Burton Lorne Cummings, (born December 31, 1947) is a Canadian musician and songwriter.
He was the former lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. During his 10 years in the band, from 1965 to 1975, he sang, wrote or co-wrote many hit songs including "American Woman," "No Time", "Share the Land", "Hand Me Down World","Laughing", "Star Baby", "New Mother Nature", "These Eyes", and "Clap for the Wolfman". His solo career includes many hit singles including "Stand Tall", "My Own Way to Rock", "Fine State of Affairs", and "You Saved My Soul".
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, including "She Did It".
Cummings' subsequent solo hits in Canada included "Stand Tall," which was his greatest American solo hit, peaking at #10 on the Hot 100 and number two on the Adult Contemporary chart . Other hits included: "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," as well as "I Will Play a Rhapsody," which spent a few weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, peaking at #38. 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 which was recorded at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario
Cummings also tried his hand at acting. He appeared along with Paul Sorvino, Glynnis O'Connor and Don Johnson in the 1982 Canadian film "Melanie". His songs "You Saved My Soul", "Real Good", "Something Old, Something New" featured in the film ( and were included on the album "Sweet Sweet" released in 1981, before the film was out).
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 part of Winnipeg's Salisbury House restaurant chain with manager Lorne Saifer, and is an avid comic book collector.