This awakening to magic soon became fascination. At family gatherings, his mother's cousin, Frank Grdina, would sometimes perform close-up magic, right under the child's nose. And as luck would have it, the local magic shop in Windsor was just a short walk away. As time went by, he found himself lingering there most days to watch the shop's demonstrators and to soak in the atmosphere. He also went to the local library to read books on magic. His parents, Stanley and Barbara Cunningham, encouraged their youngest child to the point of engaging his first mentor--Johnny Ould, a local magician specializing in children's magic. Besides giving Jason lessons, Johnny encouraged him to join the local magic club (Ring #116) of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. There, Jason met illusionist Scott Rawlings (better known as Steven Scott), and magician, Jerry Deneweth. At 14, Jason became Scott's student and assistant, learning from him the basics of illusions and stage manipulation. Deneweth, Jason's third magic teacher, was none other than the owner of Jason's childhood hangout--the Calvacade of Magic shop. Fast forward a few years to Colon, Michigan--the Magic Capital of the World--where Jason met Brett Daniels at one of the summer Get-Togethers. Shortly after that first meeting, Jason sought, and received, a brief but intense course of private instruction from this rising young master magician. Then, after fine-tuning his act, Jason emerged ready for his early competitions. He won first place at the 1989 Michigan Magic Day and then, in short order, a sequence of firsts at Abbott's Magic Get-Together, the Columbus Magi-Fest and Magie Montreal. . Along the way, Jason met living legend and godfather of magic, Channing Pollock, who, in 1991, arranged for Byrne to perform at the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. Thus, at age 20, he packed his bags and left for the west coast, soon becoming a regular at area dinner theaters: Wizardz, The Comedy and Magic Club, and the Magic Castle. It was only a matter of time before Jason was discovered and invited to perform on NBC's World's Greatest Magic II. With this nationally televised appearance, Jason's career moved into a new dimension. . In quick succession, Jason achieved several major international distinctions, including the Golden Lion's Head Award, presented by master illusionists Seigfried and Roy. With the acceptance of his peers, he was chosen to be the April, 1997 cover story for Magic Magazine--the largest magic publication in the U.S. That same year, and again in 1998, he was the named Stage Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magical Arts. No stranger to Las Vegas, Jason has appeared in such revue shows as Splash at the Riviera, Follies Bergere at the Tropicana, and Bare Essence at the Sands. Jason has performed not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. He has brought his unique brand of entertainment to Japan, Germany, Portugal, Taiwan, New Zealand, Colombia, Brazil, Canada, Holland, Spain, and France. He has taken one of the world's oldest forms of entertainment--MAGIC--and propelled it head-first into the 21st century.
We are all proud of our local boy who made his dream come true!
