Carrie Cunningham
Bright, country singer/writer winds road to stardom
Carrie Cunningham (center) and NSAI Training Workshop Grads
The Northwest is home to a rising star; Carrie Cunningham is a bright young country singer/songwriter working her way though the winding road to stardom. She plays the Portland music scene, as well as consistent efforts in Nashville. Signed to Divulge Records, she is packaged well with a new CD available and a glossy press kit
Cunningham and her band the Six Shooter Six play a nice combination of pop country singles, blended with their own originals. Like most good artists, the band comes alive when playing original songs. The songs are very consistent in style and merit that will serve Cunningham well. This young lady and her surrounding band of journeyman players are well on their way.
Cunningham found her influences in Patsy Cline, Jim Croce and Alabama, starting her music career in middle school singing in the Jazz choir. Cunningham developed her talents as both a singer and performer singing in allstate choirs and all northwest choirs in high school, She found a guiding light in Reba McEntire. Cunningham entered her first country singing competition in Spokane and took fourth place at the young age of 19.
Stage-right guitarist Tim Rooney is the guitar wizard every country band needs, moving from one instrument to another effortlessly. During one set, the parade of beautiful fretted instruments is a show in itself. This musician mastered his skills long ago and knows how to be right where he needs to be as a player as well as a performer. Seeing Rooney ply his craft is worth the price of admission alone.
However, Rooney is not alone; the stage is full of pro players at all stops. Jeff Mongo Knapp, pounds out the drums. Knapp has learned his trade working with Johnny Limbo for 26 years, His playing and overall performance lend a great backbeat to this band. He also acts as part of the show with a good joke now and then. Knapp will be the first to tell you he has the best seat in the house.
Blaine Moody lays down the bass. The original player in the successful local band Quarterflash and previous to that, Seafood Mama, Moody has plenty of stage time under his belt. He moves through his duties with ease and has a strong warm bass tone. His vocal work is a welcome addition to the live performance, as Moody does a great Johnny Cash.
On pedal steel, Dale Granstrom brings the sounds of the islands to life as he works his magic. Granstrom earned his own money to purchase his first six-string lap guitar at the young age of 14, throwing papers as a young boy. He is self-taught and is having so much fun playing in the Six Shooter Six, you can’t help but have a good time watching him.
Last but far from least, Kenney Heinz became the second guitarist a short three months ago. His talent lets him blend in with this band as if he had been there from the start. Originally from California, Heinz has performed his whole life and it shows. He plays solid guitar and sings with ease, giving the band's live performance yet another lead vocalist to add variety and color.
Cunningham is getting around town and around the globe with some of her songs rising to #1 in Belgium, #4 in Ireland, as tallied by the ECMA charts. Recently performing on Good Morning Northwest and making radio station appearances, she is doing the hard work to realize her goals.
You can find out more info on the band at Myspace.com/carriecunninghammusic. Band business and booking are handled through her record company Divulge Records. For info, contact Tim Bishop at 206-854-8794. (See ad and Bandstand for performing schedule.)
Cunningham seeks local
songwriters for Portland NSAI chapter
Carrie Cunningham of Vancouver, Wash. recently participated in a national songwriter's chapter, sponsored by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) in Nashville, Tenn. During NSAI's Regional Coordinator Training workshop, Carrie received instruction on how to effectively establish and direct a songwriting workshop, and is now looking for local songwriters to join the Portland NSAI chapter.
Cunningham is one of over 200 volunteer coordinators selected by NSAI to direct more than 110 regional songwriting chapters located in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, Sweden and New Zealand. The Portland NSAI Chapter meets at the Grant house/The Club on Officer's Row in Vancouver, Wash. on the second Tuesday of each month and provides local songwriters with the opportunity to improve their skills, learn more about the music industry, evaluate songs and network with one another on a regular basis. Contact Cunningham at 509-230-5473 for more information on the local chapter.
Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is a not-for-profit trade association devoted to the service of songwriters. Established in 1967 by professional songwriters in Nashville, NSAI now numbers more than 5,000 members worldwide. NSAI exists to provide information and guidance on the songwriting process, to provide opportunities for aspiring songwriters to learn from music industry professionals, and to lobby for songwriter rights in Washington, D.C. For more information on NSAI, call Trish Mathews, National Chapters Director, at (615) 256-3354. Or view more information on the chapter program at NSAI's website at www.nashvillesongwriters.com.