The Burkes: Reviews

After opening for the Gaither Vocal Band and sharing the stage with the likes of Rita MacNeil and the Men of the Deeps, The Burke Family may have thought their summer could not get any better.
But Pius Burke, June MacDonald and their eight siblings found out otherwise when they learned their music was nominated for several awards from the Gospel Music Association of Canada (GMAC) and the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia (MIANS.)
The family’s latest CD, The Reason We Sing, is up for the GMAC’s Covenant Award for Southern Gospel Album of the Year, while Pius is also nominated for his songwriting, as his song, “Song of Hope,” has been given a nod in the Southern Gospel Song of the Year category. Meanwhile, The Reason We Sing has also been nominated for the Inspirational Artist/Group Recording of the Year by MIANS.
“Anything like that is like icing on the cake,” said June, responding to the announcement. “We do it because we love it, first and foremost, and because it brings our family together. We like to sing this music for people, and people really enjoy it. But when you have recognition like that, it certainly feels good.”
June and Pius both live in Amherst, while the rest of the Burkes are spread out between Ontario and their native Cape Breton.
Pius, who writes the majority of the group’s original recordings, said he was honoured by the nominations, although he said he writes songs not for accolades but for his own simple pleasure. He said he is equally honoured when his family chooses to record his songs, and does not take any of that for granted.
“My family has the opportunity to select the best songs ever written, and to think that the family thinks my songs are good enough to put on an album, that’s an honour in itself,” he said. “Then, for somebody else to think a song is good enough, there’s a lot of satisfaction that comes with it.”
The group marked a highlight of their career earlier this month when they participated in the 'Alive on the Island' event in Sydney, which saw three days of concerts at various venues, featuring acts such as the Oak Ridge Boys, Rita MacNeil and the Gaither Vocal Band.
The Burkes opened for the Gaither band, which Pius described as having some of the best vocalists he’s heard.
“It was definitely the highest point we’ve ever reached as a family, just to open for these guys,” he said. “We’ve seen them on TV, and then to watch them live, they’re just so gifted. It was something every one of us felt was a very special moment in our lives.”
The weekend also featured a finale concert at the Canada Games Complex, where the Burkes joined J.P. Cormier, Dutch Robinson, Rita MacNeil, the Men of the Deeps and the Hallelujah Praise Choir on stage. Pius said it felt like one large family performing together.
“From time to time I’ve wondered how we came to choose this type of music as a family, because it’s not mainstream,” said Pius. “It is times like these when I know we didn’t have a choice. It was He who chose us.”
The Covenant Awards will be handed out in Calgary, Alta. On Oct. 23, while the MIANS awards event will be held in Yarmouth on Nov. 5-8, with several family members planning to attend.
After all of this, how the family plans to follow up The Reason We Sing remains to be seen.
“We haven’t started that conversation about what’s next in terms of another recording, but I think we have another one in us for sure,” said June.

I must say that the Alive on the Island Festival was much, much more than I expected it to be. I knew the music would be good (the lineup was top-notch), but I honestly wasn’t prepared for the joyous (and VERY lively) shows I saw. For me, the real surprise was the Friday night show. I expected the Burke Family to be superb, and they were, with their beautiful harmonies highlighting the strong individual performances.

AMHERST – The excitement of hearing your name being called for Gospel Recording of the Year will always be there for local members of the 2009 winners at the East Coast Music Awards.
Siblings Pius Burke and June Burke MacDonald, two of the 10-sibling musical group The Burkes, have been calling Amherst home for at least 10 years each, and are proud to call it home, though originally from New Waterford, Cape Breton.
Five Burke siblings remain in Cape Breton, while two call Halifax home and the 10th resides in Ontario.
“The caliber of musicians out there is quite amazing for the East Coast and to be up against some of those names ... it will never get old to win at that level,” Burke MacDonald said after returning from Corner Brook, N.L., where The Burkes picked up their second piece of hardware in the category.
'The Reason We Sing' is the third and latest album released by The Burkes.
"We feel we put our hearts and souls into this album and to get recognized by the organization is really wonderful."
The Burkes claimed their first ECMA in 2004 for their Christmas album, which Burke says was well-liked by everyone — and the sellout of the album proved it.
“We didn't know if our next album could measure up to the Christmas album, but our goal was to strive for an album that was just as good, if not better,” he said.
While the latest album took some time to prepare, the excitement was still there from the beginning to the end.
Starting out with roughly 100 songs, The Burkes were able to narrow it down to about 20 before they started practicing those 20, then narrowing it down further.
“When it comes down to it, our parents played a big role in our music,” Burke said, adding their mother, Anita, picked out two songs she wanted to hear on 'The Reason We Sing'.
“One was for her — Through It All — written when our father passed away two years ago,” said Burke.
“And The River,” said Burke MacDonald, “which was our father’s favorite song.”
Growing up, each of the 10 Burke siblings were involved with music, from performing to directing choirs.
The Burkes actually came together when sister Sharon asked her siblings to perform when she was directing a teenage girl group.
Since then, the siblings have been performing all types of music together.

