By Leslie Simon

You probably know some of the hits Burton Cummings wrote and sang with The Guess Who, including "American Woman," but did you know that he has acted with Miami Vice’s Don Johnson too? Read on for some fun facts of this fascinating guy and his vibrant life, then grab your tickets to see him at the Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheatre on August 15!

This classic rock ode about the American woman was sung and played by Canadians! Formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the mid-60s, The Guess Who are Canada’s most well-known rock band.

When they were still called Chad Allen & the Expressions, their record label pulled a publicity stunt with their first single by releasing it anonymously with a message saying “Guess Who?” hoping that radio DJs would think it was by the British band The Who. DJs announced that the single was by “Guess Who?” and the nickname stuck.

Burton Cummings got his musical start early and was playing piano by age five. He was involved in some Gilbert and Sullivan productions in school, then dropped out at 16 to pursue music full-time. Wise decision! 

Founding member Burton Cummings sang, wrote, and co-wrote most of The Guess Who’s songs including “American Woman,” “No Sugar Tonight,” These Eyes,” and “Undun.” He was with The Guess Who from 1965-1975, the band’s most successful years.

When The Guess Who’s original bassist and drummer (who neither sang nor wrote songs) tried to tour under the name The Guess Who and used Burton Cummings’ likeness and voice, he was forced into a bitter legal dispute to wrest control of his old band’s legacy. Now the real singer is back to singing his own songs from The Guess Who and providing audiences with the genuine thing! 

“American Woman” was made up on the spot. Burton Cummings was trying to buy some Gene Vincent records from someone outside his show, when he heard the band play and realized he was supposed to be on stage! He ran up there and started improvising words. Said Cummings, “all that stuff about war machines and ghetto scenes, colored lights can hypnotize... it was all just spur-of-the-moment. And nobody would have ever heard it again but there happened to be a kid bootlegging the show that night.” The band got a copy of that kid’s tape and learned their own song from it, and it became a monster hit.

Lenny Kravitz covered “American Woman” for the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me movie, which became a hit for a new generation complete with a video starring Hollywood bombshell Heather Graham.

Burton Cummings’ 1978 solo album Dream of a Child was the first quadruple platinum-selling album by a Canadian artist, ensuring his Canadian rock royalty status.

He played and toured with former Beatle Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band! 

Cummings starred in the 1980 movie Melanie with Miami Vice heartthrob Don Johnson.