Music
Press
EDDIE IS CUNNING
Eddie Cunningham has written songs for dozens of country artists and roots rockers, so who knew he could play guitar so expressively and sing so righteously? In a too-short 40-minute set at The Roxy, Cunningham presented songs that made your emotions work overtime. If it takes a big spirit to sing of an empty heart, Cunningham's must be the size of the Louisiana Purchase. And when he turns to songs designed to make your heart glad, he is even greater. Singing of true love and good memories, he is capable of sending those feelings straight into your bloodstream. Feeling low? The doctor recommends a full dose of Eddie Cunningham. Making achingly beautiful harmonies with him at this performance was Vicki Cunningham (his wife); playing an entire orchestra's worth of accompaniment was keyboardist Marty Axelrod. For the record, The Roxy has considerably improved in the months since our last visit. No longer do your feet stick to the floor with every step, the air conditioning was on throughout the performance, and the staff was not surly once. I joked with Cunningham about this afterwards and with wonderful deadpan humor he shot back, "It was a rider in our contract." Beautiful melodies, great lyrics, superior guitar work, a fine voice AND a good sense of humor? Whoa, son - find out what this guy eats for breakfast and buy a ton of it.
G-MAN (WRITER) NOHO NEWS MAGAZINE (NORTH HOLLYWOOD NEWS)
Volume 2, Number 14 *JULY 6TH 2000
READY EDDIE
Eddie Cunningham takes the stage with an impressive array of tools: a guitar, some reverb, and a voice as penetrating as a freight train whistle. Oh, and emotional truth. Backed by Vicki Cunningham on harmony vocals and Marty Axelrod on keyboards, Cunningham delivered a masterful set of great songs at The Roxy. The man has created dozens of tunes for country and roots artists, and has two numbers on the new "Gram Parsons Notebook" album (Shell Point Records). But there is tremendous power in his own renditions. Playing a right-handed acoustic-electric flipped over to lefty adds subtle nuances to his chords, but it’s the sharp-ness of his observation and heartfelt melodies that make these songs so monumental.
-Scott G (G-MAN) L.A. Music Awards, Outstanding Music Journalist
July 14th ROCK CITY NEWS (SUPERSONICS)
Two songs worthy of special mention are "Jesus Is More Than Just A Name", a spectacular Gospel Anthem that is sure to be heard in a church near you, and "The Button" a traditional Country Waltz that masterfully conveys the emotions of adultery. Both songs were based on partial lyrics in the notebook.
The Gram Parsons Notebook "The Last Whippoorwill" Review by Darryl Harrelson, Executive Director California Country Music Association (July 28 2000)
- G-MAN
Discography
1978 Amber band - I'm so confused "45"- Golden Track Produced by Steve Wetherbee
1980 Amber band -KPBS concert special (SOUND STAGE) 7 songs
Produced by Steve Wetherbee
1981 Amber Band album
Produced by Steve Wetherbee
1984 Acoustic recordings Eddie Cunningham
Produced by Steve Wetherbee
Cowboys & Indians - Atlantic
1985Cowboys & Indians "45" - Nufire Records
Produced by John Balestrie, Randy Fuele, band
1988Cowboys & Indians/Glory Bound - Nufire Records
Produced by John Balestrie, Randy Fuel, band
Cowboys & Indians - XS Records
produced by band
Eddie Cunningham - debut solo - Nufire Records
Produced by various, Bill Hullet, Desmond Child, Mike Ward, Eddie Cunningham, John Khula
Eddie Cunningham / I Can't Wait - Nufire Records
various - Chris Darrow, Steve Bogard, Ed Tree, Eddie Cunningham, John Khula, Danny Federici
Eddie Cunningham / Country & What Not - Nufire
Eddie Cunningham / Nashville Sessions
Bill Hullet / Lana Wood
Big Orange & The BackYard Ramblers
Kim Fowley & Roy Sweeden
Hillbilly Trucker / Honey What Town Are We In?
