Oldtimers and country music lovers who spent time at the Royal Hotel in the heyday of visiting bands would have been cheering the latest induction into the Country Music Alberta Hall of Fame.
Loyal patrons of the Royal Hotel on River Street, if asked, would likely agree that their favourite entertainer through the late 1960s-early 1980s would have been, hands down, Jimmy Arthur Ordge.
Jim’s distinctive voice was meant for singing and he entertained his fans both in person and via radio and television with hit songs such as Irena Cheyenne, Ballad of Muk-Tuk Annie and Hershel’s Hemi Half-ton. His fans knew all the words and enthusiastically sang along.
The induction into the hall of fame took place posthumously in February at virtual ceremonies in Edmonton. Jim passed away July 1, 2016 in Edmonton. Former Central Butte resident R. Harlan Smith and well-known entertainer and author, was responsible for the nomination for Jim to be inducted.
In addition to Jim’s connection to the Royal Hotel in Moose Jaw, he was also connected locally through his air play on CHAB radio, and through two Lloyd E. Moffat Awards. At the time, the Moffat family owned the local station. The first Moffat award was won in 1967 for best country record for Irena Cheyenne. The second Moffat award came in 1968 for best country male artist, with the song Cold Grey Winds of Autumn.
Other awards over his career included the Alberta Achievement Award as a performer; the Bev Munro Award for his contribution to traditional Canadian country music; and three Juno nominations for best male country artist.
Jim was among the first Canadian country recording artists to have a top 10 hit on Canadian charts, doing so in 1967 and again in 1970. During his career that spanned six decades, he recorded multiple albums and had nine charting singles.
Jim enthusiastically performed throughout Canada and the United States on his own or as the opening act for Buck Owens, Webb Pierce, Roy Clark and Hank Snow. His performance at the Grand Ole Opy was a career highlight.
Jim made many appearances at the Calgary Stampede and fairs elsewhere in the United States and Canada. He performed several times at the Hometown Fair here in Moose Jaw and was brought back as a special performer for the city’s anniversary celebrations.
In his retirement, he was often a guest artist with the Canadian Country Music Association Legends that toured extensively through Alberta.
Other inductees to the hall of fame were Chris Nielsen, Laura Vinson, Alfie Myhre, Gaby Haas, Joyce Smith, Rodgers Brothers Band, Roy Warhurst, The Emeralds and Warren Holte.
If Jim were still alive, he would have been quietly grateful for the recognition. And he would have credited his bandmates, recording companies, producers, song writers and other musicians and personnel involved with his career.
He would have been especially grateful to the loyal club owners who continuously hired him to fill their lounge spaces, and he would have doffed his cowboy hat to the fans and friends who came to hear him sing whenever he was in the city.
Our table at the Royal was against the wall just beside the stage and from that table we became long-time friends of Jimmy Arthur Ordge. We still miss his sense of humour, and his talent. Well-done Jim.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
