Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Rae Dunn.
Hi Amber, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Definitely, thank you for the opportunity. Well basically while in attendance at Memphis College of Art here in Memphis one of my friends from Kenya, Yubu Kazungu who was a Reggae songwriter asked me to join his band under the direction of another friend of ours, Kennard Farmer. I grew up in a large family, one of seven kids, but nobody was very musical so I wasn’t ever exposed to much music and although I liked to sing along with the radio, honestly didn’t quite know I had the talent I have.
After college I began frequenting the open mic scene in Memphis with these two friends, most notable was one called Soul Speaks at Mot & Eds Soul Food Café down on Madison. There was something special happening in that room, some sort of magical Memphis creative mojo flowing through the walls on those nights. One night after having been prompted by friends a few weeks prior to try writing a song myself, Tundrea Lyons (current host of Radio Memphis) was calling out for folks to sign the list and kept saying “if your soul needs to speak, get up and let it talk” so I signed my name.
My car, a T-topped 97′ silver Chevy Camaro named Jessie Jane never had a radio so on my way to town (about 30miles to college) I would think up song ideas and finally had one I wanted to share. I couldn’t play any instruments so with all the courage I could muster I got up and just snapped my little fingers as I sang to give myself the beat and as they say the rest is history.
Eventually, I moved to Nashville because it turns out when I wrote it came out super country! I was listening to a lot of early Loretta Lynn, Little Jimmy Dickens, Roger Miller, George Jones, Hank Williams Sr., and folks like that (50’s and 60’s country is still my favorite) so my writing was coming out country as a Kudzu blossom! lol
Unfortunately, after working 2 jobs and hustling tips for the band’s down on lower Broadway for a while my little brother Ryan was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident and my family needed me so I chose to move back to the Memphis area. I have always worked at my father’s barbershop in West Memphis and taught art with the Delta Arts but in returning I also became the Memphis Songwriters Associations Promotions Specialist and eventually Vice President.
I ended up starting my own open mic at Earnestine & Hazels which lasted for 5 inspirational years while also working at MGP the studio under two-time Grammy award winner Mark Goodman (former drummer for the Blackwood brothers) as a Social Media Manager. Eventually, I met Mark Parsell at South Main Sounds, our only listening room in town and we forged a fast friendship and still work together to host many songwriters-related events all over the city.
Around this time, I was also working on my first album “Arkansas Line” and on tour with an artist living on Greg Allman’s old Tour bus the “Midnight Rider”, this is where I met my lead guitarist Andrew Cabigao, drummer Justin “Blaq” Night Walker, and bassist Todd Nations and they’ve been with me ever since.
Lately, I’m working on a new album which will come out this fall at Sound Kitchen in Franklin, TN with Billy Smiley (former guitarist for Whiteheart) with a whole host of big players like Larry Hall (Ronnie Millsaps’s right-hand man) or Bill Whittington (producer and engineer who’s worked with names like Whitney Houston, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Michael Bolton and a whole host of others).
It’s a wonderful time right now for me, I’m playing all kinds of fairs, festivals, bars, private parties, etc. just about anywhere that has live music. I play with my band Amber Rae Dunn and the Mulberries or in various named duos/trios and with a string band out of Byhalia called Mulberry Jam but always save time for solo Songwriter Showcases both here and in Nashville.
I have been blessed with awards such as NASH Next “Best Country Artist” of the Mid-South and opened for many artists like Gary Allen, The Rhodes Show, Jordan Davis, Erin Enderlin, Radio Romance, etc. Just recently I was honored to be nominated for Memphis Flyer “Best of Memphis” and again as Female Vocalist, Entertainer, and Country Artist of the Year with the Tennessee Music Awards.
I love to sing the National Anthem since my husband is a Veteran and perform it regularly at sporting like FLW, Mr. Bass, The PBR Championship, Memphis Americans, or anywhere they need me to, it’s my way of giving back to our service men. I also Host a motorcycle charity poker run called “Runn for Dunn” in West Memphis with my mother at the 40 et. 8 a local military post in honor of my late brother.
I try my best to keep my head up, be patient, work hard, laugh often, be understanding, and help others. I truly want to thank you again for this opportunity and for what you’re doing for us little guys. I tried to keep it as short as possible but with enough information for you to pull from. Take what you need. Thank You. It takes a village, but I know it’s a journey, not a destination.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh man, not sure there’s time for this question so I will keep it simple.
Not having started really doing music till I was 25 I constantly suffer from “Imposter Syndrome”. I always feel myself subconsciously singing Kris Kristofferson’s song “Why Me Lord” because I’m nobody special outside of being an artsy, hippy-dippy country gal, with a drive to see those around me happy and smiling.
Losing my little brother was also a hard blow. Nashville was never really kind to me in all sincerity. It had its moment but at that time I never really did find what I was looking for and hearing this news from my little sister late one night though a haunting phone call is still a vibrant memory in my mind, as was planning, attending, and singing at his funeral. All autopilot and to a degree, I think a piece of me always will be. It’s an absolutely indescribable experience.
A tiny bit of comfort has come from my one single just recently released called “My Ryan.” We were able to mix home videos of us as children for the music video and film at the Buckman Theatre, I think it turned out beautifully. My mother still hasn’t seen it but that’s ok, she finally has listened to the song and that’s enough for now.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Anything creative, I am the literally all-right brain. Being a hairdresser for 15 years, an art teacher for 12, and a musician now for a little over 7 I can’t imagine doing anything else but living in my mind and creating every day.
I love hosting shows as an emcee, doing podcasts, and interview, so would love to one day have my own radio or TV show, that would be cool. I’m a simple country girl at heart so I love gardening, sewing, cooking, fishing, making furniture, canning vegetables and spending my time out in nature or teaching young children how to appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
As busy as I stay, I’m lucky to get my art in one gallery exhibit a year but I do still make it often in mixed media, clay, metal, wood, or even hair. In college, I worked for a Jeweler in Germantown and still make and sell my designs as merch at my shows, downtown at a shop, and at craft fairs.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Hmm, probably just a little advice.
For folks to encourage their children and expose them to as many different disciplines and ways of life as possible. Travel often and remember money comes and goes but memories and experiences last a lifetime creating more well-rounded empathetic adults.
Encourage children to learn with their hands, not just with books and computers. Plant a garden and teach them to appreciate nature. Love bees. Kiss Frogs. Never forget to be grateful for the beauty easily seen when time is taken within the world around you 😉
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amberraedunn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberraedunn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmberRaeDunn
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/amberraedunn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE0jFGvmOnYJxqH-494pVsg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@amberraedunn
Image Credits
Danny Day
Lauren Gately
Mark Parsell
