Black Pumas formed in Austin, Texas in 2017 when producer Adrian Quesada teamed up with Eric Burton, a busker he found singing on Sixth Street. Their self-titled 2019 debut on ATO pulled multiple Grammy nominations — including Record of the Year for Colors — and it's still the place to start. Explore Black Pumas vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Black Pumas formed in Austin, Texas in 2017 when guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada (previously of Grupo Fantasma and Brownout) sought a vocalist for instrumental tracks he had recorded. Eric Burton, a busker on Sixth Street in Austin, joined the project. Their self-titled debut album (June 2019, ATO Records) became a commercial and critical success, earning multiple Grammy nominations across two years including Record of the Year for Colors and Album of the Year for the deluxe edition. Their follow-up Chronicles of a Diamond was released in 2023.
Black Pumas' sound combines neo-soul, psychedelic soul, R&B, and rock with influences from 1960s and 1970s American soul and Latin music. Quesada's production draws on vintage soul aesthetics with modern recording techniques, while Burton's vocals provide the band's central focal point.
ATO pressings of Black Pumas have appeared in multiple color variants including cream, pink, gold, and many retailer-exclusive editions. Chronicles of a Diamond was issued in standard and color variant pressings.
Listeners new to Black Pumas typically start with the 2019 self-titled debut.
