Amani Burnham

Biography

Amani Burnham, a 20-year-old Ethiopian-born guitarist, singer, and songwriter, was adopted at a young age and raised by a loving family in Connecticut, where his father's passion for music shaped his early exposure to artists like the Beatles and Chuck Berry, his first guitar hero. Initially starting on drums inspired by Gene Krupa, Burnham dabbled in guitar before fully committing during the COVID lockdown, spending years practicing intensely and writing songs that would form the basis of his debut album. His viral social media video at age 19 covering Muddy Waters' 'Hoochie Coochie Man' on a white Fender Stratocaster, played with dexterous ferocity using his right-hand thumb instead of a pick, captivated millions and propelled him from obscurity to signing with Blind Pig Records in under two years.

Burnham's musical style is rooted in blues-rock, blending groovy riffs, cosmic solos, stinging vibrato, soulful vocals, and introspective lyrics influenced by icons like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Robin Trower, Bob Dylan, and Wes Montgomery. His debut album Roots & Wings, released May 29, 2026, on Blind Pig Records, is a 12-track power-trio effort recorded at Carriage House Studios, produced and co-written by label head Jeff Schroedl, honoring blues-rock legacy while evolving it for a new generation with tracks like the instrumental 'Fastlane' and the personal title track reflecting his adoption and Ethiopian heritage. Playing in a classic trio format, Burnham shifts seamlessly between rhythm and lead, emphasizing song-oriented blues-rock with a laid-back groove and wise-beyond-his-years phrasing.

As a rising talent with over 20 million TikTok views, Burnham represents the resilience of blues, viewing it as an evolving form that birthed genres like heavy metal and grunge; his raw confidence and unique thumb technique position him as a bold new voice in modern blues-rock.

Fun Facts

• Plays guitar using his right-hand thumb instead of a pick, enabling greasy fluidity reminiscent of Jeff Beck, Wes Montgomery, and Curtis Mayfield.
• Went from posting guitar clips on social media to signing a record deal with Blind Pig Records in just 1.5 years, amassing over 20 million TikTok views.
• The title track 'Roots & Wings' is a personal reflection on his experience as an adopted child, pondering his unknown birth parents in Ethiopia.
• His viral cover of Muddy Waters' 'Hoochie Coochie Man' at age 19 was played seated on the floor in sweatpants and a hoodie, blending Gen Z casualness with professional ferocity.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Chuck Berry - First guitar hero, earliest inspiration from watching live footage (Early influences leading to blues-rock style) [Childhood]
• Gene Krupa - Inspired initial musical journey on drums (Drumming beginnings before guitar) [Early years]
• Jeff Schroedl - Produced and co-wrote debut album (Roots & Wings)

Key Collaborators

• Jeff Schroedl - Producer and co-writer for debut album (Roots & Wings (Blind Pig Records))
• Steve Griffith - Bassist in power trio (Roots & Wings performances) [2025-2026]
• Emil Berube - Drummer in power trio (Roots & Wings performances) [2025-2026]

External Links

• Spotify