The Mighty Pope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Mighty Pope
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The Mighty Pope, May 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Earle Heedram |
| Born | October 23, 1945 Lucea, Jamaica |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
The Mighty Pope (born Earle Heedram on October 23, 1945) is a talented singer from Jamaica who became a Canadian citizen. He is known for his powerful voice, which earned him the nickname "Mighty." He also had a very stylish look, often wearing custom-made suits and capes.
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Early Life and Moving to Canada
Pope got his nickname because his father owned a piece of land in Lucea, Jamaica that looked like the Vatican City. In 1965, he moved to Canada. It was a big change for him, with new people, ways to get around, buildings, food, and weather.
He quickly became involved in the growing Jamaican music scene in Ontario. Many Jamaican people were moving to Canada during this time. There were clubs like Club Jamaica where immigrants could enjoy their culture through music and events. Even though Pope had limited performing experience in Jamaica, he soon became a popular R&B singer in Toronto.
Joining The Sheiks
In 1964, a group called The Sheiks was one of the first West Indian music groups to move to Canada. They wanted to share the Jamaican sound of ska music. The group decided to stay in Toronto because they saw many chances to perform there.
After some changes in the band, Pope joined The Sheiks in 1966 as their lead singer. His arrival brought new energy to the group. Within a year, they recorded their first Canadian song. With Pope singing, The Sheiks released an R&B/soul song called "Eternal Love" in 1967. This song was later featured on a music collection called "Jamaica To Toronto" in 2006.
Performing with The Hitch-Hikers
After his time with The Sheiks, Pope joined another popular band called The Hitch-Hikers. He became their lead singer, replacing Jackie Shane. The band was led by Rock and Roll legend Frank Motley.
The Pope-fronted Hitch-Hikers performed very often across Ontario and Quebec. In 1970, they released their first album, "The Hitch-Hikers featuring The Mighty Pope." This album included original songs written by Pope and the band's guitarist, Rupert "Valentine" Bent. It also had covers of R&B and funk songs. However, the album did not get much support and was not very successful. The band later released one more song before breaking up.
The Mighty Pope's Solo Career
After singing with a few other smaller groups, Pope decided to start a solo career. This is when he found much greater success. He toured constantly, gaining more fans and recognition.
In the mid-1970s, his exciting stage performances caught the attention of RCA Records Canada. In 1977, they released his self-titled album, "The Mighty Pope." This album featured his hit song, "Heaven On The 7th Floor," which reached number 14 in Canada. The album was produced by Harry Hinde and included arrangements by famous musicians like Eric Robertson and Motown legend David Van De Pitte.
"Heaven On The 7th Floor" became a Top 20 hit in Canada. Another song from the album, "If You Want A Love Affair," became popular in the UK's Northern Soul dance scene.
In 1978, Pope signed with Quality Records. He worked with producer John Driscoll and talented artists like disco icon Gino Soccio on his second solo album, "Sway." This album quickly became popular in clubs around the world. The album's first single was a new version of "Sway," followed by the dance hit "Sweet Blindness." Both songs were very popular on the U.S. disco charts. Pope promoted his music with tours and TV appearances.
As music styles changed, Pope's time in the disco world was short. By the early 1980s, he continued to perform soul, R&B, and pop music in clubs across Canada. In the early 1990s, he decided to take a break from music to focus on his family.
His music career was brought back to life in 2006 with the "Jamaica To Toronto" music collection. Since then, Pope has performed again in cities like Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver to enthusiastic audiences.
