Summers has appeared in numerous TV/Film roles, such as Core FOI (Fruit of Islam) in Malcolm X starring Denzel Washington, a neurosurgeon on Law & Order; a turn-of-the-century cook on Boardwalk Empire, and as a Police Sergeant, opposite Tom Selleck on Blue Bloods.

After the tour, Summers moved to New York (1980) where, on his first night in Manhattan, he'd meet choreographer Michael Peters (Dreamgirls, Beat It), which led to his is Broadway debut.

In 1986, after a brief stint performing in Monte Carlo with Jenifer Lewis, Summers returned to Indiana to develop a one-man show, where when traveling one night he suffered a near-fatal car accident.

On his journey to a full recovery, his voice as a stage writer emerged, leading to his creating and performing in what would become the Off-Broadway hit From My Hometown.

Writing led to Summers joining the Dramatists Guild of America,[6] and his work or incarnations thereof, have been produced and presented On and Off-Broadway, at numerous regional theatres such as the Milwaukee Repertory, where Summers collaborated with Kevin Ramsey to premiere their original tap-dance musical, If These Shoes Could Talk,[7] - now re-titled, "I Remember Harlem," starring tap dancer Harold Nicholas,[7] of the legendary Nicholas Brothers, in his farewell stage performance.

The Funkentine Rapture was presented in concert at 54 Below in June 2017, starring Tony Award Winners, James Monroe Iglehart and Lillias White.