Alan Cunningham: News

Yes it was a great day!! Once a year in Ottawa Kansas, all the 3rd,4th and 5th graders of Franklin County come to Ottawa University to spend the day at the Franklin County Literature Festival. This was the 9th year; I have shared my songs and stories at 7 of the festivals. The students get to meet authors and illustrators, storytellers and yes me. I saw over 500 students that day. I did four shows, we sang, danced, played some instruments and even stopped to ask and answer questions. I think it is such a great thing, kids can see how writers work and think. They can see that we are all just people that love to share our gifts and talents. The best part is the smiles and laughter. Oh and signing my name on all your hands was pretty cool for me. Remember if you got an idea, share it. If you got a story, tell it. If you got a picture, show it and if you got a song, sing it. Alan Cunningham

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and a happy start to the new year. It's my last day of vacation and thought I would say Hi. Christmas day started out with big snows here. We had 3 to 5 feet drifts and everything was white. Chad's jeep was not snowed in like the rest of the cars so we drove to Dad's late afternoon and saw him for Christmas. All my family was home for the morning opening up presents and I would have to say it was a nice day. New Years eve was quiet, PJ and I spent the night together alone. It was a good way to start the New Year. Still a lot of snow and cold all vacation. We did make a trip up to Nebraska to see PJ's mom. Chad came with us and we had a nice time with her. I did get to do a show for the students of the after school program the day we got out for vacation. It was a lot of fun. The show was full of singing and moving and giving away free CDs. A lot of the kids at the show were kids I teach, so everyone knew the songs, smiling and was singing out.....fun, fun, fun.
Let’s have a great 2010. Do something good for someone else and be happy.
Happy New Year, Alan

I would like to say Merry Christmas. I hope your holyday is full of Joy, Love and Peace. I know that it is great to get presents and I hope you get what you want but remember that it feels even better to give. To give something special to someone you love is a good feeling but to give a huge and a sweet I love you can do more for the heart then any present you could ever come up with. I hope your time off with your family is good.
Merry Christmas,
Alan Cunningham

I want to let everyone know how proud I am of my 2nd and 3rd graders. Both at Eugene Field and Eisenhower. We put on the program, How the Penguins Saved Christmas. Everyone did a wonderful job. Second grade you sang out so well and third grade, you did so good on your acting and singing. I had a lot of Moms and Dads come up and say great things about you and the show. Have a very Merry Christmas, Alan

I just want to say, GREAT JOB. Both Eugene Field and Eisenhower schools did a wonderful job on their programs. Wonderful singing and great dancing, I was proud of all of you. You worked hard and it showed. You should feel good about what you did and remember that in life if you work hard and care, good things can happen!!!! Mr. C

I help coach football at West Franklin High School that is where my son, Cord plays. Last night was our last game and Cord's last high school football game. I was so proud of him this year, he came into his own. He caught a lot of balls, made some touchdown, and kicked a couple of field goals and extra points. What made me the most proud was that he became a real football player that wasn't afraid to put his body on the line and he never gave up. It made me proud to see him do something that I loved to do when I was his age. Now it is basketball time and I know that is your game so good luck and I hope for a great year for you and your team.
At school we are starting programs, 4th and 5th grades, Eugene performs next week. Ike performs the next. We have been working on our music and dances, now we have to put it all together.
I have been busy on weekends a lot, singing at festivals. It was a lot of fun and I sold a number of CDs. I hope to do more next year.
Now that football is over I hope to have more time to write and if I can get a chance to do some more shows that would be great too.
I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!!!!
Alan

It’s that time of year again. School has started. We are already getting back into the swing of classes. My 5th and 4th will start working on a program for the first part of November, the name is United we sing. It will be a fun show and we will get to show off a lot of talent.
I had a great time on vacation. The last time I talked with everyone I said I was going to heaven. We went first to Moab, Utah. We jeeped in Canyon lands first and then went to Arches the next day. The land is amazing there. If you have never been go. Take a lot of water you will need it. After that we took the RV back into Colorado and stayed up by a river close to Silverton. It was so beautiful there. We jeeped all over that part of Colorado, Chad drove most of it this year. First time Chad drive Black Bear, It was a little different for me to set and not drive. Chad did a great job. After all that we headed to the cabin. The cabin is up on Grand Mesa, it is just a great place to relax.
I’m helping coach football at West Franklin, this is my second year. Cord is a senior so it makes it fun to be with him and watch him work on his game. He is looking good.
I will be doing a little singing, the next couple of months; I will be letting you know.
Come see me if I’m in your area. Alan

I did the last show for the summer. PJ and I had a wonderful drive down to Clearwater. It is a nice little town with some real nice people. We had a fun show. At first everyone was singing soft but it didn't take any time before everyone was singing out. There was a boy on the front row that had the greats voice, I could hear every word he sang and it sounded great. He got up on my Tooth song and did a wonderful job. Everyone did a great job who came up. A2Z, Burbs, instr. everything.
I'm going to take some time before school starts and be in heaven for awhile. I'll get back to everyone and get some pictures up!!!!!!! Have a great rest of the summer!!!

