Bio 

Ric Cunningham 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 private 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 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 West Palm Beach, Florida where he is now concentrating on a solo career in the Smooth Jazz / Modern Lounge genre in support of his released debut CD, ”Adventures in the Modern Lounge” (2010)and has begun work on his follow up CD "Adventures in the Modern Lounge Volume 2"  

The ‘LIVE’ show is a combination of background music in the Lounge / Chill / SmoothJazz genre, entertaining performance, audience interaction and even contemporary Dance music if the situation calls for it … a Total Musical / Entertainment experience……

 

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     Western Vacation      Steve Vai Presents: Western Vacation  Akashic Records

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

2010     Ric Cunningham        We Wish You a Retro Xmas

 

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 Video