. So it seemed like a void that needed to be filled.”

It seems that he was right, as the album has been well received. The music — which is all original material — was written so parents could enjoy the album with their children. Bursey has been doing quite a bit of travelling, sharing his music with various churches.

Based on that success, Bursey has a second children’s album in the works, with plans for a spring 2012 release. Once again children will join him in The Little Known Artists’ Studio with producer Dean Stairs in Lewisporte.

He said he hopes to record and release another adult audience album in 2012.

For more information on the children’s album or any of Bursey’s recordings and upcoming appearances, look to www.danbursey.com or www.ignitionkids.com.

The Pilot