Will I would have to say it has been a busy few weeks but still a lot of fun. I did a show in Wellisville, I had some girls that were getting into the music, singing along. They told me they saw me at the Franklin Co. lit. festival. It was fun watching them have fun. Next I was in Burlingame, great crowd and I meet some real nice people. I think I have some new fans, thanks for the nice words. Corning City was a new place for me to go. I had a long but nice drive. The country side was beautiful up at Corning City. We had a new library and a new place to sing. I enjoyed the kids and I meet some that new about Ottawa and the University. I drove home through the country side and loved everything I saw. I was up in Johnson County and got to see old friends and some of my best fans. We did two shows there, each show was a little different because of the age of kids but I got to here some great singers. Thanks for sharing your talents with me.
Next on July 3rd my daughter Tara got married to Chris Huggard. We had a wonderful wedding at the church and then came out to my back yard and had the reception and a dance. It went well and everyone had a good time. We had the biggest tent right out side our back door. It was a great night and we got to see all our family and friends. Thanks for everyone’s help. We couldn’t have done it with out all of you!!!
On Monday, after the wedding, PJ and I went down to Viola and did a show there. I have been there three times. Some of the nicest people and good singers, we had a good time and thanks for all the smiles. I will be getting pictures on of the summer so be looking for them.

Summer has started!!! The last 2 weeks have been full of kid shows and enjoying summer vacation. Fist we went to Fort Scott. I would have to say that I love going down there. I have been going for some years now and because of being there every year it seems everyone knows my songs. The singing was big, with everyone singing and laughing and having a good time. I had a super star there for my first show; she was 5 years old and could do anything, even burp!!!! She was special. I saw faces that I knew from past shows and friends that have known for many of years.
Next we went to Overbrook. It has been years since I was there, it was a great show. A lot of kids and everyone was singing and dancing. Overbrook has a great place to do the shows. It was a lot of fun. I got ask to do 2 shows and Brookside and I’m so glad I went and shared my songs. Lunch was great and everyone was so nice. I look forward to going back to Overbrook!
PJ and I went up north to Wetmore. I though it was my first time there. I was wrong. I was there right after my motorcycle wreck 5 years ago. I remember it was my first show and it was still hard to move but I was having so much fun that getting in the square metal tub wasn’t that hard at all. PJ was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get out. Wetmore has a great program, a lot of kids and a nice place to do concerts. Good people! Great kids!! I had a girl that sang out on every song.
We headed to Lyndon after that show. It was raining cats and dogs and anything else that could come out of the sky. We made it just it time to do the show. I say Lyndon is like going home. I taught there for 5 years, many years ago. I saw friends and students that were mine and now they were bringing their children, hard to believe. It was a fun show. I had one mother tell me that I taught her K – 3rd grade. She was in my first musical, Proud to Be Elves. The thing she said that I loved was when we sang A to Z, my ABC song, she told me she had been singing that to her children and didn’t know where it came from. She learned it in kindergarten from me and the song was living through her and she didn’t even know it was mine. I think that is exciting. That’s how folk music stayed alive for years and years.
We went to Carbondale the next day and I would have to say, what a show. I had 2 little ones that were like my wiggle jack. Full of energy, all over the place but still it was a fun time. There were some great singing and dancing and really nice kids. I would go back anytime to Carbondale, I just wished I had as much energy as those 2 little ones.
I just want to say have a great summer, I get a week off and then I’m singing again. I wish I could sing all the time… and that’s the true!!! Tara and Chad have their birthdays tomorrow, June 14th has always been a big day in our family. My Mom's birthday was June 14th also. Flag Day, Alan

Great Job!!! My KDG and 1st grades at Eugine Field put on one of the best programs!! I'm proud of all of you. You sang and did actions, smiled and frowned, you even made some cry on the Old Train Song. All first graders did a great job on their acting you were in the right place at the right time, every time. You sould feel proud.
It is always a lot of hard work but in the end it is so worth it.... Like I said,
Great Job!!! Mr. Cunningham

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter. Ate a lot of candy and got to be with family.
We had a nice meal and my kids all were home. My Dad came and it was just nice to be with everyone. I watch the Masters that afternoon. I am addicted to golf so it has always been something I have to watch. If you are a golfer you would understand why. That morning I played guitar and sang in church, it was a nice service with a great message. Joel, our pastor does a great job toughing the heart!!!
My KDG and 1st grade program it coming up on the 30th. I always take a book and write a musical. This years book is, The Little Engine that Could. The songs are coming along fine. The kids seem to like them a lot. I do have to make costumes and some of them will be trains. I have never made trains before as costumes. I have an idea in my head, I hope that it works out the way I think it might. If you don’t having anything going on that night come by the school and see the show. We have been doing this for 15 or more years……
I set down and wrote a new song for this summer, it should be a lot of fun and I hope to see some creative kids add to the song. You will have to come to a show to see what I’m talking about.
I’m weighting for spring to come, Oh they say it is hear but it doesn’t feel that way to me………. Hope everyone’s doing fine. Alan

