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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Burton Cummings| image = Burton Cummings.jpg| caption = Cummings in 2008| image_size = 250| landscape = yes| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Burton L. Cummings| birth_date = birth date and age|1947|12|31| birth_place = Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada | genre = Rock music|Rock | death_date =| occupation = Musician , songwriter | years_active = 1965& ndash;present| instrument = singing|Vocals , guitar , piano , Keyboard instrument|keyboards , saxophone , drum kit|drums , percussion , harmonica|harp , flute | associated_acts = The Guess Who , Bachman & Cummings, The Deverons, Tim Thorney | website = URL|burtoncummings.net'''Burton L.December 16, 2010 episode of 'George Strombolopous Tonight', CBC Television Cummings , Order of Canada|OC ,cite web|url= http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx? id=13469|title=Governor General Announces 57 New Appointments to the Order of Canada|work=Office of the Secretary to the Governor General|accessdate=2009-12-30|date=December 30, 2009 Order of Manitoba|OM (born December 31, 1947, in Winnipeg , Manitoba ) is a Canadians|Canadian musician and songwriter .
He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian Rock music|rock Musical ensemble|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 (song)|American Woman ," "No Time," "Share the Land," "Hand Me Down World," "Undun," "Laughing," " Star Baby ", " No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature|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 Winnipeg , Manitoba , as were all of the other original members of The Guess Who , and attended St. John's High School (Winnipeg)|St. John's High School .Cite web | title =Burton Cummings gets high school diploma Rock icon honoured by his former Winnipeg school | work =CBC News | publisher =CBC | date =June 28, 2010 | url = http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2010/06/28/mb-burton-cummings-diploma-winnipeg.html | accessdate =December 29, 2010 His first band was a local Winnipeg Rhythm and blues|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 1960s). The Deverons with Cummings released two singles on the tiny REO Records label. The first single, "Blue Is The Night / She's Your Lover", was cut in a Winnipeg radio station. The second single, "Lost Love / Feel Alright", was recorded at Kay Bank Studios in Minneapolis , where The Guess Who frequently recorded. He joined The Guess Who in 1965 to replace keyboardist Bob Ashley and shortly thereafter its previous lead singer, Chad Allan (musician)|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 . http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084318/ Melanie.IMDB. Retrieved 9/17/10
Between 1966 and 1969, The Guess Who were one of the hardest working-bands in Canada. Despite having released several strong singles, a hugely successful split LP ("A Wild Pair", which also featured Ottawa's The Stacattos), and a weekly stint as house band on CBC-TV's "Let's Go!", mainstream success eluded them.
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 (song)|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, conflict between Cummings and bandmate Randy Bachmanpartially ignited by Bachman's then-deepening Mormon religious beliefscaused a rift in the band. http://www.cbc.ca/lifeandtimes/bachman.html Bachman bio at CBC.ca Bachman left and went on to form the band Brave Belt with former Guess Who mate Chad Allan, and later BachmanTurner 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," "Clap for the Wolfman," and "Dancin' Fool."
Going solo
In 1975 Cummings left The Guess Who after 10 years 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 (album)|Boats Against the Current , including " She Did It ."
Cummings' subsequent solo hits in Canada included "Stand Tall," his greatest 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 biggestClarify|date=February 2009 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. Clarify|date=December 2009 Besides his music, Cummings purchased Winnipeg's " Salisbury House (restaurant)|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
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|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, BachmanTurner 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 Television|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 (Bachman Cummings album)|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.cite news |last=Sterdan|first=Darryl| url= http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/B/Bachman_Randy/2007/06/07/4241177.html |work=Canoe.ca |title=Cummings & Bachman cover faves |date=2007-06-07|accessdate=2009-04-12
They last played together in 2009 at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario . Bachman has since rejoined with CF Turner and Cummings has toured on his own with the Carpet Frogs.
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.Which? |date=April 2009 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 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 of Canada|Governor General Michaλlle 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.cite news|url= http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/12/30/order-canada.html|title=Order of Canada adds 57 names|publisher= CBC News |date=2009-12-30|accessdate=2010-05-19
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 2011. The collection of poems will be titled "The Writings of B. L. Cummings." He stated that works by Rudyard Kipling|Kipling , John Keats|Keats and Edgar Allan Poe were great inspirations to him during his writing process, saying, "I like to be influenced by the best."
On June 28, 2011, it was announced that Cummings will receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame and will be inducted on October 1 at Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres|Elgin Theatre in Toronto. He previously received a star as part of The Guess Who in 2001.Cite web|url= http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/press-release-canadas-walk-fame-announces-2011-inductees|title=Press Release: Canada's Walk of Fame Announces the 2011 Inductees|date=2011-06-28|accessdate=2011-06-28|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame
2006 Bachman-Cummings Songbook Compilation that features tracks from The Guess Who, Burton Cummings and BachmanTurner Overdrive
2006 The Thunderbird Trax A compilation of previously unreleased material recorded by Bachman and Cummings circa 1987
2007 Jukebox (Bachman Cummings album)|Jukebox Bachman & Cummings album that features covers of songs by artists such as Bob Dylan , The Shadows and The Beatles
http://www.burtoncummings.net Burton Cummings' Official website
http://www.bachmancummings.com Official website for the Bachman-Cummings Band
http://www.canadianbands.com/Burton%20Cummings.html Bio at CanadianBands.com CanConRox entry
http://www.brucerobbmusic.com Bruce Robb (producer)
S-startS-bef|before= Chad Allan (musician)|Chad Allan S-ttl|title=Lead singer in The Guess WhoS-aft|after= Terry Hatty End The Guess Who Persondata | NAME =Cummings, Burton | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =December 31, 1947 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Winnipeg, Manitoba|Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Cummings, Burton Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:Members of the Order of Manitoba Category:Musicians from Winnipeg 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
