Joel Cummins
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Joel Cummins | |
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Background information | |
Origin | La Grange, Illinois, United States |
Genre(s) | Progressive rock, jam band |
Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Keyboard Piano Vocals |
Years active | 1997 - Present |
Associated acts | Umphrey's McGee, Stomper Bob |
Joel Nathan Cummins (born 1975, La Grange, Illinois) is an American musician, and founding member/keyboardist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee.
He formed the band along with Brendan Bayliss, Mike Mirro, and Ryan Stasik in December 1997 and remains with the band to this day. Cummins and Mirro were members of University of Notre Dame band Stomper Bob, who split around the same time as another local band, Tashi Station (which included Bayliss and Stasik).
Cummins is a student of classical piano and has, along with several keyboards, recently began performing with a grand piano at Umphrey's McGee concerts.
In 1995, he released a solo piano album, Suspended in Time: An Epic, featuring originals such as the future Umphrey's McGee classic Orfeo and covers such as Phish's Magilla.
In 2001, Cummins released an electronic keyboard-based album, Common Sense, which featured Umphrey's McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger on drums for most tracks. The band would later use two of the tracks, The Triple Wide and In Violation of Yes, in their concert repertoire.
Cummins currently resides in the city of Chicago, and tours full-time with Umphrey's McGee, playing a range of shows each year, including New Year's performances at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, and festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Summer Camp, 10,000 Lakes Festival, and Langerado. International music festival appearances in the past have included Jam in the Dam and Fuji Rock Fest.
Joel went to Lyons Township High School in LaGrange Illinois along with David Hasselhoff!