Johnny Burke (Newfoundland songwriter)

Johnny Burke (1851–1930) was a Newfoundland poet, singer, songwriter, and musician from St. John's, where he lived all his life. He was nicknamed the Bard of Prescott Street and wrote many popular songs that were released by folk singers in the 1930s and 1940s.[1]

For other people named John Burke, see John Burke (disambiguation).
Johnny Burke
Johnny Burke at the St. John's Regatta in 1903
Johnny Burke at the St. John's Regatta in 1903
Background information
Born1851
St. John's, Newfoundland
DiedAugust 9, 1930(1930-08-09) (aged 78–79)
St. John's, Newfoundland
GenresFolk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, poet, playwright

Early life

Burke was born in St. John's.[2] His father was a sea captain who died when Johnny was about fourteen; his mother also died when he was a teenager. Burke continued to live with his sister and brother on Prescott Street in St. John's until his death.[3]

Career

As a young man he worked as store clerk and salesman.[4] He opened a small grocery store on Prescott Street.[3]

Burke wrote hundreds of songs, many of which were comedic ballads about life in Newfoundland.[5] He also wrote songs chronicling local events, including fires, storms and shipwrecks.[6] He sold the lyrics to these in the form of broadside ballads from his store and on the city streets.[7][8][9] While his lyrics were his own compositions, he often sang them using the melodies to popular songs of the day or to traditional Irish tunes.[3]

Burke wrote a number of plays, musical comedies and operettas, mostly based happenings and issues in Newfoundland at the time, which he staged in St. John's.[10][11][2]

In the 1960s a collection of Burke's songs was published by balladeer John White.[12] In 1974 the Newfoundland Historical Society published a short book written by Paul Mercer about Burke's songs. The Ballads of John Burke: A Short Anthology.[13][14] A musical comedy of his life, starring Ron Hynes,[15] was performed in St. John's by The Mummers' Troupe in 1977.[16][17]

Popular songs by Burke include:

References
  1. María Jesús Hernáez Lerena. Pathways of Creativity in Contemporary Newfoundland and Labrador. Cambridge Scholars Publishing; 18 September 2015. ISBN 978-1-4438-8333-7. p. 152.
  2. Paul O'Neill. The oldest city: the story of St. John's, Newfoundland. Boulder Publications; 2003. ISBN 978-0-9730271-2-9. p. 193, 807–808.
  3. "De-Burking Johnny Burke, an Excluded Canadian Troubadour". Canadian Poetry, Volume 36. by Paul Matthew St. Pierre
  4. The Oxford illustrated literary guide to Canada. Oxford University Press; 1987. ISBN 978-0-19-540596-5. p. 10.
  5. Newfoundland. Chelsea House Publishers; 1992. ISBN 978-0-7910-1027-3. p. 43.
  6. Newfoundland Quarterly. Creative Printers and Publishers.; 1977. p. 15, 17.
  7. Michael Taft. A Regional Discography of Newfoundland and Labrador 1904-1972. Memorial University of Newfoundland, Folklore and Language Archive; 1975. p. xxii.
  8. "Burke’s Songs ¡To Be Revived". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. September 15, 1960 - Page 14
  9. "Memories of 40 Years Ago". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. December 31, 1960 - Page 62
  10. "Johnny Burke (1851-1930)". Heritage Newfoundland website. Accessed November 18, 2019
  11. Paul O'Neill. The Oldest City. Press Porcépic; 1976. ISBN 978-0-88878-110-9. p. 565.
  12. "Notes and Comments". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. February 23, 1961 - Page 4
  13. Anna Kearney Guigné. The Forgotten Songs of the Newfoundland Outports: As Taken from Kenneth Peacock’s Newfoundland Field Collection, 1951–1961. University of Ottawa Press; 12 December 2016. ISBN 978-0-7766-2385-6. p. 415.
  14. Newfoundland Quarterly. Vol. Volumes 73-75. Creative Printers and Publishers.; 1977. p. 15.
  15. "Ron Hynes". The Canadian Encyclopedia, Janna Whelan, October 17, 2011
  16. Chris Brookes. A Public Nuisance: A History of the Mummers Troupe. Institute of Social and Economic Research, Memorial University of Newfoundland; 1 January 1988. ISBN 978-0-919666-59-7. p. 191.
  17. Canada Folk Bulletin. Vol. 1. Vancouver Folk Song Society; 1978. p. 62.
  18. "Centreville's importance was a military one". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. August 19, 1955 - Page 8
  19. Bill McNeil. Voice of the pioneer. Macmillan of Canada; 1981. ISBN 978-0-7715-9564-6. p. 110–111.
  20. "Why We Say “Around the Bay” ". The Overcast, October 15, 2018. by Lauren Power


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