Burton, Have a very happy 64th birthday and many more to come. Donna Bridges

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BURTON!…..en route 66!!!….the 60′s were so profound in our lives…and again we have the 60′s…with  the same life attitudes of love and peace..i too reflect on the past..going to see and dance to the BC band..at the wpg ccenters,…its was a very exciting time of  our  lives…something was happening..and i remember thinking..oh mg!..finally! lol……I also want to thank you for all the music you gave to our  lives…and being your birthday..a fitting time to say this.  My fav song Break It To Them Gently…I had run with a differnet type of gun…but it was all so familiar…it had such a profound message…ty for that…..Wishing you all the best always..remember bumping into you at the  Crystal.a few years back..lol…wish i had of  talked with you then…but thanks for the warm smile..:)

I will add myself to the long list of people, wishing you the happiest birthday ever.  I wonder when it was that people started celebrating that day.  I wonder who it was that decided to make that day special.  It would be interesting to find out how this thing started. 
I was reading what you wrote, and it made me think.  I know you just wrote a poetry book, I am still waiting for my copy, but there is something else.  I just recently purchased and watched the DVD BACHMAN-CUMMINGS  FIRST TIME AROUND.  I also purchased ABOVE THE GROUND.  As expected, musically they were both outstanding.  There was something else.  Hearing history.  Seeing you put the music together.  Now that was fantastic.  Hearing how the songs came together long ago.  Little happenings that made you what you are now.  Those things warmed my heart.  They were fun to hear.  They were interesting.  Did you ever think of writing a story of your life?  I have several books that I have written.  Some are finished, and some are not.  I will probably never see them published.  I am just an average person.  I don’t mean unremarkable, just haven’t had the good fortune to be in a position like you.  People would want to read of your life.  You have had so many wonderful things happen to you.  You don’t have to write anything super personal.  Just stuff about your career, your music, your concerts.  Funny happenings, stuff like that.  I’m sure you remember a lot of those things.  Just a thought.
I remember Mel Blanc.  He was an endearing person.  My favorite character was always Peppe Le Pue.  My other half has always liked Yosemete Sam.  I have seen Mel several times on different shows.  He was always a joy to watch.  A true artist.
I would also like to say “HAPPY NEW YEAR” !!!!!!!!!!!  And may this next year be the best year in your life, and be a mark for a better year in the next and a better year in the next ————-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish you joy, health, happiness, “luck”, wonderful experiences, and most of all love.

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  WISHING YOU HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS IN ALL YOU DO!
 

Happy 64 Burton, and more!!

Happy 2012!!! Hope you had a wonderful B’day…”Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the furture…” Tick, tock…

Happy 64th birthday Burton!                                                                                                                                                 Age is only a number an you continue to prove that with the extraordinary and full life you lead and continue to lead today and will continue to lead in the future!

Mark “Freddy” Farrell

Hi Burton, hope your 64th birthday was extra special.  I turned 60 this past year and it feels ‘different’ but exciting at the same time because I don’t ‘feel’ 60.  Hope 2012 is good to you.  All the best. DD

I hope your day was nice.  You made me think back on music in the car (when I was young)….I loved those 8-tracks and I actually proved one point at one time with a car full of friends on a joy ride. You could spill a can of beer into them and it would still play just fine. I know there was a GW tape that got a good dousing.  Those seemed to make for the best to drive around and party to, and everybody do their best attempt to sing along.  You sounded great with a beer coating and a buzz, and so did we!!   Aaah, those were the days. We survived ‘em, thank God for that. Best wishes for a great 2012.

