Blake Emmons (born 2 August 1944) has enjoyed international success as one of Canada's most versatile show biz personalities with major credits as a recording artist, songwriter, TV Show Host, TV Game Show Host, author and activist.
Blake Emmons was born Bruce MacKenzie, in Toronto. While living in British Columbia, Blake first started in music writing commercial jingles. His early-stage work included stints at the famous Bunkhouse Club in Vancouver. Blake then took to the road in the mid-1970s heading-up his first tour band which included bass player Valdemir Horsdal, who later went on to fame as Canadian folk/country star Valdy.
 |
| Blake on "Funny Farm" |
After a move to Nashville, he launched his recording career with a series of single releases on the Show Biz Records label, as well as venturing into television as a co-host (with Jim Ed Brown) of the syndicated country TV series "Nashville On The Road”. The TV exposure in Nashville led to Blake Emmons being called upon as the feature attraction and host of the Canadian TV show "Funny Farm", produced at CFTO studios in Toronto. The show was a short-lived Canadian answer to the popular "Hee Haw" TV show.
In 1977 Blake Emmons guested on the Jerry Reed TV series "Nashville 99"; and his television credits would go on to include host of the game show "Chain Reaction", as well as cameo roles in the TV sitcoms "Alice", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls". Additionally, Blake Emmons hosted the sports show "Fish 'n Stars", and he appeared in the 1969 TV movie "An Old Time Country Christmas".
Showing impressive versatility, Blake Emmons was also the Canadian Reporter during the late 1960s for the Nashville magazine Country Song Roundup; he hosted a celebrity fishing TV series “Fish ‘N Stars”; he played the male lead role in the Broadway production “The Best Little Whore House In Texas”, and toured with the show for a year. He was also the author of the children’s book, If You Think…You Can Do It..
As a recording artist, in addition to his early single releases on the Show Biz label, Blake Emmons released singles on the Stop, Bell, MGB, Condor and Columbia labels. He released two vinyl LPs, the 1978 "I Wish You Love" package on Condor Records, and the 1983 Columbia release,"First Flight". His Condor single, "Let Me Do Something Lord", became a Top 10 hit on Canadian charts in 1976. As a songwriter he is perhaps best recognized for co-writing the song "Scotia Sunshine", which became a Canadian chart hit for Johnny Burke & Eastwind.
In the early 1980's Blake Emmons was based in London, Ontario where he headed-up the pop/country band "Phoenix". In recent years he has been called upon to host annual Telemiracle fund-raising events aired on Canadian television networks in Western Canada, and more recently has been involved in the "Wounded Warriors Weekend" project providing assistance to returning Armed Forces personnel. In 2012, Blake Emmons released the CD "I Can Be", featuring several of his own compositions. He also released the album Dear Uncle Sam, in support of his efforts in the “Wounded Warriors” program for war veterans suffering disabilities.
Blake Emmons was inducted into the North American Country Music International Hall of Fame in 2016. He continues to make his home in Nashville and remains active at various levels on the Canadian entertainment scene. He also hosts a weekly podcast, “My Good Ole Country”.
(Edited from Country Music Association, Ontario & 45Cat)