Welcome friends! Thank you for visiting my site and for your interest in Americana music.
After two years of toil, my first CD—"Take the Road Less Traveled"—has arrived. The sixteen tracks (that I affectionately call "the sweet sixteen") feature twelve original songs and four original instrumentals.
"Take the Road Less Traveled" chronicles my journey from Upstate New York to North Carolina and highlights the themes of love, family and home. I play all the instruments on the CD—guitar, upright bass, banjo, fiddle and harmonica.
Three songs have Cleveland County, NC, roots.
"It's Fair Time" captures the cultural and social phenomenon of the Cleveland County Fair. "What Will I Do?" focuses on economic despair after the pervasive mill closings we've experienced in our area. And "Shelley's Song" tells of the tragic murder of one of my students, twenty-four year old Shelley Webber.
This CD has become a reality because of a generous grant that I received from the North Carolina Arts Council. This project was made possible through the support of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency, the Blumenthal Endowment, and the arts councils in Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Rutherford, and York (SC) counties.
I am especially excited about the partnership that I have formed with the Cleveland Community College Foundation. The proceeds from the CD will be overseen by the Foundation and used to preserve and perpetuate the rich musical heritage in Cleveland County, NC.
Thanks for your visit and enjoy your journey,
-Al Dunkleman
| “Thank you so much for sharing your fine music. I thoroughly enjoyed Take the Road Less Traveled, especially the great mix of old-time, singer-songwriter and other roots music styles. Good stuff!” |
Barry Poss
Founder and President, Sugar Hill Records, Durham, NC
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| "You have written some very personal, fine songs. They really paint a picture." |
David Holt
Four-time Grammy Award winner, musician, storyteller, historian, television host and entertainer
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