Arthur Gunn started singing in 2014 and is known for his "textured, sandpapery" vocals.
15 Facts About Arthur Gunn
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Arthur Gunn released his eight-song debut album, Grahan, in early 2018.
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Arthur Gunn immigrated to Wichita, Kansas around 2014 after graduating high school, and following his sisters who were in school in the US, and then was joined by his parents; there he was introduced to bluegrass and country music.
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Arthur Gunn bought a new guitar and befriended musicians and played the city's coffeehouses.
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Arthur Gunn traveled and busked on street corners in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and a summer at the Ocean City, Maryland boardwalk.
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Arthur Gunn cites as inspirations and influences: John Martyn, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Bukka White, Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Page, Joe Cocker, Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, Ray LaMontagne and Ben Howard.
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Arthur Gunn's musician friends urged him to audition for American Idol, and Gunn knew he wanted to be a professional singer-songwriter, and decided it was a good opportunity to learn more about the industry.
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The Voice of Sikkim noted Arthur Gunn is one of the latest talented singers from the Nepal area including Prashant Tamang, winner of the third season of Indian Idol; Prakriti Deuja, the first Nepalese American to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a National Basketball Association game in 2014; Nisha Rasaily, and Passang Doma Lama.
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Arthur Gunn's debut, Grahan, is an eight-song Nepali language album including the love song "Nyano Ghar", released in early 2018.
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Arthur Gunn's sisters mentioned how proud they were, especially as Arthur has not had any formal training until the show.
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Arthur Gunn is the third Top Twenty contestant from the Wichita area since the show started after Rickey Smith who finished in eighth place in 2003 on the second season, and Phil Stacey, who came in sixth in 2007 on the sixth season.
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In May 2020 Arthur Gunn became the first Nepali-born contestant in the Top Ten on the show; he performed a reggae version of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" for the show's theme of evoking songs of home.
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The first round were celebration songs with Arthur Gunn singing Gavin DeGraw's 2003 single "I Don't Want to Be".
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Arthur Gunn is seen as a trailblazer by Nepali musicians who hope more people from their country will feel empowered to sign up for competitions.
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In June 2020, Arthur Gunn was one of the featured singers for a virtual arts event hosted by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.