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Anyone who has ever seen the Dunaways knows that they are just the nicest, friendliest people you have ever met. So sit back and hold on to your seat as we discuss with them the life they came from that is so influential in the ministry of this fine family group.

Randall and Tammy Dunaway were both raised in church.  Both of them knew about Jesus and had good intentions but never really followed through with repentance and a real relationship with Him.   As newlyweds, in 1981, the music bug bit Tammy.  Inspired by Dottie Rambo, she had begun writing songs at the age of seventeen, but she found herself with a yearning to do more.   Over the next six years, along came two children and responsibilities, but still with the support of her husband, Tammy sang in different groups, recorded, and even tried singing solo wherever she could, but in 1987 the tragic story of a little boy murdered by his mother, inspired Tammy to write a song. "Victims Of Home Crime". The Mississippi Child Protection Agency paid for Tammy to record this impacting song and the story was picked up by the associated press and local radio stations, which gave Tammy a sudden burst in popularity.   Since she was having no real success in Gospel music, in 1989, she thought the natural thing to do was to pursue the secular music field, so she packed her family up and moved to Nashville, TN to make her mark in secular music.

As we stated earlier, Tammy nor Randall had much personal spiritual foundation, so this move into secular music with all its drugs and alcohol swept them off their feet.  With the decision to move to Nashville and enter the rock music field, 1989 became the worst year of their life.   After living the heartache that comes with that lifestyle, Tammy describes their situation as "hitting rock bottom".   After losing everything they owned, and almost their marriage, Randall and Tammy started a long search for answers at the only place they knew to turn to.   After searching and periodically talking to God, for more than two years and even coming to the brink of giving up, one day God spoke to Tammy's heart and said "If you're really through with that life, just give it to me."  At this life changing moment, Tammy fell to her knees on her living room floor, and prayed, giving all her life to Him.

While Randall wasn't in the music lifestyle of Tammy, he was a successful businessman in the insurance industry, and he had become consumed with the financial mentality that says the more money you make, the more you have to make. So, while his wife was coming to the end of her rope, Randall was at the end of his, because he was unfulfilled and finding no peace in life.

After Tammy gave her heart to the Lord, they decided to start attending church again,  this time they attended the little Pentecostal church that Randall's grandparents went to. Within a couple of weeks, the entire Dunaway house had given their hearts to the Lord, and life began anew for them. Immediately God started restoring to them what the the cruel effects of a world without God had done to their lives.  In 1993 they started building on this new life that God had given them. They stayed at their home church until 1999, growing and maturing in their spiritual life.  During this time. at the age of eleven, Kanah was hearing and singing the harmony parts so they decided to start singing at their home church.   It wasn't long until they were singing locally at many different churches telling their story of where God had brought them from.  In 1996 they produced their first family album offically as The Dunaways. Radio DJ, Bobby Brignac, at station WEEZ in Laurel, Mississippi liked one of the songs and put it in heavy rotation, and this was all the inspiration that they needed.

The Dunaways moved to Philadelphia, MS in 1999 to pastor a church bringing their music ministry to a sudden halt.  The Dunaways music ministry was to be silenced for three long years.  This was especially hard on Tammy to give up what seemed to finally be what she had struggled so hard with for so long.

Reading about Les Butler's "Front Porch" radio program, Tammy thought that some of their music might fit, so she sent him an email and told him about a CD of some blue grass songs they had done in the past.  This was during the three year down time they were going through with their music ministry. Ironically one of the songs was intitled,  "The Dreams I Dream For You."

After not hearing from Les for nine months, Tammy had sort of given up on that idea, when one day Les called and the rest is history. Les had acquired Family Music Group, and the Dunaways were the first group he signed.  Since then, Tammy says that God has been moving so fast in their lives that sometimes it feels that they are on a rocket, and because of that they are sometimes overwhelmed with feelings of inadequacy.  Add to this list, going from lost,  unchurched, and on rock bottom to taking the Pastorate of a church in Philadelphia, MS in 1999, you can see that they have truly been on a fast track.

The Dunaways currently consist of Randall and Tammy, the husband and wife team, their 19 year old daughter Kanah and their cousin Lawayne Rials.

When asked if there was someplace that they haven't sang that they want to sing, Tammy responded that they would like to sing Gospel music at the Grand Ole Opry.

The Dunaways would like to leave this thought with you:  Give God your dreams!   The dreams God dreams for you, are deeper than the ones your clinging to!

Visit the Dunaways at www.dunawaymusic.com

Reader Comments

Who doesn't love the Dunaways!??? LOL

I wanna know what DJ means by "special peeps"! LOL

Glad to see this amazing group get some recognition!

Amy Marie

“If somebody makes me laugh, I’m his slave for life.”—Bette Midler

I have only become a big fan of the Dunaways since last year. My how I love their "Beautiful Day" CD. Barely a week goes by that I don't listen to it.

Their music reaches the soul and touches the heart. I have only met Tammy and she was as sweet as can be. I hope one day to meet them all and finally see them in concert soon!

They deserve all the recognition they deserve. Keep the great music coming!

Great article, Deon! Hopefully I will get to see them sing live sometime soon!

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