Draft:Danny Cummings
Musical artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniel John Cummings (born 1 October 1957) is a British percussionist, drummer, vocalist, composer, and producer. He is best known as a session player and touring musician for Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, George Michael, Wham!, John Martyn, Penguin Café Orchestra, David Sylvian, Tina Turner, and many others. As the percussionist for Wham! he was one of the first Western pop musicians to perform in communist China.[1]
| Submission rejected on 22 December 2025 by Star Mississippi (talk). The subject does not meet Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion. Rejected by Star Mississippi 2 months ago. Last edited by WandaL1710 2 months ago. |  |
| Submission declined on 14 December 2025 by Theroadislong (talk). Declined by Theroadislong 3 months ago. |  |
Comment: I do not find any evidence Cummings meets musical notability. Star Mississippi 00:47, 22 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: I'm sorry that you just don't seem to get the notability requirements. Your sources are predominately listings which merely confirm what he did, articles need to be based on significant coverage not mere mentions, we need sources that discuss him. Theroadislong (talk) 19:17, 21 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Simply playing on hundreds of different artists records and performing live with them doesn't in itself make him notable he needs to pass WP:NMUSICIAN for which we need significant coverage NOT listings on Allmusic or Discogs. Theroadislong (talk) 16:43, 21 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Brucebase Wiki, Discogs, Soundcloud and other assorted listings are NOT the independent, reliable sources that we require to establish notability. We need in-depth significant coverage about him. The discography section is also still stuffed with external links to other listings, none of this is helpful I'm afraid. Theroadislong (talk) 08:35, 21 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Please remove the 200 or so external links, we don't use external links in the body of an article. See WP:ELBODY Theroadislong (talk) 23:36, 18 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: inappropriate tone includes “toured with many top musical acts of his day” “Cummings met many famous performers but remembers being most influenced by” “he keeps these bongos on his bedside table today” “appeared centre stage to belt the Dire Straits standards” The draft is also littered with external links which we don’t use in the body of an article. Theroadislong (talk) 20:10, 14 December 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: this more resembles a magazine article tone is not appropriate. Theroadislong (talk) 08:10, 14 December 2025 (UTC)
1 October 1957
Danny Cummings | |
|---|---|
 Cummings performing on stage | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Daniel John Cummings 1 October 1957 Sheffield, England |
| Genres | Rock · Pop · Blues rock · World music |
| Occupation | Musician · Vocalist · Composer · Producer |
| Instrument | Percussion · Drums · Conga |
| Years active | 1972-present |
| Member of | DSL*Dire Straits Legacy |
| Formerly of | Wham!, Dire Straits, George Michael, Mark Knopfler |
| Website | https://dannycummings.com |
Early life
Cummings was born on 1 October 1957 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, and raised in the Pitsmoor district.[2][3] He has one sister.[4] His father, Liam William (Bill) Cummings, was a professional singer whose appearances included the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company which specialized in the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan.[4][5] Watching his father's musical career, Cummings met many famous performers but remembers being most influenced by the music of the rebellious sixties, including Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys.[3]
Cummings began playing snare drum in his school band, then at age 11 was introduced to percussion by his grandparents who gave him a pair of mini bongos as a souvenir from a trip to Trinidad.[6] Cummings persuaded his parents to buy him a second-hand conga for his 21st birthday.[6] He moved from Sheffield to London in 1979 to pursue a career in music.[7]
Cummings was drawn to the Afrobeat band Osibisa and its founding member, conga player Kofi Ayivor. He was then introduced to the music of Santana and their percussionists, Armando Peraza and James "Mingo" Lewis. After he started playing live salsa, Cummings began to be exposed to other percussionists, mainly Mongo Santamaria, Tata Güines, Rogelio "Yeyo" Iglesias, and Daniel Ponce.[6]
