I. Background information:
Cary "CKP" Kanno is constantly in search of new musical frontiers. He has been playing guitar and singing for over 15 years. He wrote his 1st song at the age of 12 and has been a prolific songwriter and performer ever since. In 2001 he formed the seminal organic hip hop group know as Abstract Giants. The band has played with such acts as The Gza, The Rza, Lyrics Born, Mr. Lif, Buckwheat Zydeco, Jean Gray, DJ Z-Trip, The Coup, Bumpus, Heiruspecs, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Glue, The Redwalls, Poi Dog Pondering, Eyedea, Andrew Bird, Fareed Haque, Bernie Worrell, and many more. The band is still actively recording and playing shows throughout the midwest.

In 2004 Cary decided he needed another creative outlet to express his rock and funk interests and formed the group, Doko Benjo. At 8 pieces this band features Cary on lead vocals along with a female singer and horn section. They have opened gigs for Rusted Root, Gabriel y Rodrigo, and Robert Randolph. They continue to play shows throughout the midwest.

II. Cary the solo musician and producer:
In search of yet another creative outlet in January of 2009 Cary simultaneously released his two solo CD's simply called "Cary Kanno One" and "Cary Kanno Two". Both were recorded and produced primarily at CKP studios, Cary's home studio. They feature an array of guests from Abstract Giants, Doko Benjo, and other musician friends. Cary performed all engineering, mixing, mastering and production as well as played bass, keyboards, pedal steel, banjo, guitar, and percussion. "One" features funk and hip hop tracks while "Two" features acoustic rock songs. The albums have been well received by both fans and industry alike. They have been put on regular rotation at a few college radio stations and "Two" charted at #2 on CIUT, Toronto.  

III. Other:
Recently a song Cary wrote and performed was picked up and licensed by the Showtime Network and featured in a commercial for the TV show "Weeds". Cary has also spearheaded the organization known as "The Chicago Drop", which is a collaboration of 8 hip hop bands in Chicago. They have put out 2 very successful compilation discs ("The Chicago Drop Vol 1 and Vol 2") and has been praised by: The Chicago SunTimes, Chicago Tribune, Reader, New City, Illinois Entertainer, Pioneer Press, The Onion, Timeout Chicago, Red Eye, Red Streak, etc.

Links:

Live performance at Chicago Acoustic Underground (featuring RonP, Andy Lempera, Jake Samson): http://chicagoacoustic.net/podcasts/episode-172---cary-kanno.html

Cary Kanno on ASCAP: http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?mode=search

Cary Kanno on the CIUT Charts: http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/ciut.cfm?intChartTypeID=3&dWeekOfID=2009-03-03

Cary Kanno Youtube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/travelingriverside

CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/carykanno2 and http://cdbaby.com/cd/carykanno

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Cary-Kanno/dp/B001SA9DZ4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245770008&sr=8-2

All Music Guide: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kxfyxzegld0e

Illinois Entertainer: Keeping it Live
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop

Pioneer Press: Favorites of 2006
Article about Cary Kanno's favorites for 2006

Depaul University Depaulia: The Sum of All Parts
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop

Cary Kanno "One" album review:

Cary Kanno is wasting no time trying to become a one-man musical force. After forming two bands (Abstract Giants and Doko Benjo), he dove head-first into a solo career, simultaneously releasing two LPs (creatively titled One & Two), on which he played nearly every instrument and handled full mixing and production duties. One deftly captures 15 tracks of Kanno’s definitive sound — his honest, no-frills, laid-back vocals over simple country/ folk/pop-tinged instrumentals. Kanno’s sound is a beautiful example of “less is more.”

– Carter Moss, Illinois Entertainer 5/2010

Chicago Innerview: Abstract Giants Introduce Abstract Style
Article interviewing Cary Kanno about his band, the Abstract Giants

Chicago Red Streak: Brace yourself for the Chicago Sound
Article interviewing Cary Kanno about his band, the Abstract Giants

Chicago Sun Times: Drop Everything
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop

Chicago Red Eye:
Chicago Gets Drop on Promoting it's Scene
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop

New City: Stop and Drop
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop

Illinois Entertainer: Unearthed
Article about Cary Kanno and the Abstract Giants album

Chicago Sun Times: Latest Chicago Drop Project
Article about Cary Kanno and the Chicago Drop