Smooth and sultry, cool yet definitely funky. These words best describe the hot new sound of R&B saxophonist Tim Cunningham. Born in Lansing, Michigan, Tim attended Michigan State University and was in the starting lineup at strong safety on a four-year football scholarship with the Spartans. With still a year left to graduate, the Dallas Cowboys offered Tim a free agent contract, which he declined so that he could get his degree and continue to work on his true passion – the saxophone.

Having played the sax for nearly half his life, Tim has headlined in nightclubs, Las Vegas casinos and festivals spanning the U.S. and Caribbean. Tim appeared at the inaugural St. Lucia Jazz Festival in 1992 and received rave reviews from the crowd. He also opened the Cincinnati Jazz Festival for six years from 1994-99.

Tim has opened for countless artists, including Dave Koz, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, George Benson, R. Kelly, Luther Vandross, The Temptations, The O’Jays, The Whispers, Wynton Marsalis, Patti Labelle, Jeffery Osborne, Al Green and Boys II Men. In addition to working alongside the talents of Will Downing, Brian Culbertson and Bobby Lyle on his CD, “Right Turn Only,” Tim appeared on Ready For the World’s “Ruff & Ready” CD and wrote/performed the theme to the 1992 talk show, The Bertice Berry Show, along with co-writer Daron Steward. No stranger to television, Tim has been seen on BET’s Jazz Central and in three appearances on the series “The Untouchables.”

Tim’s recent project, “Inner Peace," was released in 2004 and features seven live recordings along with three new studio tracks. Tim will be recording a contemporary gospel CD in the near future. His newest release, “Manchester Road,” features a song named for his daughter, “Sadie.”

In addition, Tim has been asked for the licensing of his name for a new jazz club in the St. Louis area, where he resides.

Tim is also leading a Saxophone Clinic for the Elkhart Jazz Festival on Saturday morning.