Grant Evan Cunningham

Memorial services for Grant Cunningham, 37, will be held in Oklahoma City Sunday, July 21st, at 3 PM at the Council Road Baptist Church, NW 30th and Council. Grant was vice president of Artists and Repertoire for Sparrow Label Group. He suffered a severe head injury July 3rd while playing soccer in Franklin, TN. He underwent emergency surgery and treatment at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville. He died peacefully Sunday afternoon, July 7th. In a letter to his staff, Peter York, president of Sparrow Label Group, celebrated the life of a close friend and colleague. 'Grant was an extraordinary human being who, at the young age of 37, has left a legacy that has touched many lives. His gifts and talents have made an immeasurable contribution to our artists and their music. Over the past 8 years, Grant has served as friend and mentor to the staff and artists of Sparrow Label Group. He was first hired as project manager, A&R for Sparrow Records in October of 1994 and most recently served as vice president, A&R. He was responsible for the creative direction and development of Avalon, a genuine artist development success story, taking them from new artist to gold-selling status in only 3 years. He also signed Michelle Tumes and pop group Jump5 and chaired the A&R committee for the WOW brand. He was currently working on new projects from Jump5, Chris Tomlin and Avalon members Jody McBrayer and Janna Long, as well as several multi-artist and concept projects. Grant was also a prolific songwriter for EMI Christian Music Publishing. He wrote or co- wrote numerous # 1 songs for Point of Grace, Avalon, Cindy Morgan, Steve Green, Jonathan Pierce, Amy Grant, The Martins, Sandy Patti and Kathy Trocolli. Notable writing credits include 'Blue Skies,' recorded by Point of Grace and 'Always Have, Always Will,' recorded by Avalon. Grant won a Dove Award for Pop Song of the Year for 'The Great Divide' in 1996, recorded by Point of Grace, a 1995 Emmy Award for an Original Composition for NBC. In 1999 he was ranked # 2 among Christian songwriters by American Songwriter Magazine. He was a member of the faculty for both the GMA Academy of Gospel Music Arts and the Christian Artist's Seminar. He also created a songwriting curriculum for GMA. Prior to joining Sparrow, Grant sang on commercials for Coke, Frito Lay, Post Cereals, Chevrolet, Logo Athletic and Visa. A graduate of Putnam City North HS and Baylor University, Grant moved from Oklahoma City to Nashville in 1989. He married Kristin Johnsen in 1990 and they had 3 children. They resided in Franklin, TN and attended Christ Community Church, where Grant served as an elder. Grant is survived by his wife, Kristin, and three sons, Will and Evan (5 yrs.) and Blake (1 ½ yrs), his parents, Paul and Freda Cunningham of Oklahoma City, 2 sisters, Carmen Choate and her husband, Kent, of Oklahoma City, Nancy Royall and her husband, Bob, of Plano, TX, several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Grant Cunningham Memorial Fund, administered by Christ Community Church. Gifts should be made payable to: Christ Community Church, ATTN: Grant Cunningham Memorial Fund, 1215 Hillsboro Rd., Franklin, TN 37069, (615) 468-2200