Black Pumas Explained

Black Pumas
Landscape:yes
Origin:Austin, Texas, U.S.
Years Active:2017–present
Label:ATO
Current Members:

Black Pumas is an American psychedelic soul band based in Austin, Texas, led by singer/songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada.[1] [2] The group received its first Grammy Award nomination in 2020 for Best New Artist.

History

In 2017, singer and songwriter Eric Burton made his way from California to Texas. Born in the San Fernando Valley, he grew up singing in church and then got heavily involved in musical theater. He started busking at the Santa Monica Pier, where he brought in a few hundred dollars a day and developed his performance skills. Burton traveled through the Western states, studying music at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, before deciding to settle down and busk in Austin, Texas.[3] [4]

In the meantime, Grammy Award-winning guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada was looking to collaborate with someone new. Through a mutual friend, Quesada connected with Burton. Quesada felt that Burton's vocals were a match for the retro-funk- and R&B-flavored tracks Quesada had been working on, and the two joined forces in 2018 as Black Pumas.

Quesada was a member of Latin funk band Grupo Fantasma when it won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album for the 2010 album El Existential, and when it was previously nominated for the same award in 2008 for Sonidos Gold.

Working out their material both in the studio and on-stage during a weekly residency at Austin's C-Boys Heart & Soul Bar, they signed a deal with ATO Records and released a pair of singles, "Black Moon Rising" and "Fire".

Career

The duo released their debut album, Black Pumas, on June 21, 2019. They performed at South by Southwest in 2019 and won a best new band trophy at the 2019 Austin Music Awards. On November 20, 2019, they were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

The album received acclaim from Rolling Stone, who praised "the tireless, charismatic energy of singer Eric Burton",[5] and Pitchfork, who wrote "The duo's flair for drama is so stirring, they can seem acutely cinematic",[6] as well as NPR, The Fader, The Guardian, Billboard, Essence and Headliner Magazine, among others.

Black Pumas made their network TV debut on CBS This Morning[7] and performed "Colors" on Jimmy Kimmel Live![8] which proved to be their breakout, along with a taping on season 45 of Austin City Limits.[9] The band's single "Colors" later reached number one on AAA radio. The single has been streamed over 100 million times across all platforms. Meanwhile, the official live video of "Colors" has been viewed over 57 million times on YouTube.

In 2020, the band performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show,[10] The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,[11] Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert[12] who premiered their live cover of Tracy Chapman’s "Fast Car".

The band has sold out multiple tours across North America and Europe. In their hometown of Austin, Texas, Black Pumas became the first band to sell out four consecutive shows at Stubbs, one of the city's live venues.[13] On May 7, 2020, mayor Steve Adler proclaimed the date as Black Pumas Day.

On November 24, 2020, "Colors" received Grammy Award nominations for Record of the Year and Best American Roots Performance, while their self-titled album received a nomination for Album of the Year, at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[14]

In January 2021, then President-elect Joe Biden invited the Black Pumas to perform during his Celebrating America primetime special during the President's Inauguration activities.[15] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band performed virtually.

In September 2021, Black Pumas were awarded Duo/Group of the Year at the 20th Annual Americana Honors & Awards.[16] On November 23, 2021, Black Pumas received two Grammy Award nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. They were nominated twice in the Rock category.[17] That brought their total Grammy nominations up to six. Their "Know You Better (Live From Capitol Studio A)" performance was nominated for Best Rock Performance, and their album Capitol Cuts (Live from Studio A) was nominated for Best Rock Album.

Members

Backing band

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US
[18]
BEL
(FL)

[19]
BEL
(WA)

[20]
FRA
[21]
GER
[22]
NLD
[23]
SCO
[24]
SPA
[25]
SWI
[26]
UK
Sales

Black Pumas
  • Released: June 21, 2019[27]
  • Label: ATO
86 57 79 112 51 46 45 81 58 45
Chronicles of a Diamond
  • Released: October 27, 2023
  • Label: ATO
69 15 19 21 16 20 18 79 19 22

Live albums

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
Dig.

[30]
US
AAA

[31]
US
Adult

[32]
US
Rock
[33]
BEL
(FL)
Tip

CAN
Dig.
[34]
CAN
Rock

[35]
ICE
[36]
NLD
Air

[37]
UK
Down.

[38]
"Black Moon Rising"[39] 201831 Black Pumas
"Colors"201912 1 37 21 46 25 10 43 99

Platinum[40]

Silver[41]

Gold[42]

"OCT 33"[43] 2020
"Fire"[44] 3 20
"I'm Ready"[45] 34 32 Black Pumas (Deluxe)
"Christmas Will Really Be Christmas"[46] rowspan="2"
"Strangers"[47]
2021
"More Than a Love Song"20231 10 Chronicles of a Diamond
"Mrs. Postman"[48] 27
"Ice Cream (Pay Phone)"[49] 4
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

OrganizationYearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
Grammy Award2020Best New ArtistBlack Pumas[50]
2021Record of the Year"Colors"
American Roots Performance
Album of the YearBlack Pumas (Deluxe Edition)
2022Best Rock Performance"Know You Better (Live from Capitol Studio A)"
Best Rock AlbumCapitol Cuts - Live from Studio A
2024Best Rock Performance"More Than a Love Song"

