We did fun things
in Boston
in Boston
And we did them
almost everyday
almost everyday
Like having lunch
while watching
Burton Cummings
play.
Following the big ‘Pru Race,’ Tim and I raced all over New England for the whole summer, but when it started to snow, we decided to form the WVBF Ski Team.
I don’t know what happened to “I’ll have you back in San Diego by the time the snow flies,” but I thought I’d make the best of it by sampling what New England had to offer in the wintertime.
I don’t know what happened to “I’ll have you back in San Diego by the time the snow flies,” but I thought I’d make the best of it by sampling what New England had to offer in the wintertime.
My job for the Ski Team was to devise some sort of premise that would entice the listeners to want to ski with us, and Tim’s was to find somebody to pay for it.
After telling the listeners that we’d created a Ski Team, we claimed that we were going to use the power of the radio station to get cheap lodging, lift tickets, and maybe even some free ski stuff, we had their attention.
Then, when Tim came through with stuff like ski equipment, ski outfits, goggles, lift passes, and even accommodations on the Mountain for the whole staff; we had the staff’s attention.
The whole ski program was a huge success, and most of the mountains we skied at were sold out.
Oh, and yeah, the radio station made a few bucks, too.
Oh, and yeah, the radio station made a few bucks, too.
What a great winter; in fact, it was so good that I forgot that I was supposed to be back in San Diego by now. (Daughter Candis and I pictured on top flaunting some of that free stuff we were given.)
As winter turned to spring, Tim and I were trying to figure out what other things we liked to do when one of the sales folks popped his head in.
“Hey George,” he said, “Don’ton’t you know Burton Cummings?” “Hell, yes, I replied. “I’ve known him since he was a kid playing with the Devrons.” (Burton is shown above and standing beside me below)
“Hey George,” he said, “Don’ton’t you know Burton Cummings?” “Hell, yes, I replied. “I’ve known him since he was a kid playing with the Devrons.” (Burton is shown above and standing beside me below)
“The reason I asked about Burton,” the salesperson said, “Is because he’s doing a one-man concert downtown during the lunch hour.”
“Hey, there’s no way I’m missing that,” I replied, so we put a group together and headed downtown.
Wow, the concert was great, and I thought Burton’s chops sounded better than when he was with The Guess Who.
When the concert ended, I surprised him by slipping up to the front of the stage and saying. “Hey Burton”!
When the concert ended, I surprised him by slipping up to the front of the stage and saying. “Hey Burton”!
Shocked to see me, he invited me backstage to catch up, but first, he had to do an interview with the Boston Globe, which I was welcome to sit in on.
The Globe reporter began the interview by asking Burton what things he remembered the most about his career.
Burton thought about it for a moment before responding, “When I heard that our record, American Woman was #1 in the world, that was a big thrill that I’d be hard-pressed to top.”
Although, he went on to say, “One of the more exciting things I ever got to do was to play with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band.
The Globe reporter began the interview by asking Burton what things he remembered the most about his career.
Although, he went on to say, “One of the more exciting things I ever got to do was to play with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band.
And as we were about to land in Liverpool, not only did “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” blast out of my earbuds, but I was also sitting next to Ringo.
What a surreal moment, he excitedly said, “And I remember thinking, “I’m playing with the f#cking Beatles, man!”
What a surreal moment, he excitedly said, “And I remember thinking, “I’m playing with the f#cking Beatles, man!”
Burton then said that even though a lot of great things had happened but unfortunately, some of them were not so good.
The worst thing that ever happened, he recalled, was when the Guess Who were not only booked to play Carnegie Hall, we were also going to record it for a live album.
The worst thing that ever happened, he recalled, was when the Guess Who were not only booked to play Carnegie Hall, we were also going to record it for a live album.
Burton then turned to me and said, “George, only you can relate to this; when you’re from Winnipeg, deep down you think that they’d never let you even buy a ticket for Carnegie Hall let alone allow you play there and record it.
Then, when he asked if we’d heard the album and the reporter and I both shook our heads no, he said, “That’s because it doesn’t exist. I was so excited that I stayed up all night celebrating and missed the gig!”
Then, when he asked if we’d heard the album and the reporter and I both shook our heads no, he said, “That’s because it doesn’t exist. I was so excited that I stayed up all night celebrating and missed the gig!”