Johnny Cunningham

The fire and passion of traditional Scottish fiddling is reflected in the lightning-fast playing of Johnny Cunningham. A founding person in Silly Wizard, Cunningham was instrumental in dispersing interest in contemporary, tradition-rooted Celtic music. His albums being a soloist so that as an associate of Relativity and Nightnoise possess extended those customs. Traditional music, nevertheless, is one aspect of Cunningham’s repertoire. The manufacturer of albums for modern vocalist/songwriters including Fred Little, Brooks Williams and Costs Morrissey, Cunningham documented two albums with the choice rock-band the Raindogs, and offers performed in concerts with Hall & Oates. His newer projects range between a tour and ensuing live recording, Celtic Fiddle Festival, with Irish fiddler Kevin Burke and fiddler Christian LeMaitre of Brittany, to composing the soundtrack for an adult-oriented edition of J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy, performed by the brand new York-based Mabou Mines Theatre Company. Furthermore, Cunningham lately collaborated with novelist Thomas Moore (Treatment of the Spirit) on the double-CD seasonal documenting, The Spirit of Xmas. The oldest of three kids, Cunningham performed harmonica at age five in the Grand Lee LATER YEARS Pensioner Harmonica Music group. Although he attempted his hands at accordion and piano, he discovered his organic musical voice whenever a grandmother shown him a fiddle soon before his 8th birthday. Leaving college and house at age 14, he spent many years surviving in rundown flats in Edinburgh. A turning stage arrived when he fulfilled Gordon Jones and Bob Thomas, music artists who maintained the Triangle Folk Membership. Getting into their communal house without restrooms or high temperature, Cunningham became a member of them in developing a music group, Silly Wizard. After playing many regional gigs, the music group accepted a protracted engagement in Liverpool, Britain, composing music and executing in plays on the Everyman Movie theater. Time for Scotland, the group added Cunningham’s youthful sibling, Phil, on accordion, aswell as traditional vocalist Madeline Taylor. Although they documented an record for Transatlantic Information, the album hasn’t been released. After launching a self-titled record in 1972, Silly Wizard experienced personnel adjustments, with Taylor getting changed by Andy Stewart and bassist Martin Hadden from the lately disbanded group Puddock’s Well. Following documenting of Silly Wizard’s second record, Caledonia’s Hardy Sons, Bob Thomas still left the band, as well as the group continuing being a five-piece device. Silly Wizard’s initial tour of america included a pivotal appearance on the Philadelphia Folk Celebration. Cunningham emigrated to America quickly soon after in 1980. Although his put in place Silly Wizard was stuffed briefly by fiddler Dougie McLean, he performed on the last documenting, A Glint of Sterling silver, in 1986, and became a member of them because of their farewell tour 2 yrs later. Cunningham continuing to work regularly with his sibling; furthermore to documenting an album like a duo, Against the Surprise, they became a member of with siblings Triona NiDomhnaill and Michael O’Domhnaill from the Bothy Music group to create Relativity in the first 1980s. Cunningham also caused NiDomhnaill and O’Domhnaill in the brand new age Celtic music group Relativity. Unfortunately, Cunningham died of the coronary attack in Dec 2003. He was 46.