Dan Burley
Dan Burley was an influential African American jazz and blues pianist, journalist, and cultural commentator born on November 7, 1907, in Lexington, Kentucky. The son of a former slave and a teacher, he grew up in both Lexington and Fort Worth before moving to Chicago in 1918. Burley's dual career as a musician and journalist began in the 1920s, where he played in various clubs at night while working as a reporter for the Chicago Defender and later for the Amsterdam News. He became notable for his original compositions and performance with groups like The Skiffle Boys, blending styles such as boogie woogie and Harlem swing.
In addition to his musical contributions, Burley was a significant voice in advocating for racial integration, using his platform to influence public opinion on race relations through entertainment and sports columns. His most recognized work, "Dan Burley's Original Handbook of Harlem Jive," provided insights into African American vernacular and culture, aiding cross-cultural understanding in post-World War II America. Throughout his career, Burley continued to impact journalism and media, contributing to major publications and serving as a radio personality. He passed away on October 30, 1962, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazer in both music and journalism.
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Dan Burley
- Born: November 7, 1907
- Birthplace: Lexington, Kentucky
- Died: October 30, 1962
- Place of death: Chicago, Illinois
Biography
Daniel Gardner Burley was born on November 7, 1907, in Lexington, Kentucky, the son of James Burley, a former slave and Baptist minister, and Anna Seymour Burley, a teacher at the Tuskegee Institute. Burley was raised in Lexington and Fort Worth, Texas, until 1918, when his family moved to Chicago.
After completing high school in Chicago, Burley, an accomplished jazz and blues pianist, played by night at various small African American clubs in the city. By day, he was a journalist, serving as reporter, columnist, and sports reporter for the Chicago Defender newspaper from 1928 until 1932 and as a correspondent for the Associated Negro Press. He later was the editor of the South Side Civic Telegram, and from 1932 until 1937 he was city editor, columnist, sportswriter, and theatrical critic for the Chicago Sunday Bee.
In the late 1930’s, Burley moved to the Harlem section of New York City, where his music found a home in the midst of the fertile nightlife of the era. Burley wrote many original compositions, including “The Chicken Shack Shuffle,” “Pig Food Sonata,” and “They Raided the Joint,” that he performed with his group, The Skiffle Boys, whose other members were bassist George “Pops” Foster and brother guitarists Brownie and Sticks McGhee. Burley also performed with other popular musicians, including Lionel Hampton, Leonard Feather, and Albert Nicolas and the All-Star Stompers. Burley’s piano style was a blend of boogie woogie, stride, and Harlem swing.
At the same time he was making music in Harlem, Burley also was influencing the way Americans thought about race. From 1937 to 1948, he was a reporter, city editor, columnist, and theatrical and sports editor of the Amsterdam News. Burley wrote the widely read syndicated entertainment gossip columns “Back Door Stuff” and “Everybody Goes When the Wagon Comes,” often written in street language jive. He later switched to sports columns, producing “Talking Out Loud” and “Confidentially Yours,” in which he became an outspoken advocate for the integration of American society, especially through sports.
During his tenure at the Amsterdam News, Burley published his only full-length work of note, Dan Burley’s Original Handbook of Harlem Jive. A valuable reference for linguists examining the ethnic roots of languages, this book is part historical examination, part social commentary, and still relevant because many of the expressions it contains, such as “cool,” “funky” and “in a jiffy,” are in use today. The handbook is credited with helping bridge the gap in understanding between white and black Americans in the post-World War II era.
Late in his career, Burley wrote for New York Age and became a disk jockey for radio stations WLIB and WWRL. In the 1950’s he returned to Chicago, where he was a staff writer for Jet and Ebony magazines and for the Muhammed Speaks newspaper. He later became the publisher of another newspaper, Owl. Burley died of a heart attack on October 30, 1962.