Piano prodigy to play women’s expo
Kevin Burdick has been likened to being the love child of Billy Joel, Elton John and Ben Folds but according to his mom, Susan Burdick, he’s a one-of-a-kind, piano-playing prodigy.“He was about 6-months-old and as I’d rock him to sleep before putting him to bed he would hum this song that got longer and longer as he got older,” she said. “It was the same song every night when he was going to bed and sounded like the Russian song, The Volga Boatman, da, da, dah – dah.”
Susan said she knew no one would believe that her infant son was musically inclined at such a young age so she attempted to record him repeatedly.
“I tried to sneak in his bedroom at night and the second he heard me, he’d peak through his crib bumper and go silent,” she said. “I never did get him recorded but the song evolved and became intricate with all sorts of things. To me it was something from heaven.”
Burdick is sharing his innate gift he has mastered as a rock pianist this weekend at the What Women Want Expo as the premier attraction to the outdoor booth of SouthernUtahMoms.com, sponsored by Watch My House owned by Sherry McGhee and Annette Basso.
“The truth of the matter is that I was raised by my mom with four sisters,” said the 34-year-old independent musician. “My dad was never home because he was an attorney so I was heavily influenced by women, and women’s issues are close to my heart, and few things that women have to go through are reflected in my music.”
Songs like “She does her crying alone” and “Firefly” are tributes to single mothers who Burdick says are “real heroes.” A compelling soul-wrencher is Burdick’s song, “Too Good For This World,” which honors his infant daughter, Dempsey Sue Burdick. The newborn died May 3, 2003, at Phoenix Children’s Hospital from complications associated with open-heart surgery to correct a birth defect. She was just 31-days old.
“Any charity that deals with neo-natal issues has a place in my heart and peaks my interest because of my experience losing my only child,” he said.
Burdick will not only share his rhythmic and contagious melodies but will donate 10 percent of the proceeds of his CD sales at the Expo to the Foundation of Dixie Regional Medical Center to help the hospital’s youngest patients.
“We are honored and grateful to be the recipients of Kevin’s generosity. His desire to remember his infant daughter with a gift to ease the path of other parents with fragile newborns will mean a great deal to Dixie Regional,” said Kerry Kastler-Hepworth, Foundation of DRMC director. “While most mothers experience a joyful birth experience, 10 to 15 percent of all newborns require some specialized care.
“It is comforting to know there are partners in our community and beyond, like Kevin, helping us strengthen our newborn intensive care and maternal fetal medicine programs,” Hepworth added.
From infancy, Burdick has been a musical joy, Susan Burdick said.
“He comes up with songs that are clever, fun and inspiring,” she said. “I’m really glad I got him piano lessons when he was in the second grade and proud that he is sharing his talent that I’ve always known he possessed since the time he was born.”
Burdick will perform four concerts each day at the Expo. Expo attendees are invited to bring their blankets for the performances, register for free as users of SouthernUtahMom.com and purchase Burdick’s music.
Piano prodigy to play women’s expo
Kevin Burdick has been likened to being the love child of Billy Joel, Elton John and Ben Folds but according to his mom, Susan Burdick, he’s a one-of-a-kind, piano-playing prodigy.“He was about 6-months-old and as I’d rock him to sleep before putting him to bed he would hum this song that got longer and longer as he got older,” she said. “It was the same song every night when he was going to bed and sounded like the Russian song, The Volga Boatman, da, da, dah – dah.”
Susan said she knew no one would believe that her infant son was musically inclined at such a young age so she attempted to record him repeatedly.
“I tried to sneak in his bedroom at night and the second he heard me, he’d peak through his crib bumper and go silent,” she said. “I never did get him recorded but the song evolved and became intricate with all sorts of things. To me it was something from heaven.”
Burdick is sharing his innate gift he has mastered as a rock pianist this weekend at the What Women Want Expo as the premier attraction to the outdoor booth of SouthernUtahMoms.com, sponsored by Watch My House owned by Sherry McGhee and Annette Basso.
“The truth of the matter is that I was raised by my mom with four sisters,” said the 34-year-old independent musician. “My dad was never home because he was an attorney so I was heavily influenced by women, and women’s issues are close to my heart, and few things that women have to go through are reflected in my music.”
Songs like “She does her crying alone” and “Firefly” are tributes to single mothers who Burdick says are “real heroes.” A compelling soul-wrencher is Burdick’s song, “Too Good For This World,” which honors his infant daughter, Dempsey Sue Burdick. The newborn died May 3, 2003, at Phoenix Children’s Hospital from complications associated with open-heart surgery to correct a birth defect. She was just 31-days old.
“Any charity that deals with neo-natal issues has a place in my heart and peaks my interest because of my experience losing my only child,” he said.
Burdick will not only share his rhythmic and contagious melodies but will donate 10 percent of the proceeds of his CD sales at the Expo to the Foundation of Dixie Regional Medical Center to help the hospital’s youngest patients.
“We are honored and grateful to be the recipients of Kevin’s generosity. His desire to remember his infant daughter with a gift to ease the path of other parents with fragile newborns will mean a great deal to Dixie Regional,” said Kerry Kastler-Hepworth, Foundation of DRMC director. “While most mothers experience a joyful birth experience, 10 to 15 percent of all newborns require some specialized care.
“It is comforting to know there are partners in our community and beyond, like Kevin, helping us strengthen our newborn intensive care and maternal fetal medicine programs,” Hepworth added.
From infancy, Burdick has been a musical joy, Susan Burdick said.
“He comes up with songs that are clever, fun and inspiring,” she said. “I’m really glad I got him piano lessons when he was in the second grade and proud that he is sharing his talent that I’ve always known he possessed since the time he was born.”
Burdick will perform four concerts each day at the Expo. Expo attendees are invited to bring their blankets for the performances, register for free as users of SouthernUtahMom.com and purchase Burdick’s music.
