Pinetop Burks
Pinetop Burks | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Conish Burks |
| Born | August 7, 1907 |
| Origin | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Died | January 11, 1947 (aged 39) Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Texas blues |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Years active | 1930s |
Pinetop Burks (August 7, 1907 – January 11, 1947)[1] was an American Texas blues pianist and songwriter. He was part of the 'Santa Fe Group', a loose ensemble of black blues pianists who played in the many juke joints abutting the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.[2][3]
Little is documented of Burks life outside of his brief recording career.
Life and career[edit]
Conish Burks was born in 1907, and apparently raised near Richmond, Texas, although only small detail of his life exists.[1] He had a similar playing style to Rob Cooper and Robert Shaw. Shaw recalled meeting Burks and stated about him "Connie Burks, a dark fellow, about my size, maybe a little thicker than me. When I met him, he couldn't play, so I showed him some. Three years later, when I was in Richmond again, he played better than me".[1]
On October 25, 1937, Burks recorded his only known output of six tracks. This occurred in one session for Vocalion Records in San Antonio, Texas.[1][2] Nevertheless, it was noted that Burks was a pianist with "incredible technique and melodic feeling".[1] His recording included one track named "Shake The Shack", but it was in reality a variant of "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie".[1] This presumably gave Burks his nickname.[4] Most of his recorded repertoire saw Burks compose other varieties based on earlier material.[4] It is documented that, in 1937, Vocalion released a 78rpm disc with side one containing "Aggravatin' Mama Blues" and side two being "Jack of All Trades Blues" (Vocalion 03979).[5]
He disappeared from the scene in the late 1930s.[1] By 1941, he was enlisted and fought in World War II, but returned home due to being 'badly wounded'. Burks died on January 11, 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas.[1]
All of Burks's recordings were collated on the compilation album, San Antonio Blues 1937, released in 1994 by Document Records.[4]
Santa Fe Group[edit]
The 'Santa Fe Group', otherwise known as the 'Texas Santa Fe' style of piano playing, referenced an association with the Santa Fe Railroad tracks. In the 1920s and 1930s, there were numerous juke joints alongside the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, in which various black pianists performed in a similar manner. The style was a blend of dance music, boogie-woogie, ragtime and blues.[6][7] Performers included Burks, Rob Cooper, Robert Shaw, Black Boy Shine, and Andy Boy, who were all recorded, although many others were not.[7] The style is more broadly defined when referring to a map of Houston. The Santa Fe style was known as emanating from the Fourth Ward. Lightnin' Hopkins, conversely, was a Third Ward bluesman, while George Washington Thomas was an example of a Fifth Ward pianist, with a different playing style.[3][7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Pinetop Burks | Big Road Blues". Sundayblues.org. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "Conish Burkes Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "TSHA | Blues". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Conish 'Pinetop' Burks". Pianobluesreview.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "Aggravatin' Mama Blues; Jack of All Trades Blues". Americanhistory.si.edu. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Oliver, Paul (February 19, 1998). The Story of the Blues. UPNE. p. 159. ISBN 9781555533540 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c Eugene Chadbourne. "Rob Cooper Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
External links[edit]
- 1907 births
- 1947 deaths
- Musicians from Houston
- African-American pianists
- American blues pianists
- American male pianists
- Texas blues musicians
- 20th-century American pianists
- 20th-century American male musicians
- Songwriters from Texas
- African-American songwriters
- 20th-century African-American musicians
- American male songwriters