Notes and References

  1. News: Carras . Christ . November 20, 2019 . Who are Black Pumas, the Grammys' most mysterious new artist nominee? . . Los Angeles, California.
  2. Web site: Black Pumas: 5 Things to Know About the 2020 Best New Artist Grammy Nominees . Rowley . Glenn . November 20, 2019 . billboard.com . . November 20, 2019 .
  3. Web site: 2020-01-23. Black Pumas: 'We're not trying to make a political statement'. 2021-01-13. The Independent.
  4. News: Taylor. Spencer. January 3, 2020. Movers & Shakers 2020: Grammy nominee Eric Burton honed his musicianship in Las Cruces. Las Cruces Sun-News. Las Cruces, New Mexico. October 20, 2021.
  5. Browne. David. 2020-01-21. Black Pumas: Rise of a Psychedelic-Soul Force. 2020-07-17. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  6. Web site: Black Pumas: Black Pumas. 2020-07-17. Pitchfork. en.
  7. Web site: Saturday Sessions: Black Pumas perform "Colors". YouTube. 2020-02-06.
  8. Web site: Black Pumas - Colors. 2020-02-06. YouTube.
  9. Web site: Watch The Raconteurs and Black Pumas on Austin City Limits. YouTube. 2020-02-06.
  10. Web site: Black Pumas Perform 'Colors'. YouTube. 2020-02-06.
  11. Web site: Black Pumas: Colors. YouTube. 2020-02-06.
  12. Web site: Black Pumas: "Fast Car. YouTube. 2020-06-16.
  13. Web site: Black Pumas' Unparalleled Four-Show Stubb's Booking.
  14. News: 2020-11-24. Grammy Nominations 2021: See the List. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-11-24. 0362-4331.
  15. Web site: Eclectic mix of Texans featured in Biden's inauguration events. The Houston Chronicle. 19 January 2021.
  16. Web site: Leimkuehler. Matthew. Americana Awards 2021: A list of winners. 2021-09-23. The Tennessean. en-US.
  17. Web site: Romero . Leah . Black Pumas, former NMSU student, gain two more Grammy Award nominations . 2022-04-09 . Las Cruces Sun-News . en-US.
  18. Black Pumas – Chart History: Billboard 200 . Billboard . November 7, 2023.
  19. Web site: Discografie Black Pumas . ultratop.be . Hung Medien . July 10, 2022 . nl.
  20. Web site: Discografie Black Pumas . ultratop.be . Hung Medien . February 16, 2021 . French.
  21. Web site: Discographie Black Pumas . Hung Medien . lescharts.com . June 24, 2020 . fr.
  22. Web site: Discographie Black Pumas. GfK Entertainment. January 29, 2021.
  23. Web site: Discografie Black Pumas . Black Pumas . dutchcharts.nl . November 4, 2023.
  24. Web site: Black Pumas - Official Charts . 30 July 2020 . . November 4, 2023.
  25. Web site: Discography Black Pumas . June 24, 2020 . spanishcharts.com.
  26. Web site: Black Pumas Hitparade. June 24, 2020. Hit Parade.
  27. Web site: Black Pumas by Black Pumas on Apple Music . Amazon.com . 21 June 2019 . June 24, 2020.
  28. Black Pumas – Chart History: Current Albums . Billboard . June 29, 2023.
  29. Web site: Black Pumas - Capitol Cuts [Live From Studio A] Album Reviews, Songs & More ]. AllMusic . June 29, 2023.
  30. Black Pumas – Chart History: Digital Song Sales . Billboard . January 26, 2021.
  31. Black Pumas – Chart History: Adult Alternative Airplay . Billboard . July 13, 2024.
  32. Black Pumas – Chart History: Adult Top 40 . Billboard . July 13, 2020.
  33. Black Pumas – Chart History: Hot Rock Songs . Billboard . February 12, 2020.
  34. Black Pumas – Chart History: Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales . Billboard . January 26, 2021.
  35. Black Pumas – Chart History: Canada Rock . Billboard . August 3, 2020.
  36. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20201001075744/http://ruv.is/thaettir/vinsaeldalisti-rasar-2. October 1, 2020. Vinsældalisti Rásar 2 - RÚV. is. RÚV. September 30, 2022.
  37. Web site: Nationale Airplay Top 50 13/07/2019 . dutchcharts.nl . June 24, 2020.
  38. Web site: Fire / Black Moon Rising - Single by Black Pumas on Apple Music . Apple Music . 24 August 2018 . September 23, 2020.
  39. United States. Black Pumas. August 13, 2024.
  40. United Kingdom. Black Pumas. July 7, 2024.
  41. Canada. Black Pumas. November 30, 2022.
  42. Web site: OCT 33 - A COLORS SHOW - Single by Black Pumas on Apple Music . Apple Music . September 23, 2020.
  43. Web site: Fast Car b/w Fire - Single by Black Pumas on Apple Music . Apple Music . 9 June 2020 . September 23, 2020.
  44. Web site: I'm Ready (Live) by Black Pumas on Apple Music . Apple Music . 11 September 2020 . September 23, 2020.
  45. Web site: Black Pumas Cover Lou Rawls' 'Christmas Will Really Be Christmas' . JamBase . December 30, 2020.
  46. Web site: Strangers (feat. Lucius) [From "Life In A Day"] - Single by Black Pumas on Apple Music ]. Apple Music . 4 February 2021 . February 18, 2021.
  47. Web site: Black Pumas unveil the brand new single, "Mrs. Postman" . The Line of Best Fit. September 26, 2023 . September 29, 2023.
  48. Black Pumas share new single 'Ice Cream (Pay Phone)'. Harbron. Lucy. Far Out Magazine. October 25, 2023. February 12, 2024.
  49. Web site: Artist - Black Pumas. GRAMMY.com.