February 01, 2016
Winnipeg’s favourite son Burton Cummings will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame this April, recognizing his myriad of achievements and decades-spanning rock ‘n’ roll career. His name will be on the first inscribed plaque to go up at the Hall of Fame’s brand new home inside Calgary’s Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, and he’ll receive a special tribute at the 45th annual JUNO Awards at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Cummings became skyrocketed to musical success in the 60s and 70s with The Guess Who, who have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame. He left the band in 1975 to pursue a solo career. His very first single as a solo artist, “Stand Tall,” turned into a Gold record, and he went on to release six Platinum records, most of them certified Platinum more than once. Cummings’ half-century of making music has also resulted in seven JUNO Awards. He’s also an officer of the Order of Canada.
Cummings’ resume more than speaks for itself, but to Winnipeggers he’s also a bit of a mythological figure, an inescapable presence in a city that has a theatre and a community centre named after him. If you’re interested in getting to know the real Burton Cummings (and, in a way, a real version of Winnipeg), check out Michael Posner’s 2008 profile of him in The Globe & Mail.
In Other News:
- Nardwuar underwent successful heart surgery
- The East Coast Music Awards name their 2016 nominees.
- Sting is going to play the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto.
- The CBC Music Festival announces their 2016 line-up.
- Sandbanks Music Festival announces some of their 2016 acts.
