JOHNNY BURKE

Receiving inductions into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame this year are two gentlemen who have spent a great deal of time working in the country music industry. Dedicating most of his career to country music as a solo artist as well as a backing band member for such country legends as Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty and Waylon Jennings, Johnny Burke has been announced as this year's Artist Inducteee Canadian Country Music Association is also thrilled to announce that Ralph Murphy, a talented artist/songwriter/producer/publisher will be inducted into the Industry Builder category.

Four-time Big Country Award winner, Johnny Burke accomplished a long-standing career in the country music industry with many number one hit singles like Wild Honey, which received the Big Country Award for Top Single in 1978. Throughout his career, Burke was also known as the driving force behind the creation of the 'Caribou Showband', which down the road became 'Eastwind' the highly successful house band that performed on CTV's 'Funny Farm'.

Ralph Murphy has done it all. From songwriting, to publishing and producing albums Murphy is a well-known industry builder within the country music community. His first,number one country single Good Enough To Be Your Wife was recorded by Jeannie C. Riley and he has had multiple Canadian and American country music artists like Randy Travis, Shania Twain, Ray Price, Don Williams and Little Texas record his music. Johnny's first professional job was in 1960 with The Blue Valley Boys. He then landed a four year gig at the famous Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto backing the stars from the Grand Ole Opry such as Red Foley, Tex Ritter, Dottie West and Bobby Bare to name a few. When Country Music Hall, hosted by Carl Smith, began on CTV, Johnny was chosen as the bass player.

In 1967 he formed the Caribou Showband and for seven years hosted the syndicated television show At The Caribou with Harry Hibbs. In 1988 Johnny was chosen as the one artist torepresent Canada at Fan Fair in Nashville. He performed on Nashville Now hosted by Ralph Emery and was a band member on the TV show The Funny Farm with Blake Emmons.

He is a member of the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame and has won four Big Country Awards. Johnny's seven year engagement on the syndicated Opry North Show was the Canadian version of the Opry radio show in Nashville.

Johnny has built a theatre at his home in Haliburton, Ontario where he hosts house concerts and is still actively touring musically.