I really should get around to finishing the Day-O song history a la Belafonte some time (see Jamaican Folk link above)… short recap of the other thread:

The music and lyrics for the Edric Connor album are credited to British Council member Tom Murray who actually transcribed what Jamaican schoolgirl and Council talent contest winner Louise Bennett sang and wrote.

Irving Burgie first performed as 'Lord Burgess' with Louise Bennett at the Village Voice in New York well before he hooked up with Belafonte's production team. He was the only non-Jamaican in the act and just getting his start in show business.

Day-O is a thoroughly modern Louise Bennett/British government issue pop song. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Belafonte would eventually give passing mention to Louise Bennett in one interview but, afaik, neither he nor Irving Burgie ever put a royalty check in the mails. Even Bill Attaway got stiffed on that deal. Today would be a different story altogether in the copyright courts.