Ernie C | |
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 Ernie C in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ernie Cunnigan |
| Born | June 10, 1959 Compton, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | |
Ernie Cunnigan (born June 10, 1959), better known by his stage name Ernie C, is an American musician best known as the guitarist of rap metal band Body Count. [1]
Cunnigan grew up in Compton, California and attended Crenshaw High School with Ice-T. [2] Cunnigan was one of the few students attending the school who was interested in rock music. His uncle was an important influence. He introduced Cunnigan to different groups and a diverse number of styles in the genre. Cunnigan became an enthusiastic fan, eventually buying a guitar from his local music store. He dedicated himself to learning, starting at 12. He was entirely self-taught. [2]
Cunnigan's guitar playing and showmanship earned him respect among his fellow students, including members of the Crips gang. [2] He also taught guitar to fellow students, including D-Roc the Executioner, who later joined Body Count.
Cunnigan and Body Count bandmate Ice-T co-wrote the song "Cop Killer". [3] Cunnigan also produced demo tapes that led to the signings of Stone Temple Pilots and Rage Against the Machine, as well as the Forbidden album for Black Sabbath. [4]
As part of the Body Count, Cunnigan received his first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance nomination in 2017 at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for the song "Black Hoodie" from the band's sixth studio album, Bloodlust . He managed to win at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, which was held on March 14, 2021, when he was nominated for the second time for the song "Bum-Rush" from the group's seventh album Carnivore .
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Black Hoodie" | Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance | Nominated | [5] |
| 2020 | "Bum-Rush" | Won | [6] |
Tracy Lauren Marrow, better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American rapper working in both the hip hop and heavy metal genres, as well as a songwriter, actor, and producer. He began his career as an underground rapper in the 1980s and was signed to Sire Records in 1987, when he released his debut album Rhyme Pays. The following year, he founded the record label Rhyme $yndicate Records and released another album, Power (1988), which would go platinum. He also released several other albums that went gold, including The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say! (1989), O.G. Original Gangster (1991) and Home Invasion (1993).
The Isley Brothers are an American family musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly "Kelly" Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the late 1950s. With a career spanning over six decades, the group has enjoyed one of the "longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music".
Body Count is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1990. The group is fronted by Ice-T, who first established himself as a rapper but co-founded the group with lead guitarist Ernie C out of their interest in heavy metal music. Ice-T took on the role of vocalist and writing the lyrics for most of Body Count's songs, while Ernie C has been responsible for writing the group's music.
Forbidden is the eighteenth studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, released in June 1995. This recording saw the reunion of Black Sabbath's Tyr-era line-up from 1990, with the return of Neil Murray and Cozy Powell. It was the last album to feature Tony Martin on vocals and Geoff Nicholls on keyboards, and the last by the band until 2013 when Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler returned for the album 13. The album sold 21,000 copies in the US in its first week and as of 2013, Forbidden has sold 191,000 copies in the US.
"Cop Killer" is a song by American heavy metal band Body Count. Released on the group's 1992 self-titled debut album, the song was written two years earlier, and was partially influenced by "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads.
Body Count is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Body Count, released on March 30, 1992, by Sire Records. The album's material focuses on various social and political issues ranging from police brutality to drug abuse. It also presents a turning point in the career of Ice-T, who co-wrote the album's songs with lead guitarist Ernie C and performed as the band's lead singer. Previously known only as a rapper, Ice-T's work with the band helped establish a crossover audience with rock music fans. The album produced the single "There Goes the Neighborhood".
Murder 4 Hire is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Body Count. Released on August 1, 2006, this was the first album from Body Count in nine years. It is the band's first album following the deaths of drummer Beatmaster V and rhythm guitarist D-Roc the Executioner in 1996 and 2004, respectively. Although, D-Roc did contribute to the album before he died, and work on the album had come to a pause as a result of D-Roc's death. The rest of the rhythm guitar tracks were handled by Bendrix. It is the only album to feature O.T. on drums and the only one recorded without sampler and backing vocalist Sean E Sean. It is also their first album recorded without hype man Sean E. Mac.
