| Name | Burton CummingsOC OM DMus (hc) |
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| Background | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
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| Born | December 31, 1947 |
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| Origin | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
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| Occupation | Musician, songwriter |
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| Years active | 1965–present |
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| Instrument | Guitar, piano, keyboards, saxophone, drums, percussion, harp, flute |
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| Associated acts | The Guess Who, The Carpet Frogs |
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| Genre | Rock |
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| Url | BurtonCummings.net |
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Burton L. Cummings, OC, OM (born December 31, 1947, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian musician and songwriter.
He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. During his 10 years in The Guess Who, from 1965 to 1975, he sang and wrote or co-wrote many songs including "American Woman," "No Time," "Share the Land," "Hand Me Down World," "Undun," "Laughing," "Star Baby", "New Mother Nature," and "These Eyes." His solo career includes many Canadian singles including "Stand Tall", "My Own Way to Rock" and "You Saved My Soul".
Biography
Cummings was born and raised in the
Canadian city of
Winnipeg,
Manitoba, as were all of the other original members of
The Guess Who, and attended
St. John's High School. His first band was a local Winnipeg
R&B; group The Deverons, with an 'E' (not to be confused with the band The Devrons who had Country/R&B; hits in the early '60s). He joined
The Guess Who in 1965 to replace keyboardist Bob Ashley and shortly thereafter its previous lead singer,
Chad Allan, left the band.
Cummings also tried his hand at acting. He appeared alongside Paul Sorvino, Glynnis O'Connor and Don Johnson in the 1982 film Melanie.
Success with The Guess Who
In 1969,
The Guess Who scored an international hit with "
These Eyes", co-written by Cummings and guitarist
Randy Bachman. It was followed up by hit "Laughing", again written by Cummings and Bachman. Another Guess Who song "Undun" featured Cummings on a jazzy flute solo. In 1970, the band hit no. 1 in
Canada with "American Woman."
Ultimately, personal issues between Cummings and bandmate Randy Bachman – partially ignited by Bachman's deepening Mormon religious beliefs—caused a rift in the band. Bachman left and went on to form the band Brave Belt with former Guess Who mate Chad Allan, and later Bachman–Turner Overdrive.
Cummings became the band's leader and recorded songs that included: "Share the Land," "Hand Me Down World," "Albert Flasher," "Rain Dance," "Sour Suite," "Glamour Boy," "Star Baby" and "Clap for the Wolfman."
Going solo
In 1975, after 10 years, Cummings left The Guess Who to become a solo artist and the group disbanded. One of his first projects included providing back-up vocals on
Eric Carmen's second solo LP,
Boats Against the Current, including "
She Did It."
Cummings' subsequent solo hits in Canada included "Stand Tall," his biggest American solo hit, peaking at #10, "I'm Scared," "Break it to Them Gently," and "Fine State of Affairs." Cummings charted outside Canada with "Stand Tall" and "You Saved My Soul." His Dream of a Child album released in 1978 was the biggest Canadian album in history at that time. Cummings released a total of eight solo albums and collections from 1976 to 1990. In 1997 he released a live compilation album of his solo performances entitled Up Close and Alone.
Cummings became a resident of Sherman Oaks, California, and began writing and singing for films in the late 1970s. He currently winters in California and returns to Winnipeg in the summer, living in Canada throughout autumn. Besides his music, Cummings purchased Winnipeg's "Salisbury House" restaurant chain with manager Lorne Saifer and is an avid comic book collector.
For several years Cummings has been active on My Space blogging and posting music and photos. As of June 25, 2010, he unveiled a new website where you can stream all his music and where he will continue his blog - http://www.burtoncummings.net
The Guess Who returns
In 2000, Cummings, Bachman and original drummer Garry Peterson toured as The Guess Who. Bassist Jim Kale played one show and former Guess Who sidemen Donnie McDougall and Bill Wallace re-joined the line-up through the remainder of the tour in Canada and later in the U.S. The reformed The Guess Who toured with Cummings from 2000 through to the summer of 2003. In 2001, Cummings and the rest of The Guess Who received honorary doctorates at
Brandon University in
Brandon,
Manitoba. Cummings was also made a member of the Order of Manitoba. In 2003, the band played at the so-called "
SARSstock" concert in
Toronto.
