Archie Cunningham began playing music professionally in London with the early Guy Lombardo Band. As an original member Archie stayed with the band during their first big move to Cleveland but he was forced to return home to London due to a severe case of appendicitis.

After he recovered Cunningham formed his own band called the Royal Marines, imitating the Lombardo sound but adding a jazzier touch with Archie's lead on saxophone. The Royal Marines were popular everywhere they played, from the local Springbank Pavilion in London to the Silver Slipper and the Palais Royal in Toronto, and the Brant Inn in Burlington. They were so successful that they made tours to the United States and also a six-month engagement at a resort hotel in Bermuda. The casino had no hesitation in billing Archie Cunningham and the Royal Marines as the best band in Canada.

The band even had an opportunity to tour in Britain. However, the tour had to be abandoned because the band members believed that such a venture was too risky.

After the group disbanded in the late 30s, Archie Cunningham continued his career playing sax and clarinet with such local bandleaders as Alf Tibbs, Frank Crowley, and also toured the service bases during WW2 with Don Wright’s concert troupe.

After the war Archie continued to play with local groups until he retired at the age of 84. Archie died in 1988.

To honour Archie’s life-long love of music, his son, UWO alumnus Barry Cunningham (BSc’57), has established, in perpetuity, the Archie E. Cunningham Memorial Continuing Entrance Awards at the Don Wright Faculty of Music. The donation, endowed at Foundation Western, will support three students with $5,000 each year for the four years of their studies. Students eligible for the award must demonstrate financial need.