Acclaimed producer Richard Perry died Tuesday, December 24, at age 82 after suffering a heart attack. Perry had a long and a prolific career, during which he collaborated with a wide variety of well-known musicians.
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Many of the artists who worked with Perry released some of the most successful recordings of their careers with Richard behind the production board. Among the artists who had the pleasure of collaborating with Perry was Guess Who frontman Burton Cummings. The Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist launched a solo career in the mid-1970s, and Perry produced his first two albums, his self-titled 1976 debut and My Own Way to Rock (1977).
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During a recent interview with American Songwriter, Cummings talked fondly about the “great times” he getting to collaborate with Perry.
“I was lucky enough to work with Richard Perry as a producer on my first two solo albums,” Burton said. “Richard … is a legend.”
He added, “[I]t was great working with Richard. I mean, he really is a singer’s producer, ’cause he’s all about the lead vocals. So, I loved working with him for two full albums.”
Cummings Met Other Famous Artists While Working with Perry
Cummings also noted that it was always interesting collaborating with Perry because other well-known artists frequently would unexpectedly show up in the studio.
“It’s funny, because you work in Richard’s world and you never know who’s gonna be coming by,” he explained. “I was doing vocals one day, and there was this guy sitting in the studio watching me, and he was there all afternoon. And it was Gene Simmons from KISS, but KISS hadn’t happened yet. Gene was just a friend of Richard’s.”
Cummings admitted that he didn’t realize at the time that it was Simmons who had been hanging out during those sessions.
As he shared with American Songwriter, “[Year later,] I was doing a show with Gene Simmons’ solo band, and he told me, ‘Hey, yeah, I used to sit and watch you in Richard Perry’s studio.’”
Burton also recalled another instance where “a couple of the Pointer Sisters came in and listened to me for a while.”
Added Cummings, “[W]hen you were working with Richard Perry, you never knew who was gonna walk in the door. It was great.”
Perry worked closely with the Pointer Sisters from the late 1970s through the 1980s and produced most of the sibling group’s biggest hits.
More About Perry’s Work with Cummings
Cummings’ self-titled debut album featured his biggest solo hit, “Stand Tall.” The song peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 4 on the Canadian singles chart.
The Burton Cummings album, meanwhile, reached No. 30 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on Canada’s albums chart. My Own Way to Rock peaked at No. 4 in Canada.
About Cummings’ New Album and Tour Plans
As previously reported, Cummings recently released his first new solo album in 16 years, A Few Good Moments.
Earlier this year, Burton launched a North American tour celebrating his 60-yar music career. He’ll will wind down the year with three solo concerts in his native Canada—a December 28 show in Moncton, New Brunswick and a December 30-31 stand in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Cummings will celebrate his 77th birthday at the New Year’s Eve gig.
Burton will continue the 60th anniversary tour in 2025, starting with a lengthy new U.S. leg. His stateside itinerary currently features 30 concerts, kicking off January 11 in Chandler, Arizona, and mapped out through a March 29 performance in Columbus, Ohio. He also will take part in the Rock Legends Cruise XII in mid-February.
Tickets for Cummings’ concerts can be purchased now via a variety of outlets, including StubHub.
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