Today, in addition to traditional drums, conga, shakers, and other percussive instruments, Cummings plays a collection of original African instruments and experiments with electronic sounds. In a profile of the drummer, Cummings is quoted, "I like the idea of blending very traditional instruments with futuristic, cosmic things."[8]
Early Career and John Martyn
Cummings was briefly part of the British soul-funk band Central Line and appeared on their 1982 album, Breaking Point, playing conga, bongos and percussion. Cummings also played percussion for British pop bands Level 42, ABC, and Linx.[9] Cummings is credited with percussion on two tracks on the Dutch funk/soul band Spargo album, Step By Step (1984), on which he is mis-identified as "Danny Gummins."[10]
In the early eighties, Cummings began a long association with British singer/songwriter/guitarist John Martyn. He was brought on as percussionist by a fellow Sheffield musician, Tommy Eyre, then Martyn’s keyboardist, first appearing on Martyn’s celebrated 1980 album, Grace and Danger.[11][12][13] Cummings went on to play percussion (and sometimes backing vocals) on several other Martyn albums (Glorious Fool, 1981; Well Kept Secret, 1982; Philentropy, 1983; Piece By Piece, 1986; the live recording, Foundations, 1987; and The Apprentice, 1990) and supporting tours as well as on various early taped appearances by Martyn.[14][15][16]
At his 27 July 1985 show at the Cambridge Folk Festival (released as a live album in 2003), Martyn introduced Cummings: “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present to you on percussion, Mr. Daniel Cummings. He bangs things all the time, there’s no stopping him.”[17]
On Martyn’s video, "Live from London," a recording of Martyn’s November 1984 gig at London’s Camden Palace Theatre, Cummings is mis-credited as “Danny Thompson” (released on VHS 1986).[18] Cummings is also seen playing percussion on Martyn’s video recording, “ Foundations: Live at the Town and Country Club,” from his November 1986 gig at that London club (released on VHS 1988).[19]
Wham! and George Michael
In his mid-twenties, Cummings joined the pop duo Wham! as its percussionist and appeared onstage on the group’s debut concert tour in the UK, the “Club Fantastic Tour,” in 1983. Cummings is credited as the percussionist on their second album, Make It Big, released in 1984, which included the hits “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Careless Whisper.” He was the percussionist and drummer on their third, and final, studio album, Music from the Edge of Heaven, released in 1986, featuring the singles “Last Christmas” and “I’m Your Man.” As the first Western pop act to play in communist China, Cummings was the percussionist throughout Wham!’s historic 10-day tour in 1985.[1][20] Cummings can be seen in the limited-release documentary of that tour, "Wham! In China: Foreign Skies" (1986), shown at the Wham! farewell concert at Wembley Stadium, London, 28 June 1986.[21]
After the breakup of Wham! in 1986, Cummings continued to work for George Michael as percussionist both in the studio and on stage.[22] He first appeared on Michael’s second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 (1990), on which he is credited with both percussion and drums. His distinctive conga groove is featured on the hit single, “Freedom! ‘90.” Thereafter he was percussionist on Michael’s fourth solo album, Songs from the Last Century (1999), and the live album, Symphonica (2014) resulting from the “Symphonica Tour” of 2011-12.
In a 2024 interview with Polish media, Cummings reflected on his long history with Wham! and with George Michael: “When I started working with him, I was very young, and when it ended, I was very old! The more I got to know him, the more I liked him, and there was a mutual trust built over 30 years. It was a very good relationship.”[23]
Cummings’s live work with George Michael can be seen on a number of video releases, including:
"Concert of Hope/World AIDS Day," Wembley Arena, 1 December 1993.[24]
"MTV Unplugged: George Michael," Season 7 Episode 8, 1996.[25]
"George Michael Live In London 2008" concert DVD (released in 2009), a live concert recording of George Michael's final two concerts in London's Earls Court on 24 and 25 August 2008 as part of his 25 Live tour.[26]
"George Michael, 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremony."[27]
In a 2024 interview Danny Cummings lamented that the last time he saw George Michael before the pop singer’s 2016 death was right after the Olympics Closing Ceremony performance, when Cummings visited Michael at his home to thank him for the invitation to perform with him at that event.[23]
Danny Cummings also played percussion and sang background vocals on the only studio album from the other half of Wham!, Andrew Ridgeley, Son of Albert (released in Australia 1990; remastered and released in the UK 2018). He is also credited as the composer on the song, "Mexico," on that album.
Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler
By the 1990s, Cummings was a highly sought-after session man.[23] He played percussion on Dire Straits’s final studio album, On Every Street (released in 1991), and toured with the band as its percussionist to promote that album.[2] “I had gained a good reputation and I had a lot of work [at the time],” Cummings recalled decades later. “During the recording of ‘On Every Street,’ Mark Knopfler and I talked a lot, exchanged ideas. He had good feelings about me and he asked me to tour with them. I didn’t realize how it would change my life.”[23] The live album resulting from that tour, On The Night (released in 1993), credits Cummings with percussion and backing vocals.
Cummings continued his association with Dire Straits founder and lead guitarist Mark Knopfler after Knopfler disbanded Dire Straits in favor of a solo career. He is credited with percussion, background vocals, and drums on Knopfler’s first solo album Golden Heart (released 1996); percussion on Sailing To Philadelphia (2000); percussion and drums on Kill To Get Crimson (2007); drums on Get Lucky (2009; Cummings’s two sons, Dominic and William, and his then-wife, Shelley, contributed vocals on the song, “Remembrance Day”)[28]; percussion on One Deep River (2024); and percussion on Knopfler’s 2024 release, "Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes: Going Home," a collaboration featuring over 50 other musicians whose proceeds benefit teenage cancer charities.[29] Cummings is credited with the idea for One Deep River’s opening track, “Two Pairs of Hands," inspired by a story Cummings shared about a memorable malapropism.[30]
Cummings played drums on the Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris 2006 album and tour, All the Roadrunning. Cummings toured with Knopfler either as drummer or percussionist, often contributing backing vocals, on most tours in support of Knopfler’s solo projects to date. Cummings is credited as percussionist on Knopfler’s eighth movie soundtrack, the 2001 film "A Shot at Glory," released in 2002.
DSL Dire Straits Legacy, BluesClub, and other projects
Since 2013, Danny Cummings has been an active member of DSL*Dire Straits Legacy, a touring band comprising several former members of Dire Straits along with other accomplished musicians. Cummings contributes percussion and backing vocals.[31] An offshoot of DSL*Dire Straits Legacy with virtually the same lineup -- simply called "Legacy" -- released an album of largely original blues songs, 3 Chord Trick (2017), on which Cummings played percussion.[32][33]
Along with longtime Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler keyboardist, engineer, and producer Guy Fletcher, Cummings is the drummer for the UK-based BluesClub band that perform intermittently in British clubs.[34] BluesClub has released one album, Rollin' & Tumblin' - (Volume 1), steeped in the Delta blues genre, and recorded in February 2011 at British Grove, London, Mark Knopfler’s studio.[35]
Cummings has contributed drums, percussion, and/or backing vocals to four solo albums by Guy Fletcher: Inamorata (released 2008); Natural Selection (2010); High Roads (2016); and Anomaly (2022).[36]
A collaboration with UK percussionist Miles Bould who was, like Cummings, associated with several 1980s bands, led to recording a collection of drum and percussion samples, Rhythm Of Life (1992), which has been used by artists including Pat Metheny, George Michael, Brownstone, Joan Armatrading, and many more. Those rhythmic samples have been used in shows like “NYPD Blue” as well as in movie soundtracks.[37][38]
Cummings has uploaded two demos to the SoundCloud streaming service, "Prisoner" (with UK recording engineer/producer Joe Dworniak, released 1988) and "I'm the Original" (with Guy Fletcher, 1995).[39][40]
An accomplished vocalist as well as percussionist and drummer, Cummings appeared centre stage and sang lead vocals on the Dire Straits standards "Brothers in Arms" and "Money For Nothing" at the July 27, 2019 performance of "Trevor Horn Reimagines the Eighties" at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Scotland.[41] In 2023 Cummings once again teamed with producer/bassist Trevor Horn on Horn’s release, Echoes: Ancient & Modern, a covers album of Horn’s re-arrangements of various hits that are performed by other artists. Cummings contributed percussion on Iggy Pop’s cover of Depeche Mode’s 1989 hit, “Personal Jesus.”
