The first inductee to Bermuda's Music Hall of Fame passed away yesterday.

Jazz trumpeter Vernon "Ghandi" Pendlebury Burgess died at the age of 84.

Mr. Burgess was the first Bermudian to be musical director of an American cruise ship, according to a book written about him by former Minister of Culture Dale Butler.

He was also offered record deals with Columbia Records, Decca and Blue note, though he turned them down.

The book, 'My Blue Heaven', states he studied at the New York School of Music and played with jazz greats such as Dexter Gordon and Lionel Hampton, as well as backing the Temptations and Frankie Avalon.

Locally he was musical director at the Forty Thieves Night Club and Southampton Princess Hotel.

Mr. Burgess, who twice ran for the Progressive Labour Party, also received the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour as well as the international Performing Arts Humanitarian Award. Jazz bible 'Downbeat' magazine named him in the 'outstanding jazz trumpet" section.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette a decade ago Mr. Burgess described working in the Southampton Princess's Empire Room as "the greatest job in the world."

"The Empire Room was a gorgeous room until they turned it into a convention centre," he said. "I had a $347-a-day suite at the Southampton Princess with all the food free, maid service, laundry service — I lived there for about 12 years and lived better than the guests who go there everyday.

"You're looking at a guy here, and this is fact: I've played more international shows than anybody in the world."

He described the proudest moment of his life as being when the PLP came to power in 1998.

Last night, Mr. Butler said: "He was a genius, a people person who never lost the common touch.

"Ghandi Burgess was a political scientists, humanitarian and above all else a musician's musician. His contribution to Bermuda can only be described as phenomenal."