“If you wake up in the mornin’ and you can’t think of anything but singin’ first…then you’re supposed to be a singer, Girl.” -Sister Mary Clarence from Sister Act 2.
I have woken up every day of my life singing…old songs, new songs, my own lyrics and melodies. I was that child singing in the supermarket because something moved me and I didn’t care if you noticed or not. That’s just who I was and who I still am! Even so, it took a long time to find my personal, artistic niche. Musically speaking, I had a music degree but finding that genre that fits you like a glove and pushes you out of your comfort zone is a process! When I finally realized that singing old, romantic styled Jazz & blues was the perfect fit for who I am, it became easier to take the risk of stepping out on my own as a solo artist. However, being that I was 40 at the time invited a whole new set of fears!! I was the woman who put my music career on the back burner to raise my family. Was it too late? There is something about mid-life that enables one to throw caution to the wind and go for it…and I did! After many years of singing on other people’s projects and the continuous requests for a CD, I recorded my 1st Album, The Rest of Your Life in 2006. Which continues to sell on amazon, CdBaby and iTunes. Not only that, but, as an entrepreneur, I became my own record label. I have learned about this business through trial and error and still love every minute of what I do. Most especially, performing for the fans and giving them music and experiences to look forward to!
Debbie Cunningham is known as a powerful and engaging entertainer. Her musical styling of jazz is soulful and sultry, yet elegant and sophisticated. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Pennsylvania’s Temple University. Upon graduation, Debbie married her high school sweetheart and moved to Nashville, TN where she continued to pursue her music career as a vocalist.
The industry buzz around The Rest of Your Life has been compelling. Critic Mut Asheru from Unsigned: The Magazine wrote: “What a glorious sound Debbie makes on this album…What I love about this album is her vocal fearlessness…There are hundreds of ‘My Funny Valentine’ renditions floating around and her sassy version is rather refreshing…each of the 11 tracks are on absolute elegant treat.
Greg Lee, Program/Music Director for WMOT-FM, Jazz-89 Nashville adds, “Some singers’ entire careers are spent searching for that delicate, delicious connection with their listeners when a song becomes an intimate statement one is compelled to hear. Debbie Cunningham grabbed it right from the start. WOW!” Debbie Alan, original co-host of Nashville’s Talk of the Town says “Debbie has a voice like velvet” and Bob Collins from WRHU Jazz Radio NY calls Cunningham’s debut CD “A gem!”
She also scored major write -ups in the international women’s magazine, More and in Women in Entertainment.
In addition to the amazing press, Cunningham has won over countless jazz fans in and around her adopted hometown of Nashville and beyond with the passionate live performances she plays with her quartet. She has entertained audiences at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, LP Field, regional hotspots like F. Scott’s jazz restaurant, small local theaters, wine festivals, corporate and charity events. When asked about how she feels about her career, she said. “I’ve always believed that finding that intimate connection with the audience is the key part of being a successful artist and performer. When I perform these standards and the new songs I am working on for my upcoming second album, the audience knows I’ve lived a lot of the lyrics. I’m not 15 singing about a lifetime love…I’ve been married over twenty-four years, am raising a wonderful family and I have a great reverence for those artists who are part of jazz history. I love bringing happiness into people’s lives through music. We are living in stressful times and I offer a place where they can enjoy themselves and unplug from the world for an evening. It’s a joy and an honor sharing that experience with them.”
