Franklin,TN-Jazz & Chocolate Concert!

Franklin,TN- My Concert at the NEW Performing Arts Center at Academy Park in downtown Franklin is here just in time for Valentine’s weekend!!

February 18th/ 7pm $20 includes Chocolate

provided by Paul’s Chocolate & Schakolad Chocolate Factory.

Limited seating….Get you tickets here:

or at http://academyparktn.wcparksandrec.com/

Williamson County Parks & Rec Presents…

 An Evening of Jazz and Chocolate – Valentine’s weekend, indulge in gourmet chocolates provided by Paul’s Chocolate and Schakolad Chocolate Factory while enjoying the velvet vocal stylings of jazz recording artist, Debbie Cunningham, and her band. You will hear classic jazz standards, bossa nova, and blues, as well as some new songs from her latest release: A Million Kisses

New Year! New Album and New Shows!

News! Well 2018 is here friends. I spent the last year finishing my new album: A Million Kisses.  It was a crazy ride balancing my daughter’s wedding and my youngest going off to college but I’m so excited that the national release is Jan 26th! This is my 2nd album but my first to write and produce. Feels very exciting to be getting such great feedback from media and pre-release copies! FEBRUARY 18th in Franklin,TN is my first show on this tour so stay tuned f tickets details. Show in Carlisle,PA in the works too! And my book, The Art of Staying in Love will be right on the heels of all that. I’ll keep you posted. For now here’s a little photo from the Family Christmas 2017 and a clip from the new CD!  Happy New Year! – Debbie

2018Christmasfamilypic_n

CD RELEASE CONCERT!

Local CD RELEASE CONCERT Sunday, Nov 5, 2017 3 pm at the Brentwood Library!  FREE event but seating is limited so please REGISTER HERE: http://brentwood-tn.libcal.com/event/3591904

So excited to be sharing my CD release as a part of the Brentwood library’s Arts series. Looking forward to seeing all of you at this long awaited release! Great music & Give aways ! Bring friends!!

A Million Kisses Album cover

A Million Kisses Album cover

 

New Album, 2 Graduations,1 Wedding , oh my!

Hellooooo end of Summer!

I’ve had a crazy last few months…..  finished producing and recording the new album, had both kids graduate …my son from high school and my daughter from college.  My daughter got married at the end of June! Whew!  What a marvelous, exhausting ride planning a wedding can be. Two days after the wedding, my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary!! Lots of big life events in a short few months. I’m really excited but a wee bit emotional about the empty nest. Our daughter  has already moved away and our son will be off to college next week!. Upcoming? CD release…Finally, I know! I’ve gotten great feedback from those that pre-ordered the album so I’m looking forward to the public release! For now here’s a few pics of my crazy few months. Soon I’ll be announcing the BIG CD release EVENT so stay tuned!!

A Million Kisses Album cover

Deanna and Drake Graduation

Deanna and Drake Graduation

Family Wedding pic

Family Wedding pic

Debbie and Derek 30 years!

Debbie and Derek 30 years!

Pre-Order my New Album Now!

Badge

A Million Kisses….is almost complete! Join me in ushering this new music into the World. By PRE-ORDERING you’ll get bonus items,exclusive content and be on my private team through completion. And you’ll be getting some great romantic jazz into your ears!

This music is for you if you’ve ever known love and wanted to nurture it and make it last. It’s for you if you know that lasting love means hanging in there no matter what.
This project is dedicated to those who celebrate STAYING IN LOVE. I married my high school sweetheart and 29 years later, we’re still enjoying the journey of being in love, weathering storms and living our adventure together. And It’s possible for you too! This album celebrates and encourages couples on their journey of making love last.
So if you believe in the power of love and loving for a lifetime, please pre-order your copy today!

Christmas Show Announced!

 

Debbie singing Santa Baby to audience participant

Debbie Cunningham and friends annual Swingin’ Christmas show is scheduled for

Friday December 18th, 2015!

8pm $20 Door

*$15 PreSale thru 12/12 Buy Here: http://dcjazzxmasshow.brownpapertickets.com

Location:

Franklin Brentwood Arts Performance Hall

210 Gothic Ct. Suite 200

Franklin, TN 37067

Limited tickets on Pre-Sale  BUY NOW!   http://dcjazzxmasshow.brownpapertickets.com

Join the Insider’s list to be first to hear news of shows & discounted tickets and free music !

 

 

5 Minute Chocolate Fondue & the Chocolate song…

Just in time for Valentine’s day….This week’s reflection of Love & Life features  my song :  Chocolate is a girl’s best friend. I decided to teach you how to make a yummy dessert in less than 5 minutes…for that sweetheart or sweet tooth of yours!  ENJOY!

 

 

 

Reflections on Love & Life- An Interview about the new CD

REFLECTIONS on LOVE & LIFE…….

 

How would you describe your upcoming record?

 It’s romantic and fun. It celebrates marriage relationships and also being a  mid-life female.

How would you compare it to your last album?

Stylistically, it is similar. It’s soft jazz. This one is more danceable than the last one. The first was romantic mood or dinner music. You can samba, do the 2 step or waltz to this one. The last CD was all cover songs except one original.  This time, I wrote every song but still worked with the same jazz pianist for the arrangements. He’s brilliant.

 When did you start writing songs?

