BURCHMORE Simon, a local music teacher and producer with more than 30 years in the industry, recalls that his love for music dates back to when he started playing the piano at just six years old. Having achieved many impressive accolades in the field, Simon can reflect on his life and say that he’s proud of how far he’s come and would only wish that the youngsters of today would ‘take the baton and run with it.’
His vast experience and expertise in the field include teaching music for many years, touring with bands; arranging, producing, writing, and publishing music, and running his Kross Kolor Records Company on Duncan Street, Georgetown.
“I always had a passion for music since very early in my life; I then realised that music has so many arms. There are no less than 50 areas in which you can branch-off and do things and I realised that it’s possible to live off of music but not in the traditional way,” Simon expressed in an interview with Buzz this week.

While most people may feel that to be a musician they must perform on stage, Simon reflected on the fact that he can make a comfortable living being in music when it comes to managing artistes and so forth. Simon has enjoyed the limelight for 12 years when he was the leader of the EC Connection Band which was one of the top bands emerging in Guyana. But being at the forefront of everything is not exactly Simon’s cup of tea.
“I like to achieve stuff and just move on to the next thing. There are still so many more things to achieve,” he said.
He’s been able to accomplish a lot of impressive work even behind the scenes. It was him who had put Jumo and Adrian together and who produced many of their songs that made waves locally, including Tik Tok, Crazy and Push it Back.
As for competitions in Guyana, Simon has won 57 first places from when Kross Kolor started in 2002 to now. Of those, 53

of them have been through the Soca and Calypso Road March Competitions.

“One of my most notable accomplishments was when I wrote the song ‘Mamma I don’t want to be born’ and it was used at the University of Guyana as part of their final examinations. I think that was a fantastic honour,” he reflected.
Burchmore said if he had a choice, he would choose music all over again, although there are some things that he would make a few changes to.

“I have great hopes for music in Guyana. I think a lot of the young people should realise that we, the people who have gone before them, want them to thrive and excel. They seem to miss the bus by thinking that we are somehow envious of what they’re doing. I am not because before me, there were a plethora of people who set the foundation for music in Guyana for me to start at a higher level,” Simon said.
According to him, he, along with other producers like Bonny Alves, Brutal Tracks, and Vision Sounds are aiming to lay the foundation at a higher level for the youngsters to jump on. “I am fulfilling my duty as a musician but we have to pass the baton on to the younger folks. They have to take it and run with it but they seem not to get the whole concept of continuity; they read it the wrong way.”