Biography
Black Pumas is an American psychedelic soul band based in Austin, Texas, formed by the creative partnership of singer/songwriter Eric Burton and Grammy Award-winning guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada. Eric Burton, a California native born in the San Fernando Valley, developed his musical foundation through church singing and musical theater before busking across the Western states, including Santa Monica Pier and various locations during travels through New Mexico. He eventually settled in Austin, Texas in 2015, where he was discovered by Quesada through a mutual friend in 2017. Adrian Quesada, a Texas native and Grammy Award winner from his work with Latin funk band Grupo Fantasma, was seeking a collaborator who shared his eclectic musical tastes—someone who "liked Neil Young as much as Sam Cooke." The two musicians formed Black Pumas in 2018 and quickly developed a near-telepathic musical connection, working out their material at a weekly residency at Austin's C-Boys Heart & Soul Bar before signing with ATO Records.
Black Pumas released their self-titled debut album on June 21, 2019, which immediately garnered critical acclaim and earned them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. The album's success was catalyzed by their breakout single "Colors," which reached number one on AAA radio and has been streamed over 450 million times across all platforms, with the official live video accumulating over 253 million YouTube views. The band's distinctive sound—described as a collision of retro soul, funk, R&B, and psychedelic influences reminiscent of both Ghostface Killah and Motown—resonated with audiences worldwide. By 2020, Black Pumas had performed on major television programs including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Seth Meyers, and were invited to perform virtually at President Joe Biden's Inauguration in January 2021.
The duo's cultural impact has been substantial, earning seven Grammy Award nominations throughout their career, including Album of the Year for their self-titled debut. They won Duo/Group of the Year at the 20th Annual Americana Honors & Awards in September 2021 and became the first band to sell out four consecutive shows at Stubbs, a major Austin venue. Their success extended internationally, with sold-out tours across North America, South America, and Europe in large theaters. By 2021, Black Pumas had sold over one million album equivalents worldwide and established themselves as one of the most electrifying new acts to emerge in recent years, known for their exhilarating live performances that Burton describes as "electric church."
Fun Facts
- Adrian Quesada came up with the band name 'Black Pumas' while in Mexico City during the summer of 2018, inspired by a jungle-cats motif he encountered there.
- Eric Burton was a contestant on the eleventh season of American Idol, being eliminated in the Hollywood rounds before eventually finding success with Black Pumas.
- On May 7, 2020, Austin's mayor Steve Adler proclaimed the date as 'Black Pumas Day' in recognition of the band's impact on their hometown, where they became the first band to sell out four consecutive shows at Stubbs venue.
- Black Pumas performed virtually at President Joe Biden's Inauguration in January 2021 during the 'Celebrating America' primetime special due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Members
- Stephen Bidwell - drums (drum set)
- Brendan Bond - bass guitar
- Eric Burton - lead vocals
- Eric Burton - guitar
- Lauren Cervantes - background vocals
- JaRon Marshall - keyboard
- Angela Miller - background vocals
- Adrian Quesada - guitar
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Musical Theater and Church Music Tradition - Eric Burton's foundational musical training came from singing in church during his childhood in the San Fernando Valley and involvement in musical theater, which shaped his vocal development and performance skills (Early vocal training and performance foundation) [Childhood through early adulthood]
Key Collaborators
- Adrian Quesada - Co-founder and guitarist/producer of Black Pumas; Grammy Award-winning musician who brought production expertise and retro-funk/R&B sensibilities to the partnership (All Black Pumas albums and recordings; self-titled debut (2019), Capitol Cuts (Live from Studio A) (2021)) [2018–present]
- Grupo Fantasma - Adrian Quesada was a member of this Latin funk band, which influenced the musical direction and production style of Black Pumas (El Existential (2010), Sonidos Gold (2008)) [Quesada's prior work before Black Pumas formation]
- ATO Records - Record label that signed Black Pumas and released their debut album and subsequent projects (Black Pumas self-titled debut (2019) and subsequent releases) [2019–present]
Artists Influenced
- Neil Young and Sam Cooke - Musical influences that Adrian Quesada sought in a collaborator; these artists' styles informed the Black Pumas' eclectic sound blending rock, soul, and R&B (Influenced overall aesthetic of Black Pumas' psychedelic soul style) [Foundational influences for band formation]
- Ghostface Killah and Motown - Stylistic references used to describe Black Pumas' sound, indicating hip-hop and classic soul influences in their music (Influenced the overall sonic character of Black Pumas recordings) [Ongoing influence on band's style]
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #american, #english, #mellow
References
Heard on WWOZ
Black Pumas has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.