Burton Lorne Cummings, born on December 31, 1947, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is a renowned Canadian musician and songwriter. He gained fame as the lead singer and keyboardist of The Guess Who, Canada's first rock superstars, during their most successful period from 1965 to 1975. Cummings was instrumental in the band's success, co-writing classic hits like "These Eyes," "Laughing," "No Time," "No Sugar Tonight," and "American Woman," the first song by a Canadian band to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Raised by his mother and grandparents in Winnipeg, Cummings pursued music from a young age, studying piano and performing in local bands. He joined The Guess Who in 1966, replacing Bob Ashley on keyboards, and soon became the lead singer after Chad Allan's departure. The band achieved international success, notably with the album "American Woman" in 1970.

After leaving The Guess Who in 1975 due to creative differences, Cummings embarked on a successful solo career. His debut solo album, released in 1976, featured the hit single "Stand Tall" and marked the beginning of a series of popular albums and singles through the late 1970s and early 1980s. Cummings has been recognized with numerous awards, including induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has also been honored as an officer of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba. The Burton Cummings Theatre and Community Centre in Winnipeg are named in his honor.