OBIT: My Guitar Teacher, Al Cunningham

Subject: RE: OBIT: My Guitar Teacher, Al Cunningham
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 02:30 PM

M.Ted, I'm sorry to hear of the passing of your friend and teacher. The only immortality we can achieve on earth is in what we pass on to others. My sympathy.

Subject: RE: OBIT: My Guitar Teacher, Al Cunningham
From: 53
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 02:24 PM

sorry to hear about uncle albert, i'm sure that you'll miss him, my best. BOB

Subject: RE: OBIT: My Guitar Teacher, Al Cunningham
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 02:22 PM

REFRESH

Subject: RE: OBIT: My Guitar Teacher, Al Cunningham
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 02:39 PM

"Uncle Albert" was my guitar teacher, mentor(and frequent tormentor), and friend for nearly a quarter century. I met him at his little space in the Berkeley Flea Market one sunny Saturday morning--within about two minutes, he handed me a guitar and we started playing--which we did on and off up until I saw him the last time, in February.

He taught me all the stuff an old school working jazz guitarist needed to know, from reading charts to playing(and working out) chord melody arrangements(he'd worked with, and was close friends with Barney Kessel). He taught me Bossa Nova(he had worked with Bola Sete), and all that practical theory: chord substitutions, transpositions, how to create playable lead sheets, and tons of other stuff.

He taught me that the most important part of being a musician was being organized, and that it is harder to play the melody than to "improvise" over the chords. Mostly though, he taught me to be positive(a big change for me, a former angry young folk rocker) and to take the rough parts, in the music and in life, in stride.

He had had a number of health problems, including a recent stroke, but was still playing, and working out new material. I'll miss him a lot, but he'll be with me every time I play, as he has always been.

Subject: My Guitar Teacher, Al Cunningham
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 02:16 PM

From the San Franciso Chronicle:

CUNNINGHAM, Albert L.

Sunday, December 23, 2001

CUNNINGHAM, Albert L. -- San Francisco, Dec.17,2001, 81 years, a California native. A WWII Marine ("Guadalcanal, Tulage, and all those good places"). Lifelong Jazz guitarist (Local 6), bass, calliope. 12 years with Walt Tolleson's Society Band. Illustrious career as Watercolor Artist with innumerable awards and commissions incl. States Steamship Co. Past president Artists Coop. SF, the Watercolor Artists of SF, Artists Equity. Artist-in-residence De Young Museum. Member MarinSoc. of Artists, Marin Watercolor Soc. and Peninsula Outdoor Painters. For many years taught at St. Mary's Art Center, Virginia City, NV, and with Jade Fon at Asilomar. Member: Bay View Boat Club, the SF Turners and Swiss Gymnastic Club of SF. Earned numerous gym honors and was still performing fly-aways at 61. Last known survivor of Oakland's Bushrod Park 2000 pact. A most generous teacher in both art and music; an entertainer and great storyteller. Will be deeply missed by his wife, Lea Ryssemus and her family, his cousin Helen Tolton of Lakeport, cousin Don Hunt of Redway, and his many friends. A celebration of Al's life will be held January 6, 2002.