Pinetop Burks

Pinetop Burks (August 7, 1907 – January 11, 1947) 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.

Little is documented of Burks life outside of his brief recording career.

Life and career Conish Burks was born in 1907, and apparently raised near Richmond, Texas, although only small detail of his life exists. Most of his recorded repertoire saw Burks compose other varieties based on earlier material.

Burks 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.

He disappeared from the scene in the late 1930s. 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.

All of Burks's recordings were collated on the compilation album, San Antonio Blues 1937, released in 1994 by Document Records.