Burton,  I for one am enormously pleased with the choices you have made.  I only wish i could say the same for myself.  of course it’s easier to judge others.  They say the sense of smell is the strongest to spark a memory, burning wood for instance.  For me it has always been music. 
Your words and music have stood the test of time.  Your older compositions still sound as fresh as the first time I heard them.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your creation for 40+(signs) years.  Some will alter my mood, others enhance.  I have been listening exclusively to your albums for several weeks in anticipation of your tour.  I have tickets for both New York venues.  I’m bringing friends who know your music, some who should and a current student of music.  I check yor facebook page periodically, which never ceases to intrigue me with history and beauty-GOD SPEED MOTHER NATURE.  I’m anxiously awaiting the release of 47 poems, yor blog being a taste of things to come.  Everything you write is demontrative of your passion, candor, sincerity and soulful essence from deep within.  I am grateful for all your contributions.  My only disappointment is never having the opportunity to comminicate with you directly, a Renaissance man of the 21st century.   With Fondest Regards,  Laurie   Rossrider@aol.com  

I certainly don’t think of you as a Senior CitIzen Burton!
Anyways, I too checked off “typing” in those old days of high school – never liked it until I started to work with it, in it, and around it.
Now I too love to type night and day – all hours on account of insomnia.
I too miss those childhood winters and the memories – nothing like them!
I too went to one elementary school and one high school – the same kids the whole time; something reassuring about that I think.
Unfortunatley I now don’t keep in touch with any of them – new city, new life, new person; hopefully a better one.
Those old shows sure are comforting – I watch everything form Bonanza to Untouchables, but I also prefer the old situation family comedies.
I LOVED GRACIE ALLEN!
Hope your New Years Eve and birthday were wonderful as usual.
El

Happy New Year!
Hope you had a great celebration for you Birthday.
Is our book being released this year?
When do you think that the Massey Hall album will be released this year, and is the last encore song included?
Health and Happiness always
God Bless.
Thanks Burton
  Dan

Burton, you have been blessed by survival in your own right, a master of song and word with a trademark sound like no other. We who gather before you in the darkness (and light) beyond center stage have been blessed with so many cherished moments, so many life long memories…survival becomes you man…doin’ just remend for 64…remarkable. I have a feeling 2012 will mark critical passages for you friend, critical and timeless as never before.

Happy Belated Birthday, Burton!  You may be one year older, but your music is timeless, ageless and ‘placeless’. Back in the spring, I asked you what ‘roll’ meant in your song, “Break it to them gently”, as I needed to know for my ESL classes that I teach.  Imagine a group of 20 or so Qatari women belting out the lyrics and having a blast doing it. Needless to say the lesson was a huge success; they learned the vocabulary and the pronunciation points I was trying to teach.  Now I’m about to develop “These eyes” to teach the /z/ sound to Spanish speakers.  Thank you for giving the world your beautiful music!

I’m in your age group Burton. Unlike you I can’t type worth a lick. Fortunately, technology has come to my rescue. I use a software program called Dragon Naturally Speaking. I speak into the mike and it types for me. I like the old tv shows too especially The Honeymooners and The Twilight Zone.Happy birthday and keep on rocking.

Jack Benny’s look….one could write a whole thesis on that. Johnny Carson stole it and embellished it…. and had the decency to give proper credit. Johnny’s look was either towards Ed, Freddie or the band. If it was done at the desk it would often be a look right into the camera. A great example was the “cat in the lap” exchange with Jane Fonda. The look and the pauses set up the line: No, I think I would have recalled that”.

No doubt your deep appreciation of Jack Benny is because he the sense of timing which all great comedians share with muscians. And as a world class singer you appreciate what Mel Blanc thaught us is possible with the human voice.

Mastery.

Burt, Happy Belated Birthday! May you be blessed with many more. just was wonderin’ if and when you were going to do your extensive write up on the #10 album like you did for Rockin’ a while back. Can hardly wait to see the goings on from that time. Hope to see it soon. take care.

You said it right, Burton. Bang! It seems like the 60′s were yesterday. And what’s weird is that there are so many rich memories, but it still seems like yesterday. Well, I suppose all those who have gone before us have said the same thing……….
Carry on!!