Eddie Cunningham
Photos
Bio
INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNER "BEST GOSPEL SONG" 2008
IAMA TOP 5 2007
WINNER BEST GOSPEL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MUSIC AWARDS 2-11-06
BILLBOARD WORLD SONG CONTEST COUNTRY WINNER 2-13-06
JOHN LENNON COUNTRY WINNER
"I stated playing the clubs in San Diego, with Grossmont College professer Hoke Simpson. under the name "Fool" we played the Springfield Wagon Works and with Chuck Perrin who use to book the Hungry Hunters and Jolly Rogers. Hoke was great! we would do house concert jams and college concerts with the East/West Band. I got into the club circut in S.D. thanks to Hoke. After a few years and a broken heart later, Ileft hoke and started the Amber Band with Barrie Dempsey, Danny Pinnella and Loren Graham, I played some more in S.D. and we released a single, a album, a hit video sound stage live concert t.v. show for K. P. B. S. channel 15. Other groups I played in were: Winslow Tipton with Jay Flaherty, Black Shoes and White Sneakers with Jay and Freddy Dunsmore, The Jeds with Jeff Williams, Street Choir with Mark Intravia, Mike Peters, Johnny Khula and Dave McKeweun and I started Cowboys & Indians with Johnny and Bruce Clark, Steve Jumal and Mark Spriggs and we got a record deal with Atlantic Records. A&R Rep Keith Cowan got an unsolicited tape in the mail from Eddie, a 4 song home studio recording of the band. Keith wanted to see them "live" so he set up a private showcase in Hollywood. They were signed on the spot and recorded at least two albums worth of American Indian Tribal rock songs and Country rock/ballads. They Played gigs around town with "The Unforgivin'"(the pioneers of the spaghetti western craze in Hollywood).
While honing his writing skills playing the Los Angeles songwriters circuit, and visiting the famous Palomino club in North Hollywood he ran into many songwriters including Jim Lauderdale, Jeffrey Steele (Boy Howdy), Monty Byrom (Big House), Dale Watson, Rosie Flores, Dwight Yoakam and others.
Eddie's former lead guitarist from The Amber Band Danny Pinnella, told Betty Rosen at Michael Douglas's label, Third Stone Records, about Eddie and was offered a publishing contract with Third Stone/Warner Chappell.
Eddie has songs recorded by Ben E. King (IF YOU NEED A MIRACLE), Gram Parsons Notebook (JESUS IS MORE THAN A NAME), Moe Bandy (I WAS TAKEN), Chris Darrow (STAGE BY STAGE), Mark Insley, Todd Fritsch, Michael Mandella, Jenny Slate, Pete Martinez and has written with some of the best in the industry including Jeffrey Steele, Wendy Waldman, Desmond Child, A.L."Doodle" Owens, Kostas and many others.
He was named the "Songwriter of the Year" and "Male vocalist of the Year" by the California Country Music Association and was named the "Best Unsigned" Country artists in America by becoming the Grand-Prize Winner in the Jim Beam Country Band Search at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville where he performed in front of a packed house with Montgomery Gentry filmed for CMT.
Eddie Topped the Americana charts with two songs featured on the Gram Parsons Tribute CD a legendary, history making Grammy worthy project on Shellpoint Records. Eddie is singing a power gospel song called "Jesus Is More Than a Name", which he co-wrote with Gram Parsons through his notebook. He also co-produced the song with Grammy Award winner Carl Jackson. *The album was nominated for 3 Grammy nominations and also includes Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Jim Lauderdale, The Elvis Band, Larry Cordle, Lona Heins, Leslie Satcher, Mike Ward, Eddie Dunbar & The Woody's.
Currently Eddie's new venture is "Jukebox California" a film/ Documentary/mesh of pioneer types songwriters from the inland empire brought together to appear as themselves, writing songs and performing together the likes of John York, Patrick Brayer, Big Orange & Backyard Ramblers, by Legendary Record Producer (the original mayor of the sunset strip) Kim Fowley, Eddie stars in the movie and has 5 songs.. A DVD and CD will follow the release of the movie.
Links
