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I have now contacted over 50 individuals, who
should know, trying to track this guy down (it's
Carole Creveling time all over again!), but no luck. You'd think with five LPs plus, and a (at least) 15 year nightclub career, including Vegas-Reno (Sands, Sahara, Harolds) and the Playboy Club circuit, somebody would know something.
It isn't just that they don't know what happened to him, most never even HEARD of him. There is next to nothing on the internet. His real name is John Profeta. He went to Monroe High School in Rochester, NY and graduated from there circa 1940. He also attended that city's famous Eastman School of Music where he studied trumpet. In the mid-forties he sang with the big band of famed violinist Joe Venuti, and also served in the army. Singer Kay Starr also sang with Venuti's band around the same time, but told me she'd never heard of Prophet.
I've owned and enjoyed Prophet's five (known) albums for years, but only recently became curious about him. I wish I hadn't done the latter.
Prophet was signed by Reprise in 1963. His LP with Axel Stordahl was released just prior to the sale of Reprise to Warners, then he was let go in the wake of the Warners deal. The "Harolds" album (see below) was clearly packaged and meant to be his second LP for Reprise but was not released by them. The Don Ralke, Gordon Jenkins and (the other) Ralph Carmichael albums were recorded and released over the next ten years on Prophet's little homegrown label to be sold in clubs. My sense is that the total cost in today's money of these "first cabin" LP outings is in excess of a hundred thousand dollars, pushing two hundred thou maybe. I have the session records (secured from the AFM) for the Ralke album, and the players are simply the best to be had, i.e. Earl Palmer, Plas Johnson, Lincoln Mayorga, Dennis Budimir, et al. My guess is that Prophet signed a five-record deal with Reprise which then paid for the recording of the other LPs after he was let go.
Here is a (partial?) discography:
This Is Johnny Prophet (released on Reprise, eventually re-released by Prophet) arranged by Axel Stordahl (1963)
1. Just Say I Love Her
2. When Sunny Gets Blue
3. I Remember You
4. The Folks Who Live on the Hill
5. I Should Care
6. This is the Night
7. Like Someone in Love
8. My Yiddishe Mama
9. Now it Can Be Told
10. Come Back to Sorento
11. Angel Eyes
12. That's All
This Is My Life (1972)
arranged by Don Ralke
J.J. Records
1. This is My Life
2. Pieces of Dreams
3. Walk Away
4. Mistry Roses
5. Nite Life
6. Lay Lady Lay
7. One at a Time
8. When Joanna Loved Me
9. In Laguna
10. I Didn't Mean to Love You
Good Times (1970?)
arranged by Gordon Jenkins
produced by Reprise's Sonny Burke
engineered by Reprise's Lee Herschberg
J.J. Records
note: Gordon's son Bruce Jenkins
had never heard of this album
1. Good Times
2, A Man Without Love
3. Interlude
4. This is All I Ask
5. Winds of Change
6. Oh How Much I Love You
7. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life
8. But I Loved You (Her)
9. How Insensitive
10.My Love Forgive Me
"But I Loved Her," called "But I Loved You" on the Prophet album. His version was recorded approximately 11 years before the Sinatra rendition. Also on the LP Jenkin's "This is All I Ask".
I'm Shooting High (1968 or later)
arranged by Ralph Carmichael
J.J. Records
1. I'm Shooting High
2. That Face
3. Cab Driver
4. Crazy
5. The Moment of Truth
6. More
7. Junior and Julie (great Matt Dennis song!)
8. Love Letters
9. The Look of Love
10. Al Di La
I don't mind most of the above Carmichael tracks; they're only a little hokey. But the ones on the following Harolds LP are nearly unlistenable, although the singing is fine. Like a bad commercial Dean Martin album, who is described on the back of the album as Martin "protege" Prophet's discoverer. There's also a pic of them together in front of the Sands marquee.