I’ve been writing songs since I was 12 years old. I didn’t do much with them. I didn’t know WHAT to do with them. Back then we didn’t have this global access via the Internet like we do now. My very first song was about an apple tree. LOL! Probably not much market there…

 How do you go about writing songs?

I don’t have a particular way, sometimes I get a melody first; sometimes I get a lyric. Chicken or the egg? It varies!

 What things inspire you to write?

My observations of life, my relationships and the world around me inspire me to make a statement. Everything I write is not biographical. Sometimes it is just a response to a story a friend shares that touches me deeply.

 What’s a favorite lyric from one of the songs on your CD?

“Live the life that we dreamed of instead of throwing that dream away” It’s from Kiss and Make up. Sometimes we hold and internalize resentment over the tiniest of things, especially we females. Self included. I’m learning to let those things go more quickly- life is much more pleasant!

What’s a song of yours that has really touched people?

How much I love you- penned for my husband and recorded on my first record has been very well received. Chocolate on this upcoming CD is a close 2nd !  It’s about women and chocolate -what’s not to love?

If you could co-write with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

Bryan Adams- he has a way with melodic & emotional/ lyrical connection that makes me swoon.  He’s still touring and I think he’s a fabulous artist as well as songwriter. After that, it would be Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The Great American songbook is filled with their songs and they are always a piece of artistic beauty.

Beach Vacation and productivity

Recently, I went on a beach trip with some girlfriends. This is NOT the norm for me. I usually only vacation with my husband and children. I travel for business usually alone but seldom do I take the time to decompress from ALL my responsibilities with girl friends. Except for the occasional ladies retreat at church. Still, there is an agenda for me there too-drawing closer to God for the weekend. This, however, was a trip where there were no expectations. No rules except everyone was responsible for themselves. Period. Want to go to the beach? For a walk? to dinner? Be with people or be alone? All OKAY! Everyday, I got up early as usual, made coffee and breathed in the silence as I watched the sun’s reflection rising over the waves. After coffee, I walked by myself for 1 1 /2 hours alone with my ipod along the water’s edge. (oh…mom..FYI…There were other people on the beach…just not walking with me) Some of you are laughing right now but my mom reads my blog and once a mother, always a mother (now that I am one-I get it) and I don’t want her to worry!  After that, I joined my friends who were  already sunbathing! Hours of catching rays, eating frozen grapes, grabbing lunch or just a snack. Reading a book or listening to music uninterrupted. Maybe a nap or another walk later in the day. Then showers, dinner, and a sunset break on the clear evenings….but NO email or work for me. Strange….in fact, my intention was to catch up on some work while there but I just couldn’t focus. My mind needed a break from everything- so I took it. Amazingly…as the week progressed, I found that creative ideas began to flow effortlessly into my head  for things I had been wrestling with for weeks before I left. I wrote them down so I didn’t forget but did not try to expound on anything. Just rest.WOW! What a difference. Now I am back home and my head is clearer, more organized and my productivity is definitely improved for all my work and responsibilities. Things that were stressing me out seem smaller now. So besides getting lots of R&R I decided to reflect on what really made the difference.

#1 First things first-

Everyday instead of hopping on email or FB first thing, I walked. I gave myself something I needed-exercise! (ok and a beautiful view!) Granted, at home I am getting breakfast for the family in the wee hours before school but after that I can delay email and walk first. The world will not fall apart if I don’t respond to email before 8 am!

#2 Less technology!

Yes, I listened to music and posted a few pics of the beach to face book but I did not feel the need to read email and stay current on everyone’s FB posts. My brain needed a break from constant contact and constant information! This alone cleared my mind! Technology is wonderful but it can put us on overload if we are not careful!

#3 Learning to take time every day to appreciate the beauty around you.

Each night at the beach when the sky was clear-no matter what we were doing- we took a sunset break. A few minutes to view the gorgeous color in the sky over the water. Something about that awe inspired view was stress relieving. I actually do that at home sometimes…but most days I am too busy and I forget. Appreciating the beauty around you even for just a few minutes can renew your senses.

#4 Find people in your age and stage to do life with and laugh often!

The fact that most of us were the same”age and stage” of life meant we had a lot in common. It seemed there was always something funny happening or being said and we would erupt into a chorus of laughter together! I LOVED that! It was fun to just chat about our lives, get to know each other better etc. Did I mention that these women were not my best friends….some were strangers and others were acquaintances I have known for years through church but truly did not “Know” much at all except their stats-husband ,3 kids and grandma to be, for example. Everything wasn’t all rosy in our lives either….we had all experienced or were experiencing trials or grief through unexpected circumstances and we were still able to find laughter and joy in the moments.

Through this trip, I was reminded once again how important it is to take care of ourselves ladies!  You know when the flight attendant comes over the intercom to say, “Please secure your own oxygen mask before you try to help someone else.” Well, it is that way in life. We must take care of ourselves if we want to be able to care for others. Let’s face it, as women, we have a lot going on! Most of us have spouses, families, jobs and houses to take care of….then there is extended family, friends, charities or PTO’s and committees….etc. It’s a never ending list. We must pick and choose what rises to the top of those lists and we need to keep ourselves from staying at the bottom or we will never be as productive as we would like to be!

All this from a beach trip…….I’d say that was productive! 🙂

 

Follow your dream…

Don’t we all long to follow our dreams and make them come true? That’s what I was thinking about when I wrote this song for my kids. Follow your dreams, work hard, be persistent and even when you fall…get back up and something wonderful will happen! You will learn to FLY….