 By 1976, he began playing bass with Burton Cummings, after Cummings left The Guess Who.1978, Gardiner played with Cummings on "Dream of Child," which went on to earn a Juno Award for record of the year, and was the first ever triple platinum album for a Canadian artist.1980, Gardiner co-wrote the song "Fine State of Affairs" with Cummings, which later won a SOCAN Award.