Musician Emily Pinkerton is known for a very specific specialty: Chilean-accented music using an Andean-style guitar, and her vocals in both Spanish and English. Pinkerton — a native of Valparaiso, Ind. — spent time in Chile as an exchange student at age 19, and became immersed in the world of Latin-American music. Pinkerton, 33, and her husband — Patrick Burke, a classical composer — live in Avalon. She took time off from her music to take the Trib’s Personality Test.

The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why:

Jodie Foster, because she is tough.

Childhood hero and why:

Mary Lou Retton (also tough)

My favorite thing about Pittsburgh is:

Discovering new stairways

Three people I’d love to have dinner with:

Tom Waits, Joan Baez, Bjork

When I was 10, I wanted to be:

A pianist

Musical instrument I wish I could play:

Button accordion

My favorite comfort food:

Macaroni and cheese with tuna

The first band I saw in concert (when and where):

The Monkees, 1988 (Merrillville, Ind.)

TV marathon you could watch all day and why:

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus”

Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:

Jerry’s Records

Saturday mornings you’ll find me:

Doing yoga

Best new gadget I’ve tried recently:

My new iMac with Logic audio software

The movie that always makes me cry:

“West Side Story.” Runner up: “Anne of Green Gables”

Pick one you love or hate:

A.Stripes

B.Polka dots

C.Plaid

D.Paisley

C. Plaid, but it has to be flannel for me to love it.

If I weren’t a musician, I’d be:

An interpreter

The last book I read:

“The Murder of Helen Jewett” by Patricia Cline Cohen

My favorite Web site:

Digital Library of Appalachia ( www.aca-dla.org ) — an amazing collection of field recordings of old-time musicians

If I could live my life as someone else, it would be:

Amelia Earhart

My best karaoke song:

“Little Red Corvette” by Prince, or “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher

My favorite cable channel:

If I had cable, I would watch too much Comedy Central.

If I could tour with any two bands, they would be:

Gillian Welch, Inti-Illimani

People would be surprised to know that I:

Sing opera

---

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---