Burke Ingraffia

Biography

Burke Ingraffia is a singer-songwriter born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he developed a unique musical style blending jazz with folky acoustic guitar and distinctive vocals. Described as having a rare lyrical gift in the Southern style reminiscent of Mose Allison or Bob Dorough, he grew up immersed in the city's rich musical heritage before expanding his career regionally and beyond.[1][2] A longtime camper and counselor at Camp High Rocks, Ingraffia balanced early creative pursuits with diverse interests, eventually pursuing parallel careers in music and technology as a software developer.[5]

Ingraffia's career gained recognition through accolades such as being a 2012 Kerrville New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival and winning awards from the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest in both jazz/blues and folk categories.[1][3] His 2020 album Waves earned critical acclaim, featuring top New Orleans musicians like drummer Johnny Vidacovich, bassist James Singleton, and keyboardist John Gros, and produced by multi-Grammy winner Scott Billington, known for work with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Professor Longhair, and Bobby Rush.[1] Critics have praised his music for its sincerity, playfulness, and disarming kindness, calling him a 'Renaissance Man' and an 'anomaly' who keeps his serious craft light-hearted.[1]

As owner of Point Clear Media, Ingraffia also explores multi-genre songwriting under the project Saintsonic, showcasing his versatility across styles.[4] His work continues to reflect Southern roots with jazzy folk influences, maintaining a low-key presence with niche popularity.

Fun Facts

• Burke Ingraffia is a 'Renaissance Man' who works as both a professional software developer and songwriter, owning Point Clear Media.[4][5]
• He was a 2012 Kerrville New Folk Finalist and won Mid-Atlantic Song Contest awards in jazz/blues and folk categories.[1][3]
• Critic Lawrence Specker called him 'an anomaly' who is serious about his music but keeps it light.[1]
• His music has been praised for being 'kinder, more sincere and playful,' disarming expectations in a field often focused on coolness or irony.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Mose Allison - stylistic influence cited for lyrical gift in Southern style (general songwriting style) [ongoing]
• Bob Dorough - stylistic influence cited for lyrical gift in Southern style (general songwriting style) [ongoing]

Key Collaborators

• Johnny Vidacovich - drummer on album (Waves (2020)) [2020]
• James Singleton - bassist on album (Waves (2020)) [2020]
• John Gros - keyboardist on album (Waves (2020)) [2020]
• Scott Billington - producer of album (Waves (2020)) [2020]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz