Josh Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Joshua "Josh" Hayden Cunningham is an Australian guitarist
, vocalist and songwriter who is one-third of folk rock
band The Waifs
. His involvement with The Waifs has resulted in a total of four Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Award
wins, all in 2003
for Up All Night
and ten further nominations. Cunningham has released five studio albums with The Waifs and co-writes songs with fellow members Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn
, including "Lighthouse", which was nominated for an ARIA Award as 'Single of the Year' in 2003.
Cunningham has been a regular member of Missy Higgins
's backing band, performed on her recent album "On a Clear Night" and appeared in her live show. Cunningham has constructed some of the guitars he plays, both acoustic and electric.
, and picked up his first guitar
in 1987. He met Donna and Vikki Simpson
while the two sisters played gigs in Broome
, in 1992. At the time, Cunningham played bass guitar
in an all-male band. Donna Simpson described, on The Waifs' official website, how they met: Cunningham has been a member of The Waifs ever since.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, vocalist and songwriter who is one-third of folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band The Waifs
The Waifs
The Waifs are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by Josh Cunningham , and sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson...
. His involvement with The Waifs has resulted in a total of four Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) Award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
wins, all in 2003
ARIA Music Awards of 2003
The 17th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 21 October 2003 at the Sydney Superdome.-ARIA Awards:*Album of the Year**Powderfinger – Vulture Street...
for Up All Night
Up All Night (The Waifs album)
Up All Night is the fourth album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in January 2003.Critics reacted more favourably to this release and it has been the band's biggest album to date....
and ten further nominations. Cunningham has released five studio albums with The Waifs and co-writes songs with fellow members Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn
Vikki Thorn
Vikki Thorn is an Australian harmonica player, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter and one-third of the Australian folk rock band The Waifs. Her sister Donna Simpson also plays guitar and sings in the band...
, including "Lighthouse", which was nominated for an ARIA Award as 'Single of the Year' in 2003.
Cunningham has been a regular member of Missy Higgins
Missy Higgins
Melissa "Missy" Morrison Higgins is an Australian pop singer-songwriter, musician and actor. Her No. 1 albums in Australia are The Sound of White and On a Clear Night , and her Top Ten singles are "Scar", "The Special Two", "Steer" and "Where I Stood". From a musical family in...
's backing band, performed on her recent album "On a Clear Night" and appeared in her live show. Cunningham has constructed some of the guitars he plays, both acoustic and electric.
Biography
Joshua Cunningham grew up on a farm in Moruya, New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and picked up his first guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
in 1987. He met Donna and Vikki Simpson
Vikki Thorn
Vikki Thorn is an Australian harmonica player, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter and one-third of the Australian folk rock band The Waifs. Her sister Donna Simpson also plays guitar and sings in the band...
while the two sisters played gigs in Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
, in 1992. At the time, Cunningham played bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in an all-male band. Donna Simpson described, on The Waifs' official website, how they met: Cunningham has been a member of The Waifs ever since.
The Waifs
- Temptation (2011)
- Live From The Union Of The Soul (2009)
- Sun Dirt WaterSun Dirt WaterSun Dirt Water is the sixth album and fifth studio album by Australian folk rock band The Waifs. It was released by Jarrah Records on 1 September 2007...
(2007) - A Brief History...A Brief History...A Brief History... is the fifth album and first live album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in 2004.-Disk one:#"Lighthouse" – 4:17#"London Still" – 4:29#"Take It In" – 3:40#"Love Serenade" – 3:11...
(2004) - Up All NightUp All Night (The Waifs album)Up All Night is the fourth album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in January 2003.Critics reacted more favourably to this release and it has been the band's biggest album to date....
(2003) - Lighthouse EP (2003)
- Sink or Swim (2000)
- Shelter MeShelter MeShelter Me is the second album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released by Jarrah in March 1998.-Track listing:#"Heart Lies" – 2:43#"People Who Think They Can" – 3:15#"Shelter Me" – 3:05...
(1998) - The WaifsThe Waifs (album)The Waifs is the self-titled debut album by Australian folk band The Waifs, first released in May 1996.-Release and re-release:The Waifs was originally released on Outside Music in 1996...
(1996)
Guest appearances and collaborations
- Firefly (Sara Storer) (2005)
- She Will Have Her Way: The Songs of Tim & Neil Finn (Various Artists) (2005)
- The Special TwoThe Special Two-External links:*...
EP (Missy Higgins) (2005) - Telluride Bluegrass FestivalTelluride Bluegrass FestivalTelluride Bluegrass Festival is held annually in Telluride, Colorado by . Although traditionally the festival focuses on bluegrass music, it often features music from a variety of genres. In 1974, its first year, it attracted 1000 participants. Currently the festival's attendance is capped at 10,000...
: Thirty Years (Various Artists) (2005) - Cannot Buy My Soul: The Songs of Kev Carmody (Various Artists) (2007)
- John Dee Holeman & the Waifs Band (John Dee HolemanJohn Dee HolemanJohn Dee Holeman is an American Piedmont blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His music includes elements of Texas blues, R&B and jazz. In his younger days he was also known for his proficiency as a 'buckdancer'.-Biography:...
& The WaifsThe WaifsThe Waifs are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by Josh Cunningham , and sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson...
Band) (2007)