Sean Cunningham has something to say. Like most young men, he has had his ups and downs; girlfriends have come and gone; laughs and sad times with friends. Reflecting over those moments starts to take the form of a melody and then lyrics start weaving into a story, one that needs to be told.

"Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up going to AC/DC concerts with my dad," Sean smiles remembering. The music that has helped to form this singer songwriter's background is as varied as it comes. His dad started his musical career at a very young age playing with a number of regional rock 'n' roll bands and eventually founded The Wulfe Bros., still actively performing and remaining one of Kentucky's most beloved groups. Sean's mom has worked in community musical theater as part of the Mummers and Minstrels. Older brother Dustin is a Vocal Major at Murray State University. Walking into their home you might catch the soundtrack to "My Fair Lady" or hear the scorching guitar licks of Van Halen filling the air.

"I guess you could say that I started getting serious about music around the age of 12," Sean remembers. That interest took the form of school plays and the choir at Crosby Middle School and then at the Youth Performing Arts/Manual High School where he was a Vocal Performance Major. For a couple of years, he hung out with friends, sang with a couple of bands, Crimson and Primary Third and worked with other young musicians on writing music. But things began to fall into place when he picked up a guitar and started to tell his story, one that other young people heard and claimed as their story, too.

It might be a past experience, a lost love, a new love or a joke with friends that starts the musical chain reaction in Sean's head. He begins to hear a melody, starts to strum his guitar and the words begin taking shape creating the story he is willing to share. While each song is very personal the message is universal.

Referring to his rich musical heritage, he credits his influences to The Beatles, Aerosmith, Matchbox 20, the Goo Goo Dolls and John Mayer. Each artist has helped Sean understand how a musician touches his audience through performance. "Matchbox 20 has the voice of Rob Thomas and they are storytellers. The Goo Goo Dolls have this really inventive way of tuning to produce a unique sound. They remain true to that sound no matter what song they are doing. And in some ways I'm torn, but I have to say that my favorite songwriter of all time is Paul McCartney," Sean says.

His dad, his mom, his brother, his friends…each has touched Sean Cunningham and given him a "note" that has become his song.