Amber Dunn still rocking the local music scene

West Memphis native making the most of her opportunities

By RALPH HARDIN

ralphhardin@gmail.com

In their song “Nashville Cats,” The Lovin’ Spoonful informed us that “there’s thirteen hundred and fifty- two guitar pickers in Nashville,” and that was in 1966, so that number has probably gone up significantly.

Well, there are also plenty of guitar pickers here in the Mid-South area, including one from right here in West Memphis who has been making the rounds for several years now and carving out a niche of her own in the regional scene.

West Memphis native and singer-songwriter Amber Craven, who performs under the stage name Amber Rae Dunn, has had a busy couple of months, traveling across

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Amber says, “I’m honored to be one of the new host of George Klein’s show “‘Memphis Sounds.’” You can find her programming schedule on her Facebook page.

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the region performing in her signature southern country style.

“I just had a big show on the 12th of Sept, where I opened for Ronnie McDowell for the opening day of Elvis week at Lafayette’s,” said Dunn. “Michael Donahue was in attendance and loved it and soon after did a big interview with me for the entire page 15, entitled ‘In Cutting Records and Hair’ in The Memphis Flyer.”

Yes, when she’s not strumming and singing she’s cutting and styling at her Dad Larry Dunn’s hair salon, Larry’s Super Cuts, a West Memphis mainstay on 7th Street that has been in business for more than 50 years.

“Then this last week, I was named ‘Best of Memphis’ 2024 with this year’s Memphis Flyer Competition,” she said. Dunn has also recently been to College Station, Texas; Ocean Springs, Mississippi; and the Delta Fair in Memphis to perform and talk about her music.

Dunn also has plenty of other stuff going on to keep her busy.

“I’m still Memphis Songwriters Associations Vice President and have been for the past seven years, Host of ‘MSA Radio Hour’ on Radio Memphis, Host of ‘Memphis Connection’ on WYPL radio and most recently one of the new hosts on George Cline TV show ‘Memphis Sounds with George Cline’ on Comcast Channel 18 where I just did an interview with Dave Brown on Jimmy Hart of professional wrestling fame, since he was in town to receive a Memphis Music Hall of Fame award for his role in his band The Gentrys.”

So, if you’re a music fan, keep looking at the marquee when you’re somewhere that offers live music. If you see the name Amber Rae Dunn on the playbill, you might want to check it out while you can because she might just decide that Nashville needs that thirteen hundred and fifty-third guitar picker.

Dunn said she “had an absolute blast this past weekend being a part of the Mississippi Songwriters’ Festival in Ocean Springs. The hospitality year after year and appreciation of my music and me being me is unparalleled,” she added. “It’s such a freeing experience and I always manage to make a few new friends… such a fantastic event!”

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