Eddie Cunningham: 8th Annual Program – Gospel Song IMA Winner
Contact: Eddie Cunningham3725 Fairesta St.
La Cresenta, CA 91214
818-607-9113
nufire (at) yahoo.com
www.eddiecunningham.com
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“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.