Smilin Johnnie & His Prairie Pals

Websites:  https://www.facebook.com/smilinjohnnielucky/
Origin: Wroxton, Saskatchewan, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Smilin Johnnie' 1924 - 2010.
Mr. John Lucky, was born September 2nd, 1924 at his families farm, located 8 miles north of Wroxton, Saskatchewan. A shy child who was always interested in music, he attended Brandon school, 2 miles from home, where that interest was nurtured by one teacher in particular, Fred Tetoff. Mr. Tetoff invited him to be a part of his dance band. Friends encouraged him to audition for a program on CJGX radio not long after the station started in Yorkton, and he was given an early morning show there. Some young fellows from St. Joseph's College asked him to lend them his sound system and drive them to their dance dates, the band eventually became Smilin' Johnnie and his Prairie Pals in 1946. The group worked out of CJGX for a time, then went further affield playing throughout Canada. After moving from Yorkton, Johnnie lived for a few years in Swift Current, Regina, North Battleford, and Saskatoon. Over the years, he found dances weren't as popular as they once were, so he began playing concerts. Those concerts and Johnnie's unique spirit of adventure found him becoming the first entertainer to take shows north of the Arctic Circle in 1963. The initial tour brought requests from other communities till the Smilin' Johnnie Show had played every community of any size in Northern Canada from west to east. In 1975, Johnnie married Eleanor Dahl and a year later they moved back to the family farm to be close to his parents who were aging. The years spent on the "farm" brought him much happiness, and to share the enjoyment of the place, he held Jamboree's there from 1988 till 1999. He still toured and entertained, and he ALWAYS kept planning for the future. In the fall of 2009 he got promotion ready, and was planning to tour with his grandson, Zachary-that plan was cut short by a stroke on November 5th, from which he never recovered.

Rest In Peace Eleanor
August 8th 1938 - November 21 2021

I'm very sad to say that we lost Eleanor Dahl just over a week ago. She was so many things to so many people - Mom, Grandmother and friend to all. She was an incredible performer, entertainer and songwriter. She lived an incredible life and her stories and songs will live on. She'll be greatly missed.

The family of Eleanor Lucky of Yorkton, formerly of Wroxton, widow of John Lucky sadly announce her passing on Sunday, November 21, 2021. She was 83 years of age.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Eleanor Evelyn Lucky (Dahl) was born August 8, 1938 at Wadena, Saskatchewan to Evelyn (Erickson) & George Dahl of Lintlaw, Sk. Eleanor’s Dad, in addition to farming and having a cream truck route, was also a local musician and played for many dances. So, it was quite natural for Eleanor to sing songs before she could even talk, there was never a question of “do you want to play an instrument”, the question was “what instrument do you want to play”. Eleanor chose piano, and was over-joyed when for her 6th birthday her dad came home from his cream truck route to Wadena with a big old grand piano the hall there sold him! Six years later she got an accordion.

Dahl’s farm was just a mile from Lintlaw Rural School so Eleanor attended there till grade 8, then she went to Lintlaw Town School, 2 ½ miles walk for grade 9. In 1953 the family moved to Flin Flon, Manitoba where Eleanor attended & graduated from Hapnot Collegiate and went to work as Social Editor at the Daily Reminder newspaper. Then in 1956, Eleanor moved to Saskatoon and married Gerald Wurtz and worked at various office jobs in the city. The couple moved back to Flin Flon where Eleanor was employed at the bank for a time, and later in various bookkeeping jobs. The marriage broke up in 1961 and later that year Eleanor and her Dad moved to Regina to work for Smilin’ Johnnie. Music had always been her first love and it was time to pursue that dream. Her Dad found the travelling difficult so he returned to Flin Flon.

In the 1960’s and 70’s there were moves from Regina to North Battleford and back to Saskatoon, and of course many tours across Canada from coast to coast to coast. In 1975 Eleanor and Johnnie were married in Saskatoon, and in 1976 they moved to the original Lucky homestead near Wroxton. Being back on a farm for Eleanor was like coming “home” after a long time away. The years spent on the “farm” were happy times for her. See less