I enjoyed reading this, BLC. It seems that you remember so much more about your childhood days than I remember about mine.  Maybe you had happier days to remember…..not that my childhood days were not happy.   I hope you had a great 64th birthday, and I wish you a very Happy 2012.  My new year resolution for 2012 is to see you in concert.  Take care.

Happy Birthday Mr. Cummings!

Burton, 
  They say the sense of smell has the strongest ties to memory as with the burning wood, but for me it has always been sound or specifically music.  Your words and music have stood the test of time.  The older compositions still sound as fresh and relevant as the first time I heard them.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your crestions for 40+(signs) years.  Some will alter my mood, others enhance.  I have been listening exclusively to your albums fro several weeks in anticipation of your tour.  I have tickets for both of the New York venues.  I’m bringing friends who know your music, some who should and a current student of music.  I check your facebook page periodically, which never ceases to intrigue me with history and beauty-GOD SPEED MOTHER NATURE.  I’m anxiously awaiting the release of 47 poems, your Blog being a taste of things to come.  Everything you write is demonstrative of your passion, candor, sincerity and soulful essence.  I am certain I will continue to relish your future work.  My only disappointment is never having the opportunity to comminicate with you directly, a Renaissance Man of the 21st century.
With Fondest Regards,    Laurie

Hi Burton,
This does not have to be posted.
First , hope you had a great Birthday, and have a Great New Year!
This is a question,and request to repeat the  dream of a child,… well…., ok big kid with his child.
When you are finished the concert in Tarry Town, I was wondering if there is any form of meet and greet session.
I had the thrill and honor to meet you, with my sister,after the Norfolk Fair concert.
That night we drove from Oshawa Ontario to Norfolk and back to get to work for the next morning.
This time we are driving to Tarry Town, and will also have my daughter with me and I would love for her to have the thrill
that I had in Norfolk. There are 6 of us altogether. All huge fans. (Maybe 9 to make the trip)
We have some great pictures to share with you,thanks to you being so great during the time you shared with us in Norfolk.
Hopefully I will have the cards,and lyrics mounted and framed to show you.(Large pictures, the cards stay mounted to the wall)
They are simply a priceless addition to my collection.
Thank you.
God Bless,
Health and Happiness always.
  Dan 

I haven’t checked in here since before Christmas.  I’ve been … out of sync … with everything.  Driving … when I was a little girl, I’d sit in the front seat between Mom and Dad and I’d say, “one of you tell us a story.”  Those stories were of their childhoods in rural Minnesota during the depression years and harrowing days of WWII.  Either Mom or Dad would do the “telling” and they made the events come to life in my imagination.  Maybe that’s why I have so loved your blogs about your early days in Winnipeg.

Tell us a story, Burton ….

Happy Birthday Burton, PLEASE PLEASE come to Tucson, Arizona to perform!!! We have several venues and great weather all winter  ;}

LIfe has two speeds- on and off . You my friend, are on.  Tour the States and stop in Central PA (Hershey ?) this year. Share your gift.
 

I was assaulted by the owner of the Sound Exchange at 557 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, on January 25 at about 11:30 in the morning. I was simply browsing and asking questions about Burton’s display on the wall. I did not instigate anything. He demanded that I leave the store and literally threw me out and then followed me outside and shoved me in the street! I was going to call 911 but his wife dragged him back in the store. He had his fists up, ready to fight! I spoke to his son later Jeff before going to the cops who said he was not surprised and that I had done nothing wrong, but changed his tune the next day when I went to see him. He accused me of breaking something and denying anything had happened? omg, like father, like son! I wish now I had gone to the Police and filed I complaint, I still might. This is a warning to others if you decide to shop there. The place is a mess. It looks like hoarders live there, just my view. The son said his dad is recovering from a stroke but that’s no excuse to assault customers for asking questions! omg – The owner’s name is Tom Bishop! I was the only one in the store. Don’t shop alone there if you can help it. TIME TO RETIRE.