Burton Cummings is a genuine Canadian musical icon. Best known for his decade with the Guess Who and "Clap For The Wolfman", "These Eyes and "American Woman", he's also enjoyed a solo career with "Stand Tall", "My Own Way To Rock", "Break It To Them Gently" and many other hits. I refer to him as “King of the Keyboards” and he does not disappoint.

Burton and fellow Guess Who alumnus Randy Bachman grew up in Winnipeg, where they were heavily influenced by radio: particularly by one of Canada's premier Top 40 radio stations, 50,000 watt CKY (home of Peter Jackson, Daryl B and Chuck McCoy). Burton also remembers listening to old buddy Dick Biondi playing "Da Doo Ron Ron" by the Crystals on Chicago's WLS! Legend has it the band's "Albert Flasher" was inspired by a visit to Vancouver's C-FUN.

Burton is in the Juno Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has the Order of Canada. In addition Burton has a theatre named for him in Winnipeg. Great honors for a great Canadian.

You'll want to check out Burton's Facebook page facebook.com/burtoncummings. Lots of great stories from his career, Winnipeg memories and Burton's take on the music we grew up with. Well worth a visit!

This photo with Burton Cummings was taken backstage at the Red Robinson Show Theatre. The B.C. Lions sweater was a gift from the late Bobby Ackles on my 70th birthday. It says “ROBINSON” and the number 70 on the back and just the number on the front. I wore it on stage in honour of the Lions’ first outdoor win since 1982.

After the last four decades mostly in the United States, Burton now calls Moose Jaw, SK home. How Canadian is that?

Audio courtesy Global TV's Close Encounters series.

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