Johnny Burke Johnny was born Jean Paul Bourque, one of 13 children, in the Acadian community of Rosaireville NB. In the early 1960’s, Johnny moved to Toronto and played in a country rock band, Johnny and the Bees, then in the mid-60s with the Blue Valley Boys, his first professional job. During that time he also landed a gig at Toronto’s famous Horseshoe Tavern that turned into a four year stint, backing such legends as Lefty Frizzell, Tex Ritter, Loretta Lynn, Red Foley, Charley Pride, Mel Tillis, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, Glen Campbell, Bobby Bare, others.
When Carl Smith’s Country Music Hall became a feature on CTV’s national network, Johnny was chosen to play bass with the show’s Maple River Boys. He recorded his first single, Loving You, for Columbia Records in 1966. He formed the Caribou Showband a year later and from 1968 to 1975 hosted a CTV show, At The Caribou. In 1972, the band changed its name to Eastwind, and were regulars on the syndicated TV show Opry North, releasing several albums. Later they became the house band for the CTV network’s Funny Farm.
In 1985, focusing on a solo career he recorded an album, Gold In His Mind, for the Acclaim label and in 1992 a single, Judge My Soul Again, written by Maritimer, Bardon Yorke, stayed on the Ottawa Valley’s Top Ten for 12 weeks. A compilation CD released in 1998 includes 18 of Johnny’s best songs. A duet CD recorded with Harold MacIntyre was released to critical acclaim in 2001 and he began releasing his music in Europe and Australia. Still active he tours and plays festivals with MacIntyre and Myrna Lorrie.
Erna Beer & Nada Price were born in Havelock, NB, the seventh and ninth children in a family of ten. Their parents, Walter and Mary Perry, played twin violins for old time dances. Erna’s involvement in music began when a brother Raymond brought home a borrowed guitar for her to learn to play. Soon most of her siblings were learning to play instruments as well. She later added omnichord and keyboard. When Erna married in 1941, her husband Charles Beer brought the steel guitar into the family and they began performing as a band at local events; then, later with the Ray Little Gang and Lone Pine & His Mountaineers on CKCW Radio, and on various Saint John radio shows. In the 40’s Erna played and was lead vocalist with the Rainbow Ranch band led by posthumous Hall of Famer, Roy M. Alward. They performed at concerts throughout southern NB, including the Hillsborough and Amherst Winter Fairs. This group was involved in many charities and fundraisers around the Havelock area. Then, moving to Petitcodiac, Erna formed another band, Slim & His Melody Boys and Girls. This group included her sister Nada, Webber Acheson, Addie Perry, Carl Bannister and Sherman Gammon.. Nada played rhythm guitar and harmonized with Erna for the first time publicly with the Slim band, which played for dances every Thursday night at Stoney Creek. The Bunkhouse Boys, 1984 NBCM Hall of Fame inductees, played that venue Saturday nights. Erna and Nada continued performing as a duo at parties and fundraisers after this band split up. Nada passed away in 2000, but today, their talents live on in memories of many fans and in their family’s carefully preserved tapes. Nada and Erna were New Brunswick pioneers of real old-time country music.
FOR 2006 INDUCTEES CLICK HERE