At Harolds Club , Reno (recorded for Reprise, but released privately) 1963? Not a live album but packaged to look like one.
1. Nevertheless.
2. Take Your Sweet Time.
3. Anytime,
4. I Understand,
5. I'm Sorry I Made You Cry.
6. I Won't Cry Anymore.
7. You Really Know How To Hurt Someone,
8. I Dream Of You,
9. Prisoner Of Love,
10.Be Careful It's My Heart
Reprise Records singles
Buona Notte Bambino /Test Of Time
Just Say I Love Her/When Sunny Gets Blue
Other singles
Love Your Mother/The Key To Her Heart Bee. 101
Sweet Thing / Banana RCA. 477282
The Night Who Sang Off Key/The Twentieth of May. RCA 74-7444
Stop the Music/Beware (both w/ Henri Rene) RCA 20-4587
Evicted From Heaven / I Was Born Last Monday Ditto 108
(I've Got) Two Arms / Find A Penny. Carthay 105
Also three Reprise Repertory Kiss Me Kate tracks (one with Dinah Shore); a radio transcription "The Navy Swings," with Al Viola!, and a single "How to Seduce a Woman," used on a movie soundtrack. Backing track recorded in London with sixty players, according to arranger Stu Phillips (nice guy).
In the early Sixties there was major buzz in the air about Prophet, no doubt because of his Reprise association, but that the big career predicted for him never materialized.
There is clearly a Sinatra connection here. In fact, Nancy Sinatra plays him on the radio and then asks listeners to tell her who he is, but no one has. There are also a few scattered 1950s singles, including one in 1952 arranged by Nelson Riddle on Coral. That's pre-Sinatra! Prophet also sang with Joe Venuti's band in 1945-46. There are three surviving airchecks of him singing with the that outfit: Laura, I'm Always Chasing Rainbows, Personalisty. If alive today, Prophet would be somewhere in his mid-eighties. The Social Security death index does not appear to list his passing.
Thirty years in fairly high profile showbiz, and vanished without a trace. I give up.
"Johnny Prophet"John Profeta, known to most by his stage name, "Johnny Prophet" graced this world for 87 years. He passed away on July 24, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. John was a longtime resident of San Pedro, CA and chose to live his golden years in sunny Palm Desert, CA, with his loving wife, Shirley. Born of Italian descent, John entered this world on March 15, 1925 in Rochester, NY. After graduating from Monroe High School in 1940, he attended the famous Eastman School of Music where he studied trumpet. He then joined the Navy. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he sang with the big band of famed violinist Joe Venuti. He them met his first wife, Ellen Leigh; they were married and had 3 children. He sang in small nightclubs until he got noticed by Frank Sinatra in the late 1950s. He was then signed with Reprise Records where he recorded several albums. He then relocated his family to Las Vegas where he had the great privilege of working with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. and many other greats. He worked the Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada circuit for many years. He had a very good life and was living his dream. He had a great career and a family that he loved very much. After traveling for years, he worked small nightclubs that were local, since he did not want to keep uprooting his children. He worked locally at the Del Rae Club, Fullerton, Gallaretos, Peppy's, both in Torrance and San Pedro. John was preceded in death by his first wife, Ellen Leigh Profeta and his second wife, Shirley Ann Profeta. John is survived by his three children, Lee Ann Marinkovich (Vince), John Profeta, Jr. and Melissa Prophet; brother, Joseph Profeta, Jr.; sisters, Janet Roehlk and Sheryl Stevens; grandchildren, Anthony Marinkovich (Lilly), John Marinkovich (Kristen), Vinnie Marinkovich, Chris Profeta (Rebecca) and Shaun Profeta; as well as his great-grandchildren, Lauren Marinkovich, Liam Marinkovich and Jaden John Marinkovich; and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his many fans and mostly by his family. One thing is most comforting, "We will always have his music." "But now he is singing to Jesus." Private services were held. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits. and share memories atwww.mcnerneysmortuary.com.