Bachman-Cummings
Cummings plays occasional shows with
Randy Bachman as
The Bachman-Cummings Band, featuring
The Carpet Frogs, a band from
Toronto and makes occasional appearances at various Canadian casinos as a solo performer. The Bachman-Cummings Band have released a compilation album titled the
Bachman-Cummings Song Book featuring songs from The Guess Who, Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Cummings' solo career. They have also released an album titled
The Thunderbird Trax, which is an album that Cummings and Bachman recorded in Bachman's toolshed in
British Columbia in 1987. Previously unreleased until 2006, it was made available exclusively at Bachman-Cummings concerts, and is now available on the Bachman-Cummings website.
The Bachman-Cummings First Time Around CBC TV Special was released on DVD in November 2006 on the Sony BMG label. In June 2007, Bachman and Cummings released an album titled Jukebox that covered various songs from the 1960s that influenced them. A follow-up album to Jukebox as well as a television special have also been discussed.
Above the Ground
Outside of his work with Bachman, in November 2004 Cummings released a single "
With God on Our Side", a cover of the famous
Bob Dylan song. The single debuted at the 21st spot on the Canadian music internet music chart.
On November 4, 2008, Cummings released his first solo album of new studio material in 18 years titled Above the Ground. The album has 19 tracks of all original songs written by Cummings, some of which were written by him many years ago. The album was recorded with his touring band The Carpet Frogs. The release also includes a DVD with a behind the scenes look at the recording process. The first single from the album was "We Just Came from the U.S.A." Originally a Canadian-only release, Above the Ground is now available at Burton Cummings' website and on iTunes.
The Burton Cummings Theatre, located in downtown Winnipeg, is named after Cummings.
Order of Canada
On December 30, 2009, Cummings was named an officer of the
Order of Canada by
Governor General Michaëlle Jean. The Order of Canada is one of the country's highest civilian honours, and was established in 1967 to mark a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation.
Book of Poetry
On the November 23, 2010 morning-show episode of Canada AM, Cummings announced that he will be releasing a book of poetry. He mentioned that he had been working on it for the past 3 years; and that it would be available in the new year, 2011. The collection of poems will be titled "The Writings of B. L. Cummings". He also stated that works by
Kipling,
Keats and
Edgar Allan Poe were great inspiration to him during his writing process; saying, "I like to be influenced by the best".
He also has been recently working with Rick Kaupp on series of new songs in 2011.
Discography
Albums
Singles
Collaborations with Randy Bachman
2006 Bachman-Cummings Songbook – Compilation that features tracks from The Guess Who, Burton Cummings and Bachman–Turner Overdrive
2006 The Thunderbird Trax – A compilation of previously unreleased material recorded by Bachman and Cummings circa 1987
2007 Jukebox – Bachman & Cummings album that features covers of songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, The Shadows and The Beatles
See also
The Guess Who
Canadian rock
Music of Canada
Bruce Robb (producer)
References
External links
Burton Cummings' Official website
Official website for the Bachman-Cummings Band
Bio at CanadianBands.com CanConRox entry
Bruce Robb (producer)
Category:1947 births
Category:Living people
Category:People from Winnipeg
Category:Officers of the Order of Canada
Category:Members of the Order of Manitoba
Category:Musicians from Manitoba
Category:Canadian male singers
Category:Canadian rock keyboardists
Category:Canadian rock pianists
Category:Canadian rock guitarists
Category:Canadian rock singers
Category:Juno Award winners
Category:Genie Award winners for Best Achievement in Music - Original Song
Category:The Guess Who members
