Orval Prophet
Encyclopedia
Orval William Prophet was among the first Canadian country music
performers to achieve a career of international scope.
, now part of Ottawa
. During his teens, he sang pop songs within his family and performed at church and community functions. He changed his focus to country music after he heard Hank Snow
's music and concluded that "Western folk-songs would fit my style".
During World War II
, Prophet worked on his family's farm since health limitations precluded him from military service. He performed for injured soldiers in Ottawa, walking 38 kilometres (23.6 mi) from his home to their hospital.
He is a second cousin of Ronnie Prophet
who is also a country musician.
in 1949 led to Prophet's recording contract with Decca Records
by late 1951. This made Prophet among the earliest Canadian country music artists who recorded in a Nashville studio.
During his early career, he worked on his family's 140 acres (56.7 ha) farm and was also a carpenter
by trade. He remained based in Edwards throughout most of his career, becoming known as "The Canadian Ploughboy". His initial reason for remaining in Canada was to remain with his girlfriend. In April 1954, Prophet became a million-selling artist in terms of record sales following successful songs such as "Going Back to Birmingham", "Judgement Day Express" and "Beautiful Bells".
Prophet recorded the song "Mademoiselle" under the name "Johnny Six", released in 1958. Around that time he had a brief residency in the United States to host a radio programme.
Other appearances included CBC Television
's The Tommy Hunter Show
and at the Grand Ole Opry
in Nashville.
was working as a radio host prior to his singing career, he sought to adopt Prophet's singing style. Johnny Cash
and Dallas Harms
also wrote material for Prophet.
Later that year he was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Association
Hall of Honour and in 1989 into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
performers to achieve a career of international scope.
Early life
Prophet was born in Edwards, OntarioEdwards, Ontario
Edwards is a village at the headwaters of Bear Brook in eastern Ontario, Canada. Edwards is within the City of Ottawa jurisdiction. Population: 531...
, now part of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. During his teens, he sang pop songs within his family and performed at church and community functions. He changed his focus to country music after he heard Hank Snow
Hank Snow
Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
's music and concluded that "Western folk-songs would fit my style".
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Prophet worked on his family's farm since health limitations precluded him from military service. He performed for injured soldiers in Ottawa, walking 38 kilometres (23.6 mi) from his home to their hospital.
He is a second cousin of Ronnie Prophet
Ronnie Prophet
Ronald Lawrence Victor Prophet is a Canadian-born country musician and comedy performer.In his childhood, Ronnie Prophet lived in Calumet, Quebec and began performing at local venues in his youth. His successful musical career in the United States began in the mid-1960s...
who is also a country musician.
Career
From 1944 to 1949, he performed throughout eastern Ontario in a country band led by Bill Sheppard. In Ottawa, his live radio performances were featured on CFRA's Fiddler's Fling from 1947 to 1951. A Canadian tour with Wilf CarterWilf Carter
Wilf Carter , also known as Montana Slim, was a Canadian country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and yodeller...
in 1949 led to Prophet's recording contract with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
by late 1951. This made Prophet among the earliest Canadian country music artists who recorded in a Nashville studio.
During his early career, he worked on his family's 140 acres (56.7 ha) farm and was also a carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
by trade. He remained based in Edwards throughout most of his career, becoming known as "The Canadian Ploughboy". His initial reason for remaining in Canada was to remain with his girlfriend. In April 1954, Prophet became a million-selling artist in terms of record sales following successful songs such as "Going Back to Birmingham", "Judgement Day Express" and "Beautiful Bells".
Prophet recorded the song "Mademoiselle" under the name "Johnny Six", released in 1958. Around that time he had a brief residency in the United States to host a radio programme.
Other appearances included CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
's The Tommy Hunter Show
Tommy Hunter
Thomas James "Tommy" Hunter, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian country music performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman".-Career:...
and at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
in Nashville.
Influence
When Waylon JenningsWaylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
was working as a radio host prior to his singing career, he sought to adopt Prophet's singing style. Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
and Dallas Harms
Dallas Harms
Dallas Harms is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter. Twenty of Harms' singles made the RPM Country Tracks charts, including the number one single "Honky Tonkin' ." Harms was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.-Albums:-Singles:-References:...
also wrote material for Prophet.
Death and legacy
Prophet underwent open heart surgery in 1970 following a series of five heart attacks. After this, he continued to perform until his last concert on New Year's Eve at the end of 1983. On 4 January 1984, Prophet was shovelling snow at his residence in Edwards when he died of a heart attack. He was survived by his second wife, Laurette Lalonde. His first wife, Lois Haley, died in 1969.Later that year he was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Association
Canadian Country Music Association
The Canadian Country Music Association was founded in 1976 as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment to organize, promote and develop a Canadian country music industry. The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association in 1987.-Awards:The CCMA held the first Canadian...
Hall of Honour and in 1989 into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Merritt, British Columbia, was established in 1984 to honour Canadian country music artists, builders or broadcasters, living or deceased...
.
Albums
| Year | Album | CAN Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Foreign Love Affair (as Johnny Six) | — |
| 1959 | Propheteering | — |
| 1963 | The Travelin' Kind | — |
| 1971 | Mile After Mile | — |
| 1976 | My Kind Of Woman | — |
| 1981 | True Blue | — |
| The Canadian Ploughboy | 23 | |
| 1995 | The Traveling Snowman | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | CAN Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | "Going Back To Birmingham" (as Orval Rex Prophet) | — |
| "Judgement Day Express" (as Orval Rex Prophet) | — | |
| 1958 | "Mademoiselle" (as Johnny Six) | — |
| 1962 | "Run Run Run" | — |
| "Lois And Me" | — | |
| 1966 | "The Traveling Snowman" | — |
| 1967 | "Human Nature" | — |
| 1968 | "Blue Side Of The Street" | 27 |
| 1969 | "Country Fair" | — |
| 1971 | "Mile After Mile Mile After Mile "Mile After Mile" is a song written and composed in 1969 by Canadian singer-songwriter Gerry Joly. It was a 1971-72 hit single for Canadian country singer Orval Prophet. Mile After Mile debuted at number 49 on the RPM Country Tracks chart on September 25, 1971. It peaked at number 1 on January 8,... " |
1 |
| 1972 | "It's Good To Be Home Again" | 8 |
| "Headin' Down The Line" | — | |
| "Judgement Day Express" | 15 | |
| 1973 | "Champlain and St. Lawrence Line" | 18 |
| 1974 | "Badger Bodine" | 32 |
| "Eastbound Highway" | 9 | |
| 1975 | "My Kinda Woman" | — |
| 1976 | "Lisa Mae" | 8 |
| 1977 | "Leroy Can't Go Home" | 11 |
| 1978 | "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone" | 19 |
| "Ol' Amos" | 14 | |
| 1979 | "I've Seen Some Things" | 43 |
| "Sorry and the Hobo" | 10 | |
| "The Mighty Tractor Pull" | 70 | |
| 1980 | "The Canadian Ploughboy" | — |
| 1981 | "True Blue" | — |
| "A Little League in Heaven" | 39 |