Dan Cunningham

Joni Mitchell in a coonskin cap? Well, not exactly. A literary descendant of Robert Louis Stevenson, Dan forms poetic songs of wonder and beauty, seamlessly wrapped in the rich textures of acoustic guitar, cello and harp. The strains of fluid melody fill the senses with the image of a secret place and time, now forgotten. At an early age, Dan sat at rapt attention before a 50s era Zenith console, playing and replaying the one 45 rpm single each of Eddie Arnold and Fats Domino, and the 78s of Dinah Shore and Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony. The imprint on an impressionable young mind was profound, and you might say he never recovered. Dan drifted in a musical wilderness of rock, country, and jazz, searching for that elusive paradise of musical truth. And then, one late night lying awake in a fleabag motel, Dan saw the light. It turned out to the flickering neon sign from "Murph's Café" next door. As fate would have it, the very next day as Dan was dining at that same café, savoring the only item on the menu he could afford; a small order of chili-cheese fries. His eyes were drawn to the Elvis portraits in black velvet, and just below, a small smeared blackboard with the lunch special, "Murphs Bologna Burger". At that moment inspiration struck and would have knocked Dans socks off, had he been wearing any. The central question was clear.…why top your burger with bologna and not chili? It was time to play real music, music that tops off the meaty taste of life like chili on a flame grilled hamburger still dripping with the satisfying essence of fullness. It was from this point the distinct and varied music he called "New Appalachian" began to come forth. (As along as he stayed away from the fifth). Dan has performed/recorded with Phil Keaggy (Grammy nominee and Dove award winner), Robin Kessinger (1985 National Flatpicking Champion), Nedra Talley Ross (Ronettes), Phil Madeira (Nashville songwriter, recording artist) and others. Dan first solo CD, "INTO THE FLOW", was a Viewer’s Choice award winner on Kweevak.com. His second CD, "I THINK OF HOME", builds on this musical vision, expanding the range of expression for Appalachian music. "Dan Cunningham plays his guitar the way a man loves a woman---with heart and caring and affection." -Richard Fuller