Born in 1952, Jim started Kindergarten at 4 years old . He showed early artistic promise, by performing with a ventriloquist dummy for the whole school, when only 7 years old. Also producing and coordinating everything from backyard carnivals, to pony rides and puppet shows throughout his elementary years, he grew up on his parents and grandparents farm in rural Battle Creek, Michigan. His elementary and early Junior High years were spent learning, playing sports, enjoying his friends, and riding horses at his grandparents farm.

At 12 years old, he witnessed the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and realized that what he saw that night, was what he was meant to do. From that point on, his focus was on becoming a better singer, musician, businessman, and promoter of events. His first live performance was as “The Elements”, on the small stage located in the Jr. High (now the Ad-min building), for the Junior High Follies. Followed by endless dances and events throughout the region, and early success beyond all expectations, he proceeded to progress musically to the point that everyone expected him to continue to work towards even higher goals with respect to a career in performance and music. Within a few weeks of graduating, Jim was on full-time touring schedule, performing sometimes 7 days/nights a week on the road with upscale musical acts. From 1970 to 1985, he toured the United States and other countries with his own groups, and many other national acts such as; Edgar Winter, Leon Russell, Dick Wagner, The Tubes, Odyssey, the Coasters, The Four Tops, The Classics IV, Gregg Allman, and many, many others. Hundreds of venues, hundreds of airplane flights/bus tours, interviews, photo sessions, and recording sessions instilled a professional credo, and based on the lessons learned in Battle Creek......proceeded to be known in the business, as “a guy who can be counted on to be prepared, and put out 100% whenever performing”. Having switched from guitar to bass around 1970, he progressed to become a legend as an exceptional bassist and arranger and producer while performing in venues such as; Los Angeles Forum, Madison Square Garden,Carnegie Hall, Shea Stadium, Devon Hall, Cob Hall, Joe Louis Arena, Whiskey A-Go Go, Troubadour, many many more, while living in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Tampa, Key West, Chicago, and back to Battle Creek in 1985.

Although he still tours regularly (50 years plus), since 1985 Jim moved back to Battle Creek, after tiring of the road pace, and started a World-Class Recording and Production facility called Soundstage I Production. It is this entity that he considers his greatest accomplishment. Primarily a Commercial Music production facility, Soundstage has progressed through 3 large facilities, to the present 15,000 sq ft location in Climax, Michigan. Providing services such as; Radio, TV Industrial and Corporate Communications, Film/Video, Event Production and Coordination, Animation,Media Consulting, Media design and installation, National live sound design and touring systems, and for many years was the number 1 producer of high-end musical theme songs and corporate soundtracks in the United States.

Mr. Cummings is now and has been a professional actor. Appearing in regional and national theatrical productions (as lead actor) of Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors, My Favorite Year, Miss Saigon, Ring of Fire, and more. Also appearing in numerous films and industrial videos.

Although Jim Cummings grew up in Battle Creek, and returned to live here, he has been - and continues to be - a National entity. Consistently working on, and selling music on an International basis. He is referred to as a “Legend” amongst the Show-Business people that know him, and continues to stay on top of his musical craft, and his business daily.