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His lover, who chooses to go nameless, said that Jim Burgess died at age 41 in January of 1993. The brunt of a lot of gossip in the NYC community, he performed a "swan song" retirement as I recall when he was quite young -- and I was younger -- at the Saint. Just when the room was getting revved up early in the morning, he had his friends collect his records and he walked out of the club. Enough was enough. He'd given his adoring fans their "last taste."
He did guest spots at the Ice Palace on Fire Island in the late '70s and early '80s and could get a crowd going. His mixing was quite artful and sometimes he'd just cut out a loud song and as the last drumbeat still echoed he'd play a clip from a soap opera or even better, something from Bette Davis or Ethel Merman, and then bring up the next song. I was not privy to his best work at 12 West and the Saint and am sure that there are other members of this Forum who're much more qualified to discuss him; as he and I never worked directly together.

THE MAESTRO @ INFINITY. HIS TECHNIQUE, TIMING, & MIXE'S WERE TRULY FLAWLESS. HE HAD A MIXED & WONDERFUL CROWD TO PLAY FOR AND NO BETTER PLACE THEN HERE. JIM'S SELECTION OF MUSIC COULD LITERALY KEEP YOU DANCING FOR HOURS AND NEVER WOULD YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. TO THIS DAY WHENEVER I RELIVE THOSE WONDERFUL NIGHTS INFINITY IS RIGHT AT THE TOP OF MY THOUGHTS. ENJOY!

I was Jim's lightman on that night at the Saint. He did stop the music, pick up a rose that was given to him, and walked thru the crowd and left the club. What a night!...He did play flawlessly that night.

Originally from north Jersey I went to INFINITY in 197? After several trips around the block looking for a sign (naive me) I caught a glimpse of some people leaving out of a building and asked them if they knew where INFINITY was they replied here. The week was July 4th and it was a Saturday night. I walked through the main entry and there was a big muscle bound guy sitting in a chair turned backwards. I then proceeded to enter another world. I first looked for the dj booth (aspiring to be a DJ someday) and found it high up and at the end of the dance floor. There he was one of NYC top DJ`s JIM BURGESS. He was mixing the music flawlessly. He blew me away when he let a song run out & down from the ceiling in the center of the dance floor was a great big AMERICAN FLAG. If that wasn`t enough on the turntables went “THE STAR SPANGELED BANNER" followed by Patrick Juvet "I LOVE AMERICA into Voyage "LADY AMERICA". Need I say more...WOW?

I first met Jimmy Burgess at INFINITY in New York in the seventies. He was the guest Dee Jay at their opening week. Soon he was their regular full time jock. He got his start in the MIAMI/FT.LAUDERDALE gay club scene, including, but not limited to, THE COPA(so many deejays began there!). Then it was off to ATLANTA and its underground. At BACKSTREETS he started his theatrical way of spinning. You never knew what was next, or what was up next. He was capable of anything to get his crowd roaring. Whatever it was, it was always BRILLIANT!! Jim Burgess was gay, but I was a straight man. That didn't prevent him from helping me. He showed me what it took to become a GREAT CLUB deejay. And we know that there is a difference. He got me into the business, introduced me to ED"THE WORM" ROTHSEIN of BINGHAMPTON'S FERRY BOAT who hired me, and the rest was history. Jimmy was my MENTOR, he gave me a break, and we know we all need one every now and then! I remember when he lost thousands of records when INFINITY was struck by "JEWISH LIGHTNING". He didn't miss a beat(PUN INTENDED). He continued to be the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be! The last time I saw JIMMY BURGESS was in MIAMI, years later. He was about to play his last GIG in SALVATION in 1982. When he saw me, he called me over. He remembered me! He gave me a big hug and told me how happy he was that I was there. He made me feel important. I was very surprised at that statement, I thought he wouldn't remember someone, especially me, who he once showed the ins and outs to , so many years later. It was surprising then, but today I realize, that that was JIMMY!! NOW--- How about his re-mixes!! His first seventeen re-mixes on vinyl went on to be #1. He re-mixed hundreds more before he was done. What I enjoyed most though, was that he also re-mixed LIVE at the DISCO, wherever he was working. That became my trademark as a deejay. Thanks JIMMY, without you there would not have been a VYNIL JUNKIE!! GOD BLESS, you'll always be missed. GOD BLESS YOU, and THANKS!!

Jim Burgess was one the most gifted dj's on the scene back then. He was a true master who would try things others simply would not dare to do. I remember a mix he did at 12 West, around 7am to a packed room, from Jungle Fever by The Chakachas into Tusk by Fleetwood Mac that was so seamless and skilled that I almost stopped doing the lights cause I was looking at him in pure amazement. I miss him and his sweet madness.

Infinity...the greatest pre-GARAGE club ever! Jim Burgess was a fantastic DJ / Mixer / Producer that knew his music, and was gifted musically. You can tell when someone was classically trained. It showed in his mixing. Techincal talent with a mix of creative genious.
Rest in peace Jim. We miss you.

Jimmy taught me DJ in his Philadelphia studio. I went to an opera recital of his not knowing that he was a DJ even though I had heard him play many times previous, hey I didn't know dance music - he taught me.
I had the privilege of taking him out for his last dance at the Troc.
I loved him and he made all my may trips to DJ booths possible and still does.

Jim Burgess was one of the DJ's who played the Final Party at the Saint. At one point the music stopped and he played the dialogue from the finale of the film Now, Voyager. As the voice of Bette Davis delivered the immortal line about not asking for the moon because she and her lover had the stars, the star machine on the dome lit up and swirled around as the music from the film scene swelled to a climax. It was one of the most incredible moments ever at the Saint or any disco.