BIOS
Dan Cunningham
Dan Cunningham (DC) has been playing on and off for 35 years. Within in the last eight years he has played in local bands (The Rivieras) and as a solo acoustic guitarist/singer (has a regular gig at Potbelly's). His enthusiastic tenor gives DC-4 the necessary lift to tackle the high voice "ear candy" of the ‘60's (Beatles, et al). His musical tastes extend into the ‘90's when playing his solo gigs, however the DC-4 keeps him more or less in the realm of songs he grew up with, some of which are no longer on the radio but deserve their place in rock history if not your local bar. "Dan-o" likes to keep the audience dancing, even more he likes surprising them with the diversity of the DC-4 repertoire, so just when you think DC-4 is a Beatles tribute band he'll launch into a Talking Heads number. While teetering on the edge of reckless abandon, you will rarely hear him sound anything less than professional.
Billy Barr
Guitar Willie Barr started playing bass and guitar at age 11. He went from playing stand up bass in High School Jazz band to playing bass in several DC area rock bands switching to guitar in Triple Threat, and then Soul Purpose in '94. Guitar Willy has “spent a lot of time rockin' out to Zepplin, Skynyrd and Van Halen in South Arlington basements". Billy's influences on guitar include Stevie Ray, Jeff Beck, David Gilmore, Billy Gibbons, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani, and more. Bringing these influences to the band gives the Pop music of DC-4 a contrasting edge to the vintage songs.
Drummer Drew
Drummer Drew met Dan Cunningham at an Open Mic in Alexandria, Virginia. Dan couldn’t “stump the drummer” no matter what songs or styles he threw Drew’s way. Dan plays dance music and Drew’s greatest joy is a dance floor full of happy people moving to his beat. A musical collaboration was born.
You will know when Drummer Drew is behind the kit; his deep grooves will have your feet tapping. He has been performing with Northern Virginia bands since the early 1990’s, most notably, “Steve Raiment and Spare Jane”, “The Too Damn Big Orchestra”, “Hey, Norton!”, “Joe Nipper and Eyewitness Blues”, “The Crow Valley Band” and others.
Dubbed “Master of All Styles” by Jon Cassandra for his drumming and percussion on Jon’s album, “Dreamed High”, Drew’s eclectic repertoire and experience includes Surf Music, Motown, British Invasion, Flower Power, Psychedelic/Acid Rock, Hard Rock, Country Swing, Country Rock, Bluegrass, Country & Western, Rhythm & Blues, Classic Rock/Pop, Funk, Acoustic Pop, and Adult Rock.
After first picking up his sticks at the age of 10, Drew’s career highlights include:
• The 1968 Sugar Bowl as a University of Arkansas “Marching Razorback”;
• Session work on drums and percussion at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, for UNI records (unreleased) and AVCO Embassy records “A Vision of Sunshine” (Drew’s on vinyl!) in 1969-70; plus other studios in Syracuse, NY (1977), Northern Virginia (1995-98) and Maryland (1999);
• “Rabbit Mackay and the Somis Rhythm Boys” - Opening act for Albert King and Mike Bloomfield concert, Ventura, California, 1970;
• “Bob Sienna Express” – performed the Country & Western songs for “A Bicentennial Tribute to American Music”, Syracuse Center for the Arts, 1976;
• “The Gridlock Band” – Drew sat in with his musical colleagues at the ESRI International Users Conference Outdoor Concert with a crowd of over 10,000, San Diego, 2002; and
•“Eat at Joe’s” at The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, 2006.
Glen McCarthy
Glen started playing upright bass in Jr. High School and continued playing in High School in the orchestra and the jazz band. He started playing bass guitar in High School and played in numerous bands.
In College he played both electric and upright with the marching band, jazz band, rock power trios, big bands, a horn band playing covers of groups like “Chicago, Stevie Wonder, and Blood Sweat and Tears”, a jazz trio, a country band “Frank Dewitt and the Drifters”, bluegrass and an old timey string band.
After graduating from college while playing with “Hickory Wind” Glen traveled across the US as well as Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa. In DC you could find “Hickory Wind” performing at the Cellar Door, Childe Harold, Red Fox Inn, Birchmere, Lisner Auditorium, DAR, and even the Kennedy Center Concert Hall to name a few.
Glen decided to use his degree and got a teaching gig. He retired from Fairfax County after 30 years at Robinson Secondary School. During his tenure at Robinson he was the assistant band director, directed the jazz band, taught theory and was the director of the guitar program. He continued to perform while teaching in no particular order in Rock, Country, Big Band, German, Hawaiian, Celtic, Wedding, and Praise Worship bands and played for choral festivals and Musicals.
