Hi! My name is Rhonda Cunningham. I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so my roots are here. I am a singer, songwriter, performer locally for many years here. My singing career starting in a local pub, like most musicians. I sang here and there, trying to get my name out there in the public's eye. I met John Chick, a local radio announcer and television engineer. Also sang on his then popular 'morning' show. John Chick was my friend who introduced me to Skitch Henderson -of the Johnny Carson Show. Skitch asked me to do a 'folk' concert with him. What a treat that was, playing with him and the Tulsa Philharmonic. It's something I'll never forget. Then I met my now ex-husband and he introduced me to John Denver's brother, Ronald (Ron). Ron was attending Spartan School of Aeronautics. We starting all hanging out together and became friends. Ron moved back to Denver and about a few years later we went to Denver on vacation. We went to visit Ron and he asked me if I would be interested in singing with Bill and Taffy. (It was John Denver's project, of putting a band together.) Ron and I were supposed to be the other 'half' of Starland Vocal Band. But after I moved to Denver, Ron just didn't seem to want to practice. I was really let down, because we had sold our house to move up there. I didn't hold anything against Ron, because he was going through some hard times, just coming out of a relationship. So, that's what happened to probably a good chance for me to see my dream come true. I was the opening act for a few people such as, Leo Kottke, @ Chapman Music Hall. My fondest memory of that concert, was when Leo came into the room that I was waiting in and asked to play my guitar. After he handed it back to me he said, "It has a really nice sound, who made it for you?" I laughed and told him that I couldn't afford a one-of-a-kind guitar. I told him that it was just a guitar made by Guild. He then handed it back to me and said, "Well, really nice sound for a 'mass' produced guitar." LOL. I've also toured with BJ Thomas. Touring with BJ gave me my first experience in touring with a well known artist. I also talked on the air, with radio stations before each concert which was something else a person going on tour as an opening act has to do. I was told by the each dis-jockey that they were playing some of our music about 2-3 weeks before we would come into town to play. Amazingly, a song that I was performing, "If I Sang You A Love Song", stayed on the 'most requested' charts in each city. Guess I need to put that song out on a CD. Ambrosia, Shawn Phillips, Harry Chapin, Oak Ridge Boys, to name a few, are some more of the other that I've opened for. A I have also worked in the studio with some locals..Randy Crouch, the late Gus Hardin. Was in a band with Scott Ellison, before he was his own band, (awesome guitar player of Blues). One of my favorite places to play was 'The Gray Fox Inn', in Ponca City, Ok. Another person I worked with, who was a very good friend, was Jimmy Smith. We played around town and did a duo for a few years. That was back when I played 'The Blue Coat Inn', a nice little folk club. Jimmy was a very good guitar player/singer. We had an ongoing joke between us, I played a Guild 12 string and he played a Martin 12 sting. We would always rag on each other about who had the best sounding guitar. Then when I got 'BIG BERTHA', my Jumbo Guild F512...the sound just couldn't be beat, lol. Would like to get into some more radio and TV commercials. I did a few a while back for Bank of Oklahoma, which won an award, a few jewelry store commercials, and even one for Pepsi! I did a LOT of work with the late John Chick, from channel 8, who was more like a second father to me, and a GREAT friend. John is the man responsible for getting me the interview with Skitch Henderson. At the time Skitch was the conductor of the Tulsa Philharmonic , here in Tulsa. He was looking for a 'folk' singer for a concert that he was doing. It was an experience I'll never forget. John also, used to run a Folk club called "The Speakeasy". He would always tell me stories about his hay days with that club. He said that Mason Williams, and Judy Collins, would always play there when they came through town and that he was real good friends with Mason. I miss him dearly. John Chick, Sony Gray, and some other people from ITTI Studios, made teaching tapes for schools in Florida. It was a lot of fun and a learning experience. Gave me the chance to show that I'm a fast worker in the studio, putting tracks down quickly. Our efforts on the tapes won an award also. I've moved around the states a little, then ended up moving back to Tulsa. I still have been writing songs for all types of music and I would say that my vocals have not changed at all. I am interested in either getting my songs out to be heard, or performing them myself. Most of the 'good' talent that we have here in Tulsa, are male vocalist. Karaoke had a lot to do with putting some real entertainers out of business. Karaoke allowed everyone to think they really could be a real performer/singer. Years ago, karaoke in the clubs put a lot of good performers out of jobs and I think it's still hurting them due to cheaper entertainment. (Cheaper and less quality- but an OK answer for club owners I suppose.) I am also most likely not going to do a solo, as I did for many years here in Tulsa. (Would really rather get a band together). I am a single mom, who has worked hard to raise my children right, giving them strong morals and a sense of what real love is.
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