Background
Burgess was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. His early musical training included education at Toronto"s Saint Michael"s Choir School.
Burgess was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. His early musical training included education at Toronto"s Saint Michael"s Choir School.
He studied at the University of Ottawa.
Burgess appeared as one of the 17 Jean Valjeans at the end of the Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert. His other major performances include Manitoba of la Mancha, Blood Brothers, and starring roles throughout Canada and the United States. He is also known in Canada for his frequent vocal performances of national anthems.
He was the first individual to sing "O Canada" at the baseball World Series, in Atlanta in 1992.
He also has a son Jesse Burgess from a previous relationship. Burgess died in a hospice in Toronto on September 28, 2015, from skin cancer.
He was 70.
In 2013, he was made a Member of the Order of Ontario.