The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings reflects on his musical journey ahead of Wednesday’s Knuckleheads show

Burton Cummings // Photo Courtesy of Maureen Lilla

Singer Burton Cummings is perhaps best known for his work as the lead singer of classic rock act The Guess Who. During their heyday, the Canadian band’s string of singles included “American Woman,” “These Eyes,”  ”Share the Land,” “No Time,” along with plenty more, and continue to find airplay on stations today. Since the breakup of The Guess Who in 1975, Cummings has seen success as a solo performer, as well as doing regular tours with Guess Who guitarist Randy Bachman.

Ahead of the release of A Few Good Moments—his first album of new material since 2008—Burton Cummings will stop at Knuckleheads on Wednesday, Sept. 18, as part of his 60 Anniversary Tour, celebrating his time playing music, which began when he dropped out of school at 17 and soon joined Winnipeg band The Deverons. We spoke with Cummings about his musical career ahead of the show.

The Pitch: Is Saskatchewan anything like they portray it on Corner Gas?

Burton Cummings: Not on Corner Gas. No, I’ll tell you though, I grew up in Winnipeg in the Canadian prairies and I’m thrilled to be back in the prairies. The changing of the seasons is tremendous and it’s beautiful—clean air, blue skies, white clouds, and all the things that I wasn’t that aware of before. I was in Los Angeles for years and I just didn’t want to be there anymore. It’s too big. It never ceases. There’s always noise. There’s always people.

I’m with a new girl now in Moose Jaw and she’s grown up here in the prairies. I’ve slowed down quite a bit. I’m enjoying life very, very much.

When your publicist contacted me, one of the things that they had noted is that you’re on strict vocal rest when you’re touring. Is that how you’ve managed to be able to perform at such a high capacity for so long?

Well, I just do my best, to be honest. Before I do a tour, I try and sing at home for 45 minutes to an hour a night, so I’m not just cold getting up there when I start performing. I try and do my best. That’s all.

When you’re singing at home, are you performing your songs, other people’s songs, that sort of thing?

No, mostly I’m doing the stuff that I’m gonna do on stage. Mostly I try and do portions of the live show.

One of the things that I found most fascinating about your career is the number of television programs that you’ve performed on over the years. You came up during the golden age of musical performance. How did shows like the Midnight Special help you in your career, both in terms of performance and getting your music out to a wider audience?

Well, I think it was very important that we did Midnight Special so many times because, during those visits, I got to be friends with Wolfman Jack, and that’s how the hit record, “Clap for the Wolfman,” evolved because I became friends with Wolfman. Also, I was on Dinah Shore’s show a couple times, and one time when I was on, Ray Charles was one of the other guests, and I got to sit next to Ray Charles for the whole afternoon and talk to him while we were both on the Dinah Shore Show. It’s been tremendous. I’ve met a lot of my heroes through the years.

Also, The Guess Who got to be famous for being on a CBC television program, Let’s Go, if I’m not mistaken?

Yes. The first season, it was called Let’s Go and the second season, it was called Where It’s At. We did weekly television for two years. We did, I think, about 70 half hour shows in two seasons.

What did you learn from being on those programs?

We had to learn 10 or 12 new songs every week so it really helped us figuring things out that we had heard on the radio, chord changes, arrangements, vocal arrangements. It was really like going to school for two years.

You’ve gotten to talk to all of these people over the years. Can you share some of the things you gleaned from talking with Ray Charles?

When you’re in show business for long enough, you tend to meet a lot of your heroes. I don’t know if I gleaned any information, but it sure was nice to meet these people, talk to them, and see that they were real people, talking to me about music. It was tremendous.

You mentioned earlier that you’re taking it a little easier these days. What’s the impetus to get you out on the road?

Well I always have enjoyed the two hours on stage. I’m still hitting my notes fairly well. People tell me I still sound like the records. So why not go out and sing those classic songs that people grew up with?

Who are you bringing with you on these tours?

I have the same band for quite a while. We’ve had a couple changes, but I’ve had the same band for 15 or 16 years now. So it’s a very good band and we all sing and play, and we try and recreate the records as best we can for the people.

You’re best known for your work with The Guess Who but you’ve been making music for so long since that group disbanded. How does a set look for you these days?

It’s two hours of mostly hit records, to be honest. We do all this stuff that people think they want to hear: “These Eyes,” “American Woman,” “Share the Land,” “Hand Me Down World,” “Clap for the Wolfman”—a lot of hit records—“Laughing,” “Undone,” No Sugar Tonight.” A lot of songs that people have heard on the radio for years.

You mentioned that you you make these out these live performances sound like the records as much as possible. Are there times where you change them or do you find that that’s not what folks want?

No, I don’t change them too much. To be honest, whenever I go and see an artist, I like it when they’re true to the records. So I’ve always tried to be true to the recordings.

Is there a song you particularly enjoy getting to perform or a lesser known one that you just enjoy that you slip into the set from time to time?

Oh, lots of stuff. I mean, we do a song by JJ Cale. We do a song by The Equals once in a while. We do songs by other artists that we really enjoy so there’s sometimes very nice surprises in our show.

The Equals? That’s such a good pull. “Baby Come Back” is such a gem.

Oh, it’s a great song to do. Nikki and I, my other singer, we go out front and do that one and we really enjoy singing it. It’s a great record.

Is there a particular appeal to getting to put your spin on other folks’ songs?

Well, I just enjoy doing it. If I can perform it and make people happy, my main goal is to make the crowd happy, send the crowd home happy. That’s always been my goal.

One of the things I noticed in doing research before talking to you that I hadn’t really been aware of is you were part of the second-ever Ringo Starr’s All Star Band. Getting to play with your contemporaries, folks you yourself have influenced, and some of your own influences—how was that experience for you?

Well, that was tremendous. We were nine months all around the world in a private plane. Two of The Eagles, Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmidt, Todd Rundgren, Dave Edmunds, and Nils Lofgren. It was a tremendous band and I really enjoyed it. We did basically two hours of hit records by all the artists.

What’s that like for you, having Ringo Starr back you up?

Well, I mean, how would it be for anybody? I grew up on The Beatles. The Beatles were like gods to us, so it was tremendous. I asked him a million questions about The Beatles and he was always very kind and generous with his answers. We had a great time. We really did.

I wanted to mention something to you. I have a new album coming at the end of Sept. It’s called A Few Good Moments and I’m very happy with how it’s turning out. I think it’s some of the best songs that I’ve ever written ever.

Will folks get to hear some of these songs when you play Knuckleheads?

Oh yeah, a couple of them. Absolutely. We’ll be rehearsing new songs from the new album for the upcoming shows.

It’s been a minute since you last released an album. What was the impetus to put this new one out?

Well, I’ve always written songs. I always have songs ready to go and, finally, I got them all together with my band and we’ve done the new album. It’s time for me to release a new record.

Burton Cummings plays Knuckleheads on Wednesday, Sept. 18, with special guest Solomon Hicks. Details on that show can be found here.