Top bandleader Ghandi Burgess is pushing for the Department of Tourism to honour local jazz musician Noel `Red' Smith.

Mr. Burgess said Smith has served Bermuda's tourism industry well and has "gone above and beyond the call of duty'' for over 40 years. Now he wants Mr.

Smith, who has been ill lately, to get the recognition he deserves.

Mr. Smith is not only the composer and song writer of the song `Have a Bermudaful Day', but he is also "an accomplished pianist, arranger, conductor and teacher who possesses a wealth of talent and has helped numerous people,'' said Mr. Burgess.

Mr. Smith became something of a Bermuda legend on the guitar, accordion and the piano, playing in various bands in many of Bermuda's hotels including The Reefs, Cambridge Beaches, Ariel Sands, Sherwood Manor, Angels Grotto, Elbow Beach, Castle Harbour, St. George's Hotel and Horizons. He has also played abroad.

In addition to playing gigs for money, Mr. Smith and his bands used to play for churches, handicapped children and at St. Brendan's Hospital free of charge for the community.

"Red really went out of his way for the tourists -- he wrote and arranged a book of German songs for Oktoberfest, and really started a great trend of Germans coming out to Bermuda.'' added Mr. Burgess.

Mr. Smith, who started his musical career in 1942, played with many Bermudian musicians throughout his life, including Mr. Burgess, Ralph Ebbin, Gladstone Bassett, Leroy Jones, Bently Burgess, Tony Barry and Cheesy Smith, to name just a few.

"It was a great feeling that there was so much demand for my songs,'' said Mr. Smith this week. Unfortunately he does not play any more due to poor health.

Mr. Burgess said: "Red is incredibly dedicated. He would go in early and leave late and make close friends with the guests, and play their favourite songs. Red may not immediately come to mind as an incredible musician simply because he is a very humble person. He just goes in and gets the job done without expecting much.'' Mr. Burgess is disappointed that the Department of Tourism has not perhaps given Mr. Smith the recognition he deserves.

"We hope Red gets well and back on his feet so he can come back and play with the guys again, especially the song he wrote entitled `Have a Bermudaful Day.' The last few generations have probably forgotten, but Red was on an international level as a musician, and the greatest jazz accordion player Bermuda has ever had. There was no person of his stature on the accordion.'' said Mr. Burgess.

Sydney Bean, who is now 88 and still playing, has been Red's mentor and role model throughout his life. Mr. Bean has written in excess of 100 songs and was part of a bass, guitar, and accordion trio with Red Smith.

"He has been a great inspiration to me, and I really admire his talent.'' said Mr. Smith.

When asked by The Royal Gazette , what he thought of the current music scene and the job prospects for musicians in Bermuda, Mr. Smith replied: "There is a lot of talent in Bermuda and there are a lot of musicians ready for the job, but there simply is not enough work. Most establishments can't afford the price of a band at a dinner because they just don't make enough profit to pay them. And there is not enough capital to pay the band what they desire.'' Mr. Burgess added: "There are few set venues in which to play jazz music only. There are a few places like Hubie's on Angle Street, Place's Place on Dundonald Street -- however the jazz bands only play on weekends.

"The jazz scene is very limited now, compared to the old days. It would be wonderful if we had some sort of permanent jazz club.'' Red Smith has also had many students.

"Earl Darrel was Red's main student,'' said Mr. Burgess, "and Earl feels indebted to him.'' Mr. Smith studied under Geoffrey Tankard, former director of the Bermuda Philharmonic, and he then took a correspondence course at Boston's Berkely School of Music.

"He was Geoffrey Tankard's protege and has a marvellous technique on the piano.'' said Mr. Burgess.

Mr. Smith wrote his song `Have a Bermudaful Day' in two styles -- a slower style for the piano and a faster calypso version.

The upbeat lyrics of this song were written by Mr. Smith with the help of his wife Donna.

"Johnny Barnes gave me the inspiration for part of this song,'' said Mr.

Smith. "It doesn't actually use Mr. Barnes' name but it talks about a man waving on the way into the city.'' The sheet music for this song will soon be on sale in music shops in Bermuda.

"Bands used to play at the airports to greet the tourists when they arrived.'' Mr. Burgess remembered. "It was a great, rhythmic atmosphere for them when they arrived in Bermuda. Music appeals to the soul and if we encourage Bermudian musicians and Bermudian songs to be written and performed more often, the musical side will leave a greater impression on the tourists.'' he said.

"The Caribbean is very well known for its music -- there's no reason why Bermuda can't display it's talent to the fullest and continue to make our own music for more of a native Bermuda flavour.'' Mr. Smith's advice for aspiring young musicians is "practise as often as you can. The more you study, the more you find there is to be known. In the music business, it is your job to know as many songs and styles and to become proficient in as many ways as possible.

"It's just like shopping for a commodity in a store. If the store doesn't sell it, you will go somewhere else -- if you don't play the music a guest requests, they will go somewhere else.'' MARVELLOUS MUSIC -- Pictured from the left are musicians Red Smith, Leroy Jones and Ralph Ebbin at Pink Beach in 1990.