Cummings contributes percussion to the musical collaboration called "Rhythms del Mundo - Cuba," a collaboration of Cuban musicians including Buena Vista Social Club who interpret songs of mainstream artists such as U2, Coldplay, Sting, and others. Proceeds from the sales of albums benefit climate change projects and disaster relief efforts. Cummings is credited on three Rhythms del Mundo - Cuba albums, their eponymous 2006 release, "Classics" (2009), and "Revival" (2010).[42]
Danny Cummings continues to write and record original music and publishes/licenses through BMG, PRS for Music, Universal Music Publishing, Riverfish Publishing[40], among others.[43]
Musical Philosophy/Approach
Though in the same family, Cummings views percussive instruments as an “extension” of the drum kit, something that the drummer doesn’t use himself but that are added “to help him. One of the definitions of a percussionist is that he helps the drummer relax.” Cummings says he didn’t start out intending to play percussion in rock music; instead, he was invited to play by musicians of many genres, as can be seen from his extensive and eclectic discography.[23]
As for the role of percussion on a track, Cummings says those instruments should “integrate with the music as best as possible, adding variety…different tones, sounds, frequencies. They can express both joy and sadness, just like any other instrument.”[23]
“A good drummer or percussionist adapts to the artist [he’s playing with], not the other way around,” Cummings told an interviewer in 2024. “You have to be elegant, careful, and show respect all the time. Sometimes there is room for percussive instruments; sometimes not. It’s pure instinct. But when my time comes, I’m deadly serious. I do my best. That’s my philosophy: adapt to the artist.”[23]
Select Discography
With Bryan Adams
MTV Unplugged (Live) (A&M Records, 1997) percussion, harmony vocals
On a Day Like Today (A&M Records, 1998) percussion
The Best of Me (A&M, 1999) percussion
Anthology (Polydor, 2005) percussion, harmony vocals
With Sam Brown
Stop! (A&M Records, 1988) percussion
April Moon (A&M Records, 1990) percussion
With Chris de Burgh
The Road To Freedom (Ferryman Productions, 2004) drums, percussion
A Better World (Rockware, 2016) drums, percussion
With Dire Straits
On Every Street (Vertigo/Warner Bros., Records, 1991) percussion
On the Night (Vertigo/Warner Bros., 1993) percussion, background vocals
Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits (Vertigo, 1998) musician, percussion, background vocals
Live 1978-1992 (Mercury, 2023) percussion, background vocals
With David Gilmour
Rattle That Lock (Columbia/Sony Music, 2015) percussion
With Depeche Mode
Ultra (Mute, 1997) percussion, drums
MODE (Sony, 2020) percussion
Remixes 81-04 (Reprise/EMI, 2004) percussion
Remixes 2: 81-11 (Reprise, 2011) percussion
With Gavin Friday
Shag Tobacco (Island, 1995) percussion
With Emmylou Harris
All the Roadrunning (Nonesuch/Warner Bros./ADA, 2006) drums
Real Live Roadrunning (Nonesuch/Warner Bros, 2006) drums
Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems (Rhino, 2007) drums
With Richie Havens
Common Ground (EMI Italiana, 1983) percussion
With Murray Head
Shade (Mercury Records, 1982) percussion
Restless (Virgin Records, 1984) percussion
Sooner or Later (Virgin Records, 1987) drums
With John Illsley
Beautiful You (Absolute/Creek Touring & Records, 2008) percussion
Streets of Heaven (Creek Records, 2010) percussion
With Jarabe de Palo
La Flaca (EMI/Parlophone/Warner Music, 1997) percussion
Depende (Parlophone/Virgin, 1998) percussion
De Vuelta y Vuelta (EMI Music, 2001) percussion
Grandes Exitos (Parlophone/Warner Music, 2003) percussion
Bonito (DRO, 2003) orchestra
Un Metro Cuadrado 1m2 (WEA Latina/WEA International, 2005) percussion
Completo Incompleto (Parlophone/Virgin/Warner Music, 2005) percussion
Lucha Rock (Parlophone/Warner Music, 2007) percussion
Rock Latino – Vívelo: Jarabe de Palo (Parlophone/Warner Music, 2013) percussion
