Unless otherwise noted: Dan Cunningham - guitar, vocal, cello, bass, mandolin, percussion CD includes OUT OF MY MIND ( a tragic tale set in the coalfields of West Virginia in the 1920's) -Regional finalist 2010 New Song/Mountain Stage contest -Story Song finalist 2010 Independent Music Awards -Semi-Finalist Acoustic Roundtable 2011 Worldwide Search -Semi-Finalist 2011 SONG OF THE YEAR contest -2012 East Coast Songwriters Honorable Mention Americana/Folk (original mix at Moviesound Studios by David Traugh) Some old favorites on the CD also: Angel Band (Libby Eddy on fiddle) John Henry Amazing Grace (guitar and cello) Hazel Dickens' wonderful song WEST VIRGINIA, MY HOME is performed by Dan with Libby Eddy on fiddle and Daria Jones (backup vocals) I AIN'T NO PRETTY BOY NO MORE laments the inevitable; we are all a little worse for wear if we hang around long enough DEVIL ANSE is about the colorful patriarch of the Hatfield clan made famous from his family feud with the McCoys IF I LEFT THESE HILLS recounts the perils of forsaking your mountain home MABEL - yes, they get the blues back in the hills too. It ain't just the bayou. Joshua Arthurs on slide guitar JOHN HENRY'S GHOST - working the C&O tunnel in Talbot WV, where John Henry has recently passed on Libby Eddy on fiddle TOY TRUCK - a Applachian Christmas song with Libby Eddy on fiddle REVIVAL - experience the old-time tent revival and falling under God's spell recorded at Moviesound Studios - David Traugh, producer Other album credits Recorded at Boom Closet Portions recorded at Zone 8 Studio Mixed and Mastered by Mark Poole at Zone 8 Studio percussion by Evan Lintz background vocals: Daria Jones About Dan (and other stuff) At an early age, Dan spent long hours listening to a 50's era Zenith console, playing and replaying the the one 45 rpm single each of Eddie Arnold and Fats Domino, and the 78's of Dinah Shore and Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony. The imprint on an impressionable young mind was profound, and you might say he never recovered. Drifting from rock, to country to jazz; to blues, Bach and back again, Dan's own music failed to develop. And then, one late night laying 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, "Murph's Bologna Burger". At that moment inspiration struck and would have knocked Dan's 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). Over the years 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) Lance DeMers (Hannah's Prayer), John Fischer, Jenny Allinder, Ted Sandquist and others. Dan’s first solo CD, INTO THE FLOW, received glowing reviews and was a "Viewer’s Choice" award winner on Kweevak.com. His second CD, I THINK OF HOME, built on this musical vision, expanding the range of expression for Appalachian music. The songs received recognition in several songwriting competitions, including an Honorable Mention in the Billboard song contest. Dan's third CD, WAYFARING STRANGER (2006) placed third in Kweevak's Listener's Choice Awards. One tune, "Big Gene", won Honorable Mention in the SONG OF THE MONTH contest. The CD was a showcase for his songwriting abilities. Traditional storytelling is mixed with a measured touch of contemporary sounds. Dan's often-praised guitar skills shine brightly in these arrangements. BACK TO MORGANTOWN (2008), is all acoustic. It features his bone-janglin', brain twistin', finger-picking guitar. Original tunes by Dan plus a few traditional favorites: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" is meted out on Dan's old acoustic guitar and the music ends with the old Scottish song, "Annie Laurie" presented in a simple arrangement with guitar, vocal and cello.