Born on this day in 1947 – Burton Cummings, singer and songwriter from Canadian rock band Guess Who who had the 1970 US No.1 & UK No.19 single ‘American Woman’.

During his decade in the Guess Who 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”.

In October 1975 Cummings left The Guess Who after 10 years to become a solo artist, and the group disbanded. One of his first projects was providing back-up vocals on Eric Carmen’s second solo LP, Boats Against the Current, including “She Did It”. In 1977 he was presented with a Juno Award as best male vocalist.

Cummings’ subsequent hits in Canada included “Stand Tall,” which was his greatest American solo hit, peaking at #10 on the Billboard 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 going triple platinum.

Burton married Cheryl DeLuca on September 22, 1981, at a small ceremony at old city hall in Toronto. They live in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Here’s the complete Burton Cummings Superspecial, as aired on the CBC in 1977:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwv79DWFrjY