With Elton John
Duets (MCA, 1993) percussion
With Mark Knopfler
Golden Heart (Vertigo, 1996) percussion, background vocals
Sailing to Philadelphia (Warner Bros., 2000) percussion
A Shot at Glory (Soundtrack) (Mercury Records, 2002) percussion
Kill to Get Crimson (Warner Bros., 2007) drums, percussion
Get Lucky (Warner Bros., 2009) drums
Down the Road Wherever (Blue Note/Virgin EMI, 2018) percussion
Music from the Motion Picture Twister: The Dark Side of Nature (Warner Bros., 1996) background vocals
The Studio Albums 1996-2007 (Universal, 2021) drums, percussion, background vocals
The Studio Albums 2009-2018 (Universal, 2022) drums, percussion, background vocals
Cinematic Knopfler (Universal, 2022) percussion
True Love (Universal, 2023) drums, percussion, tambourine
One Deep River (EMI, 2024) percussion
The Boy (EP) (British Grove Records/EMI, 2024) percussion
Unplugged (EP) (Universal, 2024) percussion
People… (EP) (Universal, 2024) percussion
…And Places (EP) (Universal, 2024) percussion, drums, background vocals
Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes: Going Home (Theme from Local Hero) (BMG, 2024) musician, percussion
With Lighthouse Family
Ocean Drive (A&M/Polydor, 1995) percussion
Postcards From Heaven (Polydor, 1997) percussion
Whatever Gets You Through The Day (Wildcard/Polydor, 2001) percussion
With Londonbeat
In the Blood (Anxious Records/Radioactive, 1990) percussion
Londonbeat (RCA/Anxious Records, 1994) percussion
With John Martyn
Glorious Fool (WEA, 1981) percussion
Well Kept Secret (Warner Bros., 1982) percussion
Philenthropy (Body Swerve Label, 1983) percussion
Piece By Piece (Island Records, 1986) percussion
Empty Ceiling (One World, 1986) percussion
Foundations (Island Records, 1987) percussion
Mad Dog Days (Shakedown Records, 2004) percussion, background vocals
Live at the Cambridge Folk Festival (Strange Fruit, 2004) percussion
Remembering John Martyn (Secret Records Limited, 2012) percussion, background vocals
With George Michael
Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 (Columbia Records, 1990) percussion
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (Sony, 1998) percussion
Songs from the Last Century (Aegean/Virgin Records, 1999) percussion
Live in London (Sony Music/Aegean, 2009) percussion
Symphonica (Aegean/Virgin EMI, 2014) percussion
Careless Whisper (EP) (Sony Music, 2024) percussion
Now That’s What I Call Pride (George Michael) (Now Music, 2022) percussion
With Liza Minnelli
Results (Epic, 1989) percussion
Visible Results - Bonus Tracks (MSI/Sony, 2005) percussion
With Jimmy Nail
Crocodile Shoes (East West Records, 1994) tambourine, percussion
The Nail File: The Best of Jimmy Nail (East West, 1997) tambourine, percussion
Signs of Life (Editions EG, 1987) shekere, percussion
Preludes, Airs & Yodels (EMI, 1997) percussion
A Brief History (Virgin, 2002) musician
With David Sylvian
Secrets of the Beehive (Virgin, 1987) percussion
Weatherbox (Virgin, 1989) percussion
Orpheus (Virgin, 1988) percussion
"God's Monkey: Retrospective" (Virgin, 1993) composer
Camphor (EMI, 2002) percussion
With The The
Mind Bomb (Epic, 1989) percussion
London Town 1983-1993 (Sony, 2002) congas, percussion
Ensoulment (Cinéloa, 2024) percussion, handclaps
With Tina Turner
Foreign Affair (Capitol Records, 1989) congas, shaker, percussion
Simply The Best (Capitol, 1991) shaker
What's Love Got To Do With It (Parlophone, 2010) congas, percussion, rattle, shaker
With Kiko Veneno
Esta Muy Bien Eso Del Carino (Ariola/RCA, 1995) percussion, djembre
Punta Paloma (BMG Music Spain S.A., 1997) percussion
La familia pollo (BMG Music Spain, S.A., 2005) batería
With Wham!
Make It Big (Epic/Columbia, 1984) percussion
Music From the Edge of Heaven (Columbia, 1986) drums, percussion
With Paul Young
Between Two Fires (CBS Records, 1986) percussion
Other Voices (Columbia, 1990) percussion
From Time to Time: The Singles Collection (Columbia, 1991) percussion
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