The Burkes have done it again. This 10-member New Waterford family of singers is just about to release their newest CD, a carefully crafted mixture of some of their favourite inspirational tunes with some new, family written material, all given that special Burke touch.
Their third CD, “The Reason We Sing,” is a follow-up to their highly successful (and 2004 ECMA award winning) “A Burke Family Christmas.” The official release for the CD will be held Saturday, at 7 p.m. at First United Church, Whitney Ave., Sydney.
Perhaps the most striking thing about any of the Burke Family’s recordings and live performances is their amazing harmony. There are some superb solo singers in this combination but they truly shine when they sing as a family, in full-throated voice, mixing and blending and binding the 10 individuals into one unified sound.
While it swirls in and out of most of the songs, the best examples can be found in parts of We Will Stand and You Will Never Walk Alone, two of the better cuts on the CD.
There are hymns here, mixed with country songs written by the likes of Garth Brooks and Cindy Morgan, interspersed with three songs by Pius Burke, the family’s resident songwriter. Each song has a message, some filled with religious fervor, some spelled out with a bouncy humour, some (like How You Live) with a common sense message that is so obvious that we should already know it.
Stephen Muise, who also supplied the musical and vocal arrangements, produced the CD. It was recorded by Jamie Foulds at Soundpark Studios with an all-star cast of local musicians providing the backup. The Reason We Sing is another fine CD, another family project from the Burkes that should be destined for another ECMA award.

Congratulations on a wonderful evening of music. The Burkes sound is truly awesome. I defy anyone, anywhere to present a better rendition of O Holy Night than performed at your show. World class. I was sitting there thinking, this group should be on national television.

Last March when the Burke Family performed a concert entitled “Returning Home” at Breton Education Centre in New Waterford, I was fortunate to sit in the audience. The selection of tunes and the heart behind the rendition of each and every song was memorable to say the least. The full theatre was treated to much more than a number of songs. We were made to feel that, for just a few hours, we too, were new members of this large and talented family. I am thrilled to relate that one gets those same warm feelings from each and every tune in their new recording.

For the past week I have been playing this wonderful CD in my van. What a great treasure for the holidays. Congratulations to 'The Burkes', may success with their great work continue.
ps. I love the original number!

A Burke Family Christmas is a lovely collection of traditional and more recently written material including two cuts (Christmas Is Near and Christmas Is For Kids) written by Pius Burke. The wonderful family harmonies are evident throughout this recording, from the opening notes of Hallelujah to the energy and enthusiasm of Go Tell It On The Mountain. It’s clear just from listening that this is a very spiritual family. Perhaps the best example of this is heard in their stirring rendition of 0’ Holy Night which is certainly the highlight of the CD. This is a CD to look for that sets a proper mood for the real meaning of Christmas. It is getting lots of airplay in my house.

The Burkes, made up of 10 brothers and sisters from New Waterford, are a family, who are just plain amazing to watch. With their relaxed approach to music and sibling camaraderie, they are one professional force that must be seen to be appreciated. Each one carrying their share of the weight, while more than capable of taking center stage with no problem, in particular the ladies are in top form with solo ability, which at times causes one to shed a tear. But the guys are no slouches either. With songs like “Testify”, and “Returning Home”, the Burkes are instant favorites with any crowd for their modern approach to spiritual music that includes subtle clothing changes and light-hearted banter between sister and brother.