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.María Jesús Hernáez Lerena. Pathways of Creativity in Contemporary Newfoundland and Labrador. Cambridge Scholars Publishing; 18 September 2015. . p. 152.

Early life Burke was born in St. John's.Paul O'Neill. The oldest city: the story of St. John's, Newfoundland. Boulder Publications; 2003. . p. 193, 807–808. 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."De-Burking Johnny Burke, an Excluded Canadian Troubadour". Canadian Poetry, Volume 36. by Paul Matthew St. Pierre

Career As a young man he worked as store clerk and salesman.The Oxford illustrated literary guide to Canada. Oxford University Press; 1987. . p. 10. He opened a small grocery store on Prescott Street.

Burke wrote hundreds of songs, many of which were comedic ballads about life in Newfoundland.Newfoundland. Chelsea House Publishers; 1992. . p. 43. He also wrote songs chronicling local events, including fires, storms and shipwrecks.Newfoundland Quarterly. Creative Printers and Publishers.; 1977. p. 15, 17. He sold the lyrics to these in the form of broadside ballads from his store and on the city streets.Michael Taft. A Regional Discography of Newfoundland and Labrador 1904-1972. Memorial University of Newfoundland, Folklore and Language Archive; 1975. p. xxii."Burke’s Songs ¡To Be Revived". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. September 15, 1960 - Page 14"Memories of 40 Years Ago". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. December 31, 1960 - Page 62 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.

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."Johnny Burke (1851-1930)". Heritage Newfoundland website. Accessed November 18, 2019Paul O'Neill. The Oldest City. Press Porcépic; 1976. . p. 565.

In the 1960s a collection of Burke's songs was published by balladeer John White."Notes and Comments". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. February 23, 1961 - Page 4 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.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. . p. 415.Newfoundland Quarterly. Vol. Volumes 73-75. Creative Printers and Publishers.; 1977. p. 15. A musical comedy of his life, starring Ron Hynes,"Ron Hynes". The Canadian Encyclopedia, Janna Whelan, October 17, 2011 was performed in St. John's by The Mummers' Troupe in 1977.Chris Brookes. A Public Nuisance: A History of the Mummers Troupe. Institute of Social and Economic Research, Memorial University of Newfoundland; 1 January 1988. . p. 191.Canada Folk Bulletin. Vol. 1. Vancouver Folk Song Society; 1978. p. 62.

Popular songs by Burke include: The Night Paddy Murphy Died Cod Liver Oil"Centreville's importance was a military one". St Johns Daily News, via Newspaper Archives. August 19, 1955 - Page 8 Murphy Broke the Pledge Who Shipped the Moonshine to St. John's The Spring Maurice Crotty Fought the Old Dog-hood The Kelligrews SoireeBill McNeil. Voice of the pioneer. Macmillan of Canada; 1981. . p. 110–111. The Trinity Cake Never Been There Before Betsy Brennan's Blue Hen Excursion Around the Bay"Why We Say “Around the Bay” ". The Overcast, October 15, 2018. by Lauren Power Little Boneen The Flemings of Torbay The Hat My Father Wore The Landfall of Cabot The Sealers Gained the Strike The Valley of Kilbride

References

External links

Johnny Burke Artist Listing Page at GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador Johnny Burke - Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, v. 1, p. 295