Bio

Richard Cunningham born May 20, 1955 in New Haven, Connecticut, was raised in a musical home. His father was the music instructor in the small New England town in which he grew up. Whether it was recorded music playing or band rehearsals or lessons in the house, Ric was engulfed in music. He went on to West Chester University to study Classical Music for two years before transferring up to Berklee College of Music to concentrate on Jazz and Contemporary Music and to study sax under the guidance of world renowned woodwind instructor, Joe Viola. Ric graduated in 1978 with a B.S. in Music Education, but his real love was playing live and recording. After graduating he remained in the Boston area for several years playing with various Latin, Funk and Jazz Bands and also recording with several well know local artists: Bill Chinnock, Jonathan Edwards, Mat ‘Guitar’ Murphy(Blues Brothers) and Joe Perry(Aerosmith).

In 1983 Ric moved out to Los Angeles and worked with many artists before starting his 2 year stint with legendary R&B singer, Joe Cocker. After several World Tours and recording sessions, Ric left the band to relocate back on the East Coast(N.Y.C.), where he set up his recording studio/production house/record label, Music41, which specialized in background music for TV, Film and Commercials. He wrote, produced and performed the theme for MTVsports, music for the NBC Olympics, NBA, Daytime Dramas ‘Another World’, ‘Guiding Light’, ‘Santa Barbara’, commercials for Dodge, British Airlines, NY Mets and World Diamond Council and background music for the films “Soul in the Hole”(1997), “Invicta”(2009) and played on a song in “Bull Durham”(1988).

Ric has relocated to his home town area where he is now concentrating on a solo career in the Smooth Jazz/ Modern Lounge genre, with the release of his debut CD, ”Adventures in the Modern Lounge”(2010).

Discography 

1981     Afternoon Delights         General Hospi-Tale                MCA Records

1980     Bill Chinnock                  Dime Store Heroes               North Country Records

1983     Joe Perry Project             Once a Rocker Always a Rocker    MCA Records

1986     The Western Vacation      Steve Vai Presents: Western Vacation  Akashic Records (US)

1987     Joe Cocker                      Unchain My Heart                      Capital Records

1988     Malcolm McCallum           K.1.W.1.

1989     Various Artists                 Guitar's Practicing Musicians 1

2003     Steve Vai                        Various Artists:Archives, Vol. 4   Light Without Heat

2010     Ric Cunningham              Adventures in the Modern Lounge

Video

1986    Joe Cocker    “You Can Leave Your Hat On”    Music Video

1987    Joe Cocker    “Unchain My Heart”                Music Video

1987    Joe Cocker - Live at Montreux 1987             DVD