Ronnie Prophet, Country Music Singer & TV Host, Dies at 80
Ronnie Prophet performs live on stage at a Country Festival at Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands on April 6, 1980
Country music legend Ronnie Prophet,
who had 26 hit singles in Canada, five charting in the U.S. on
Billboard and hosted several television shows, died Friday (March 2) in
Florida from cardiac and kidney failure.
“With a very heavy heart,
but with so many fond memories, so very sad to hear the legendary
Ronnie Prophet passed away this morning at the age of 80,” posted family
spokesperson Dave Bancroft on Prophet’s Facebook page.
“The
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member was probably the most gifted
Canadian country music entertainer to ever hit any stage. Chet Atkins
once said Ronnie put on the greatest one-man show he had ever seen. My
sincere and deepest condolences to Glory-Anne Prophet, the rest of his
family, friends and fans. Godspeed, my friend, and thanks so much for
the music, the laughs, the interviews and the lessons.”
Prophet’s wife, singer Glory-Anne Carriere, with whom he performed
and recorded with as a duo and married in 1986, made her own post on her
personal Facebook page:
“There
are no words to express the heartache of losing my best friend and the
love of my life. Ronnie’s sense of humor has sustained me through the
years no matter the circumstances even to the very last. Chet Atkins
music was playing softly in the background till he peacefully left us
for his heavenly home this morning at 8:40,” she wrote.
“He loved
life, + friends, family + his fans were so important to him. His passion
for music was part of who he was and it was always his wish to keep
people smiling wherever he went. Thank you for all the kind and
encouraging words. I will continue to read them and they will help my
grieving heart of losing him but knowing that he was loved and will be
missed by others. God bless you all.”
Born Ronald Lawrence Victor
Prophet the day after Christmas in Hawkesbury, Ontario, he was raised on
the family's farm near Calumet, Quebec, and followed in the footsteps
of his second cousin, country singer-songwriter Orval Prophet, who
became a million-selling artist.
Ronnie started singing at age 7
and playing guitar at age 10. He made his debut at age 15 in Ottawa on
CFRA's country music show, The Happy Wanderers. At 17, he
moved to Montreal, where he sang at various clubs. In the early '60s, he
relocated to America, working in New York, Fort Lauderdale and
eventually setting up in Nashville in 1969. There he performed at his
eponymous nightclub, Ronnie Prophet's Carousel Club, for more than 16
years, all the while touring worldwide with such names as Kenny Rogers, Perry Como, Mel Tillis, George Jones and Charley Pride.
In the '70s, he became a household name when he hosted CBC’s Country Roads (1973), then CTV’s The Ronnie Prophet Show (1974) and Grand Old Country
(1975-1980). He was known for his one-man shows, combining songs,
comedy, impersonations and his guitar prowess. Guests on his shows
included Dolly Parton, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr., Crystal Gayle and Don Everly.
Prophet also appeared on other people’s shows, including Johnny Carson,
Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Alan Thicke and David Frost.
From
1973 to 1992, Prophet had 26 charting country singles in Canada and a
few AC hits. Five songs ranked on Billboard charts from 1975 to 1977,
beginning with “Sanctuary” and followed by “Shine On,” “It’s Enough,”
“Big Big World” and “It’s Ain’t Easy Lovin’ Me.” He also had a
half-dozen hits with his wife.
Throughout his career, he put out more than two dozen albums for many
different labels: RCA, Cachet, Vera Cruz, Audiograph, Prophet and, with
Glory-Anne, Book Shop.
He earned two Juno Awards, both for
country male vocalist in 1978 and 1979; Big Country Awards for
outstanding performance, country male singer in 1976 and 1980; and the
CCMA award for 1984’s entertainer of the year. Grand Old Country
received the Big Country Award as top Canadian country TV show in 1976,
1977 and 1979. Prophet also co-hosted the CCMAs from 1987 to 1989 and
in 1999 was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Upon learning of his death, the CCMA tweeted:
"The country music community is mourning the loss of a true
entertainer, Ronnie Prophet. Inducted into the Canadian Country Music
Hall of Fame in 1999, Ronnie will always be an icon for Canadian country
music. Our thoughts are with his wife, Glory Anne, and family."
The Juno Awards tweeted:
"Sad to hear of Ronnie Prophet's passing. He was the Country Male
Vocalist of the Year JUNO Award winner in 1978 and 1979. Rest in Peace
Ronnie."
Country artists also paid their respects.
Michelle Wright tweeted: "Thank you Ronnie for all the years of entertainment. You're a one of a kind. Rest In Peace. The Oak Ridge Boys said: "Rest In Peace old friends Don Storms and Ronnie Prophet.... Brand New Stars Up in Heaven Tonight."
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