# Spider Burks

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**Jesse Dillon "Spider" Burks** (September 17, 1922 – September 4, 1975) was an American [disc jockey](/source/Disc_jockey) who championed [jazz music](/source/Jazz). He was one of the first African-American disc jockeys in [St. Louis, Missouri](/source/St._Louis). Burks was well known for his jazz programs on several radio stations, including [KXLW-AM](/source/KSIV_(AM)), [KSTL-AM](/source/KSTL_(AM)), [KATZ-AM](/source/KATZ_(AM)), and [KADI-FM](/source/KADI-FM).

## Life and career

Jesse Dillon Burks was born in St. Louis, Missouri on September 17, 1922.[1] He attended elementary school and high school in [Hampton, Virginia](/source/Hampton,_Virginia).[1] He began working on the radio while attending the [Hampton Institute](/source/Hampton_University).[2] He graduated with a major in [electrical engineering](/source/Electrical_engineering) in 1946.[1][3]

In March 1947, Burks was hired by St. Louis radio station [KXLW](/source/KSIV_(AM)).[4] Burks received the nickname "Spider" from singer [Nat King Cole](/source/Nat_King_Cole) because he reminded him of a spider due to his tall and lean stature.[5] He hosted a daily show called "The 'Spider' Burks House of Joy" where played jazz music. During his tenure at KXLW, Burks was one of the highest-paid African-American disc jockeys in the United States.[6] At the height of his popularity, he was making $50,000 a year.[3]

Burks was fired from KXLW without notice after he came off their air on Wednesday, July 11, 1956.[4] Burks told the *[St. Louis Argus](/source/St._Louis_Argus)* that he was "summoned into the manager's office, handed a check covering his services up through Wednesday, including a two weeks accrued vacation and told 'This is it.'" He felt KXLW general manager and vice-president William W. Jefferay had been out to get him for some time.[4]

Burks hosted a radio show at the [Peacock Alley](/source/Peacock_Alley_(jazz_club)) that was broadcast on [KSTL](/source/KSTL_(AM)) every Saturday.[7] Before opening the Peacock Alley, Al Fein, the operator of the nightclub, said he conferred with Burkes first.[8] Burks recorded jazz musician [Miles Davis](/source/Miles_Davis) and his band during an engagement in February 1957, which was later released on the album *[Spider Burks and the Miles Davis Quintet at Peacock Alley](/source/Miles_Davis_Quintet_at_Peacock_Alley)* (1997).[7][9]

By the late 1960s, Burke had his own production company making TV and radio spots and a public relations company.[3] From 1970 to 1971, he hosted the "Spider" Burks Show broadcast on KXLW live from the Gourmet Rendezvous.[10][11]

After Burks left radio in the early 1970s, he became an insurance salesman.[12] In 1972, he began working as a job placement officer at the St. Louis County Division of Adult Correctional Institution.[13][12]

Burks died at the age of 52 from cancer on September 4, 1975.[12] His body was donated to the [St. Louis University School of Medicine](/source/Saint_Louis_University_School_of_Medicine) for [cancer research](/source/Cancer_research).[14] Burks was survived by his wife of 28 years, Leah Burk, and son Reginald Burk.[12][5]

## References

1. [""Spider" Burks On KXLW Daily Mon. Thru Fri."](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-st-louis-argus-spider-burks-radio-s/133095045/). *The St. Louis Argus*. April 18, 1947. p. 18.

1. Menees, Charles (September 14, 1947). "Disc Jockeys: Some of the Men Conducting Record Programs From St. Louis Stations". *St. Louis Post-Dispatch Pictures*

1. Terry, Dickson (January 26, 1969). "Radio Stations Here Succeed With 'Soul'". *St. Louis Post-Dispatch Everyday Magazine*. pp. 1G, 9G.

1. "Spider Burks Fired". *The St. Louis Argus*. July 13, 1956. pp. 1, 10.

1. "Update: Leah Burks". *St. Louis Post-Dispatch Magazine*. January 7, 1990. p. 6.

1. Hayes, Bernie (2005-02-17). ["Early voices and faces of local black radio"](http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/bernie_hayes/early-voices-and-faces-of-local-black-radio/article_e984f460-ac8d-5a67-b8d6-3175691f0dd4.html). *St. Louis American*. Retrieved 2023-10-08.

1. Olson, B.R. (2016). [*That St. Louis Thing, Vol. 2: An American Story of Roots, Rhythm and Race*](https://books.google.com/books?id=T98rDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA98). Lulu Press, Incorporated. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-4834-5799-4. Retrieved 2018-05-12.

1. ["Jazz Rooms Still in Demand, Alley Welcomes Miles Davis"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-st-louis-argus-jazz-rooms-still-in/133059222/). *The St. Louis Argus*. July 13, 1956. p. 23.

1. ["New Local Recordings"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-miles-davis-quin/133094541/). *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*. April 10, 1997. p. 12.

1. ["Starting Saturday Feb. 28, 1970 Live Direct From The Gourmet Renezvous - "Spider" Burks Show (Advertisement)"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-the-spider-burks/133127382/). *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*. February 27, 1970. pp. 7D.

1. "Opening June 11 - Dizzy Gillespie, A Spider Burks Presentation - Gourmet Rendezvous (Advertisement)". *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*. June 6, 1971. pp. 9H.

1. "Jesse D. (Spider) Burks Dies Of Cancer". *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*. September 5, 1975. pp. 4B.

1. Freivofel, M.W. (July 2, 1972). "Lifting Job Hopes Of Jail Inmates". *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*. pp. 3A.

1. "'Spider' Burks Memorial Service". *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*. September 12, 1975. pp. 4B.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spider Burks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_Burks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_Burks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.