Jerry Burgan
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Jerry Burgan: plays guitar, banjo, sings, and arranges much of the band's music. Known as "The Keeper Of The Flame," he is the only member of the band to have been on every album from 1965 to the present. WE FIVE has released six albums / compact disks, appeared on dozens of network and local television shows, and performed concerts at thousands of college campuses, civic arenas and nightclubs across America and Canada. Jerry’s introduction to guitar came in the form of a ukulele his father brought home. They both learned to play and his dad soon replaced it with a tenor (4-string) guitar that eventually became a Martin 00-18. He began playing with Michael Stewart after 8th grade when Mike’s brother, John Stewart of the Kingston Trio, gave him a banjo. Their first attempt lasted all afternoon and they learned Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd and Darlin’ Corey. When blistered fingertips and hoarse voices no longer fazed them, the Ridgerunners were soon born. The group tried various members and became quite well known in the coffee houses of Southern California prior to evolving into what would become We Five. Under the tutelage of John, Jerry began writing songs with Michael while in high school. In addition to having many of his songs recorded by We Five over the years, he has written and arranged television and radio commercials, corporate presentations, musicals, children’s songs, gospel, and contemporary praise songs. The title song from “Take Each Day As It Comes” was written by Jerry and used by KCBS and KNX FM, Los Angeles for station ID’s and as a theme song in the early 70's. The arrangement of Lazy Bones he conceived with Pete Fullerton and recorded with Debbie on the ‘Return of We Five’ album has been used by Peer Music on compilation discs of Hoagy Carmichael songs as an example of the great range and contemtorary potential of Hoagy’s classic material. In the mid-70s, he worked as a vocal director with the New Fangled Dixie Corps at Disneyland, and was an arranger and guitarist on the Cabin Fever project for Debbie that was recorded at A&M in 1976. In addition to playing shows at civic auditoriums, performing arts centers, casinos and corporate concerts, Jerry has been active in providing We Five’s participation in fund raising events for several non-profit organizations; including, various fund raisers for high school booster clubs and the Alzheimer’s Association. Since ‘retiring’ from the road Jerry has continued to be active in music as a singer, musician, writer and producer. He has been a leader in the music department at First Baptist Church in Glendora, California since 1987. He believes that his diverse experience in the music business was preparation for learning to share the gift of music, and to develop the talents of others. With this in mind, he helps a wide range of musicians and singers from surrounding communities and schools. Under Jerry’s direction, the FBC music program has earned a reputation for having one of the best contemporary praise bands in the Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley. While working with the program, he and Debbie have written a Christmas cantata, music for two Vacation Bible School programs, numerous praise songs, and continue to produce performance tracks for use by singers. It is not unusual to see Jerry and Debbie, along with Chris and his siblings Jeremy and Jessica, singing and playing together at FBC. After his partnership with Debbie, and the joy of seeing his children all become active in creating music, Jerry considers the ability to play and enjoy music the great gift of his life--and he looks forward to continuing in much the same way during the second half…
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