Canadian rock ânâ roll royalty, a national treasure, and a living legend!
These are words that have been used to describe Burton Cummings, who will rock the MainStage on Saturday night.
As lead singer and songwriter for Canadaâs original rock ânâ roll superstars, The Guess Who, Cummings scored an unprecedented string of international hit singles and albums including âAmerican Woman,â âThese Eyes,â âLaughing,â âNo Time,â âShare the Land,â âNo Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,â âClap for the Wolfman,â âAlbert Flasherâ and others, all written or co-written by Burton.
In 1975, Cummings continued his award-winning ways, forging a stellar solo career that played to sold-out audiences across Canada and the United States.
He starred in several highly rated television specials and, between 1977 and 1980, earned five Juno Awards for Best Male Vocalist and Best Album, serving as host of the annual Juno gala a record four times. Burtonâs 1978 album Dream of a Child became the first quadruple platinum-selling album by a Canadian artist.
The talented performer, singer, songwriter and recording artist continues to do what he loves in his own inimitable way.
In the business for some 60 years, Cummings said one of the the best parts of his day is the two hours on stage with the best band heâs ever played with.
Like many âBaby Boomers,â Cummings grew up in a household without TV until he was seven years old, finding his escape in radio and comic books.
An ardent hockey fan who fondly remembers a six-team hockey league, Cummings said he wasnât cut out for the ice. Instead, and at his motherâs bidding, he began taking piano lessons.
âAt 10 and 11, I was able to learn songs from the radio and that made me a hero at school,â he said, noting he joined his first band just before turning 14. âI knew as a little kid that I wanted to be a musician, but I didnât know I would get the breaks.â
Cummings said he no longer writes songs of early love and angst. He gets his inspiration instead from daily living in an albeit more complicated world where bomb threats and tight security are the norm.
âWe have experienced a tremendous opening up of the world,â he says.
Influenced by the likes of Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and other early rock phenoms, Cummings said his lyrics such as those of âHunting For My Rhythm and My Rhymeâ from his new album, A Few Good Moments, are thoughtful, real, not pretentious.
Long before the Elbowâs Up movement, the proud Canadian and his band travelled the world with a huge Canadian flag that formed a backdrop on their stages in Japan, Australia and across the world.
âWe were proud to scream Canada!â
The talented artist said God willing and music gods willing, he will continue to share his music for many more years.
But heâs also enjoying life on the Prairies with its clean air, blues skies and the ability to enjoy âa lot of the things he was too busy, too young and too shallowâ to do before. And that includes listening to music from his library of thousands of songs.
Cummings is looking forward to appearing on the Roots and Blues Festival MainStage Saturday night and sending the crowd home happy.
To sample Cummings enduring music and some of his new recordings, go online to rootsandblues.ca, click on the Festival Experience tab, then for this premier event that runs July 25 - 27 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. A detailed schedule features all performers, their music, where and when they will play, along with information on workshops, the Pulk'w Place, whimsical play and much more. And donât miss the Tuned Up series that ignites Downtown Salmon Arm beginning July 22.
