Photo of Root Doctor on stage at the 2011 Old Town Blues Festival

root doctor's lastest cd is a 'Joy'-ful family Affair  
Written by Anne Erickson
Lansing state Journal 

Hailed as one of the finest voices in the Michigan blues scene, Freddie Cunningham has delighted Lansing blues fans with his emotive vocals for decades.His poignant, distinctive croon and boundless onstage energy have always been Cunningham trademarks, and his vocal lines touch the heart, spirit and soul.
 

Cunningham and his band, Root Doctor, have myriad honors to their name, including WYCE Jammie Awards Blues Muic Awards, a Detroit Music Award nomination and more. Their rapid-fire blues nuggets have also been spun on hundreds of radio stations worldwide and are regulars on the national Living Blues chart.
 

Root Doctor's latest album, "Joy," is clearly born out of a pure love for music and respect for the blues. With Cunningham's brother (Tim), sister (Vanessa Sanders) and granddaughter (Kaela Cunningham) on the album, "Joy" is clearly in the family. Other local musical guests include Lisa Smith, Jamison (Jamo) Lamar Williams, Andy Wilson, Chad Bement, Dave Matchette, Jen Sygit and Glenn Brown.
 

"Joy" is filled with groovy, soul-styled workouts. "Dark eyes," launches off with a rocking, electrifying jam that leads into a catchy chorus and Cunningham querying, "Dark Eyes, why you chasing me?"  (click here to read full article)

 

 

Photo of RD holding framed cds and congratulations from Disc Makers & GBP, Inc

 

Joy is reviewed.......

From the first track to the “hidden” track you’ll find "Joy” the newest CD released by the Root Doctor Band to be their finest work to date. “The Message” here is clear, the band set out to prove their song writing ability to have the same magnitude as their musical talents. A mix of hard driving Blues, touch of Gospel and a splash of Jazz, “Joy” has a little something for everyone.
Support our musicians, buy a CD, I did!

Cathy Dionise

… at a time when music is more and more about bling, meat dresses and drum machine beats, Root Doctor is the real deal. The French have a word, "terroir" that is used in describing wine. It is used to denote the special characteristics
that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place have on the flavor, the stronger the "terroir,"
the  deeper connection to the soil where the wine came from.. As I listen to Root Doctor and close my eyes,
I can feel the "terroir" of Lansing.  And in that soil is deep and rich in soul, joy and love. Enjoy.



                   -CJ Vanston, Producer/Writer/Keyboardist (who has worked with Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Prince and more)


Thoughtful experience and expression mixed with great musicians is what you get from these Root Doctor tracks. If perfection of capturing all of the influences from seasoned musicians is what you understand then you will understand this recording.
It definitely came together!

  -Jeff Baldori, Singer/Songwriter