I just want to say that I had a wonderful day at the Franklin County Children’s Literature Festival. I want to thank all the singers that helped me lead The Loose Tooth Song. I want to thank all my wigglers on Wiggley Waggley Jack. I also want to thank some of the best Burps I have ever heard on Big Bad Bumble Bee. Everyone sang out strong, smiled and was the best kids around, I had a wonderful time. Thank you also for letting me share my story and all the stories about my songs. Remember that we all have gifts and all you have to do is find yours. When you do embrace it, live it, love it and life will be good. Again thank you to everyone that made the Literature Festival happen!!!!!

Today is my Birthday; it is true I am older..... It is hard to believe that this much life has pasted by but it has. I would have to say Life is good. I wrote a song called that about PJ and me many, many years ago. I had a write up in the Sprit. Ottawa U's magazine, it was nice to see them talk about my music and my plays that I write. I hope to hear from some of those old collage friends that I haven't heard from in a long it. If you read this go to the guestbook part and write a little note. I hope everyone is doing fine. I will be singing a lot next week, it is always fun...... Alan

Thought I'd stop and say Hi. It's that time of year when everything is brown and it's mostly cold. I always get a little down this time of year. I need to be out in the sun, moving, playing, working; still it has been a good years so far. At school we got ready for Kansas day. We sang Kansas songs and we learned how to square dance. The kids didn't know about dancing at first but when they learned the calls they were the best. When I was in Junior high, I learned how the square dance in 4-H. We had the greatest teacher Max Randel. He made us do it right and because of that we were good. Square dancing in school brought back some great memories. I've got some singing coming up, Franklin Co. Lit. Festival on March 11th. That will be at Ottawa University, it is always a great time, singing to the students from all over the county. On March 10th we are trying something new in the district. All the 5th grades will come together with the junior high and High school, even Ottawa U. We are going to have a big concert at the Junior High; it should be a great experience for all. Alan

I had a great 2 weeks off at Christmas. I got to be with family and see friends. I played a little golf and wrote a beautiful Christmas song called, "Mary" I wrote the lyrics from Luke 1 -26-38. I hope to put something together for next Christmas so I can share the Christmas music that I've writen.
I hope everyone has a happy and wonderful New Year. Remember it all starts with us. If we believe it can be good we'll have a better chance that it will be good. Sing, Dance, Live, Laugh, Learn but most of all LOVE!!! That is the answer, Love. Lets make this year good!!
Alan

I have to stop and say Good Job!! Good Job to the Eugene Field 3rd and 2nd grades for putting on a great show. I was as Proud of you as Santa was Proud of all the Elves.
There was great singing and acting, I hope someday I will see some of you on stage when you are much older.
I also have to say Good Job to all the Eisenhower students for a great Christmas program.
KDG you sang out and look so excited as you sang. It was fun being on stage with you.
4th and 5th, like I said that night you are the greatest. You sing so well and you have so much fun when you perform, you all where great. 1st, 2nd and 3rd put on Proud to Be Elves, you did a wonderful job and everyone looked so good on stage. I was Proud of every one of you, for all your hard work and great talent.
I’m tired now and ready to enjoy my Christmas with my family. Like the song said, We’re Done, We’re Done, It’s time to have some fun!!!!
Merry Christmas to Everyone,
Alan Cunningham

This is a busy time. Thursday Eugene Field will have their Christmas program and Monday Ike will have theirs. We are doing the first show I ever wrote, 19 years ago, Proud to Be Elves. Everyone is working real hard and trying to get their lines down for the play part. Songs sound good we just need to fine turn everything but we still have time. Come see the shows if you have the time. Eugene will be at the school at 7:00 p.m. and Ike will be down town and the OMA, also at 7:00. Remember that we need to spread love and joy. It is Christmas time. Alan

It was nice seeing everyone at the High School for Thanksgiving dinner. It is always fun to share my songs. The RV song was nice because I had someone come up to say they lived in an RV for half a year. They had gone to all the places my family went to that first RV trip. It was like living the trip all over again, she said. I love to end with, "Our Love Circle" when I'm with people I love. We are all apart of this Circle called life. I hope we all can live as one. I hope everyone has a peaceful, Thanksgiving, Alan

My 4th and 5th graders at Eisenhower put on a great show last night!! The singing was wonderful and I have to say every one seemed to love the show. I think every one got the idea that we need to vote and today’s the day to do it. I want to let you all know that I am proud of the performance and work that you all did last night.
I also would like to say I enjoyed Saturday sing for the women at O.U. It is always fun to share my songs and I loved the smiles and the nice things that were said afterward. Your work is for a good cause so keep it up. All of you that bought a CD, I hope you get to enjoy sharing it with someone you love. Alan