GeorgeCummings.net
Welcome to the online home of Guitar Great George Cummings. George was the founder of legendary 70’s rock band Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show, in fact he was the one responsible for giving the group it’s memorable moniker.
George left Dr. Hook in 1975, and has continued to play guitar professionally throughout the world. George has been compared to Bob Dylan as a songwriter, for his deep and soulful lyrics, which spring from his deep southern bayou upbringing. George’s song “Moe & Joe” was a Top 10 country hit and winner of Video of The Year in the mid 80's.
George’s career in music started in his early teens after being exposed to lots of great music in the deep south around Meridian MS, where he was born and raised. His early musical influences were mainly country and bluegrass music that he listened to on the radio. His Father's radio was often tuned in to a distant Jazz station and that let him know there was also something else happening in the world of music.
George played in various groups around Meridian, and had his first real group at the age 17. “My fondest memories of my early stages of playing with people, was at Mrs. Hortense Harvey's house, what we called the "picking & grinning". She had weekend gatherings of players and singers of all degrees of skill. He learned many licks and tricks from those musicians. She was a great songwriter and provided George with inspiration to carry on.
In 1968 Ray Sawyer, Dennis Locorriere & George were working in "The Bandbox" a club in Union City, New Jersey. George had just formed the band and the owner asked George to come up with a name so he could put a sign up in front of the club. He borrowed a pencil from the owner and on a piece of paper wrote “Doctor Hook & The Medicine Show, straight from the South, serving up soul music”.
After working 6 straight years and never missing a gig, George contracted bronchitis on the road and got deathly ill. He went to a Doctor, who advised that if he wanted to stay alive, he should take some time off and recuperate. George went to Dr. Hook’s Producer/ Manager and informed him of the situation. Being the tyrant that he was, he refused to allow George to take some time to heal. George had a meeting with Dennis, Bill & Ray, and explained his situation. He told them he was taking time off to get well as per his Doctor's instructions and advice. Their attitudes seemed disinterested and uncaring. George left Dr. Hook in August 1975.
After leaving Dr Hook George moved from San Francisco to Nashville in hopes of selling some original songs and hooking up with some good music people. He spent 10 years in Nashville trying to hoe music row, attaining the above-mentioned Top 10 country hit with "Moe & Joe" and winning Video of The Year in the mid 80's. Guitar legend "Lonnie Mack" recorded a song of George’s called “Rock People” (the late Stevie Ray Vaughn can be seen playing in the video). George played in various rock and country bands, one in Nashville was called The Raven, founded by George’s friend Ken Hatley. (Ken is now a major force in the music biz and a producer, based in Orlando, Florida.) George has been writing with Lonnie Mack for several years, as well as others. In the early and mid nineties, he worked Europe a lot, performing with another American Artist on shows and festivals throughout Germany and the former East Germany.
George has recently been working with Ken Hatley, on a movie Sound Track; current working title is "Florida City". The release name may end up being "Level 6". It is about the US knowing in advance of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and is based on a true story.
He is also keeping busy working on re-mastering an album on Big Joe Williams at Muscle Shoals Studios. One of the last albums this legendary Delta Blues singer recorded. They’ve released 14 of Big Joe’s tracks on Polydor/Verve. The album (CD) is entitled Big Joe Williams, "The Final Years". It was produced by George, Joe B. Stewart, and Ken Hatley. George is presently working on a new album, with the working title of “Jet Plane Gypsy With A Dragon Fly Soul”, scheduled for release in 2002. George is also playing some solo gigs around the New Jersey/New York area.
George’s plans for the future include a European tour with an all star revue including his hometown buddy, legendary bassist Chris Etheridge (founder of The Flying Burrito Brothers) “We're planning to inject this violent wicked world with pure harmony.”
He will also be writing a book about the talented artists and people that he has met in his million mile journey on planet earth, the title may be Silver Strings and Golden Dreams.
George will try to bring further clarification of HIS story in the future. He wants to thank everyone who has kept the great American Rock and Roll spirit alive.
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