Home Invasion is the fifth studio album by American rapper Ice-T, released on March 23, 1993, via Rhyme $yndicate/Priority Records. It was originally set for release in 1992 as part of his deal with Sire/Warner Bros. Records, and supposed to be his first official release through his own Rhyme $yndicate record label, now in full control of the content as part of a new distribution deal with Priority Records.
Born Dead is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Body Count. The album was released on September 6, 1994.
Violent Demise: The Last Days is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Body Count. The album was released on March 11, 1997, by Virgin Records. It is the last album to feature drummer Beatmaster V, who died of leukemia following the recording of the album, which is dedicated to him. It is also the final full album to feature rhythm guitarist D-Roc the Executioner, who died from lymphoma during production of their next album Murder 4 Hire. It also marks the last appearance of sampler Sean E Sean and hype man Sean E. Mac, who both departed the band in 2001. Sean E Sean would return to the group in 2008, but Ice T's son Little Ice replaced Sean E. Mac in 2016.
Bloodlust is the debut studio album by American deathcore band Through the Eyes of the Dead, released on October 25, 2005 through Prosthetic Records. After releasing an EP and a split, Through the Eyes of the Dead released Bloodlust. The album is considered a deathcore album with elements of melodic death metal, featuring a musical style similar to bands like At the Gates and The Black Dahlia Murder. Before the deathcore label existed, Bloodlust was labeled as metalcore due to its combination of melodic death metal with occasional hardcore breakdowns, which resembled metalcore. Bloodlust's lyrics were inspired by serial killers, and depicted poetic lyrics telling stories and imagery. Through the Eyes of the Dead cited Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Death, In Flames, At the Gates and Dark Tranquility as influences.
Victor Ray Wilson, better known as Beatmaster V, was an American musician and drummer of metal band Body Count.
Sumerian Records is an American record label based in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and London. The label was founded in 2006 by Ash Avildsen. They have signed artists such as Black Veil Brides, Crosses (band), Poppy, Bad Omens, Animals As Leaders, and I See Stars. In early 2022, Sumerian acquired Behemoth Entertainment, a comic book and video game publisher, in order to increase their merchandise options and further expand the brand.
Monte Lee Pittman is an American musician and studio musician based in Los Angeles, known largely as Madonna's long-time guitarist and for playing for heavy metal band Prong. He has also worked as a solo artist.
Juan Garcia , also known as Juan of the Dead, is a Cuban-American guitarist. He is perhaps best known as the guitarist for the thrash metal bands Agent Steel and Evildead and the power metal/speed metal band Abattoir. Garcia is also the rhythm guitarist of Body Count.
Dave Halili is a contemporary American fine arts illustrator, graffiti writer and graphic designer of album cover paintings, posters, logos, T-shirts along with other forms of representational merchandise. His best-known works are album covers for Body Count, Ice-T, The Skeletones and Moon Ska Records compilation California Ska-Quake. An array of collaborations in the Hollywood entertainment industry and indie music scene have garnered him a Diamond record plaque, three Platinum awards, three Gold records and two Gold Europe plaques certified and registered by the RIAA.
Manslaughter is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Body Count. The album was released on June 10, 2014, by Sumerian Records. It is the first album to feature new rhythm guitarist Juan of the Dead and new drummer Ill Will. The album also features the return of sampler Sean E Sean, who rejoined the group in 2008.
Bloodlust is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Body Count, released March 31, 2017, by Century Media Records. It is their first recorded with new hype man Little Ice, the son of frontman Ice-T.
Carnivore is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Body Count, released on March 6, 2020, by Century Media. The singles "Carnivore" and "Bum-Rush" were released to promote the album.
"Bloodlust" is a single released by English speed metal band Venom on August 13, 1982 through Neat Records. It is the bands second single and the follow-up to their debut single "In League with Satan".
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