About Jackie Rae
Lived 1922 – 2006 (aged 84). Jackie Rae was a British and Canadian singer and songwriter.
John Arthur Rae, CM, DFC (May 14, 1921 – October 5, 2006 ) was a Canadian singer, songwriter and television performer.
Biography He was born John Arthur Cohen to immigrants in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1921. His father Goodman Cohen was Lithuanian and his mother Nellie (Rae) Cohen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Jackie began performing at the age of three with his brother and sister on the vaudeville circuit in Canada, billed as the "Three Little Raes of Sunshine". Rae flew Spitfires as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. During the 1950s, he was the host of The Jackie Rae Show, a variety show on CBC Television.
Rae later moved to London where he performed on television for the BBC, ATV and Granada Television. He compered the popular show Spot The Tune for two years (1959–1960) with singer Marion Ryan, and was subsequently the host of the first series of The Golden Shot which he presented during 1967. With Micky Erbe and Laurie Bower, he formed a dance band known as the Spitfire Band in 1981 which toured across Canada. In 2002, he was named as a Member of the Order of Canada. and Eddy Arnold (Please Don't Go), and Andy Williams (Happy Heart). He collaborated with Les Reed on songs performed by Engelbert Humperdinck and Tony Bennett.
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Important facts
People in Jackie Rae's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jackie Rae's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jackie Rae?
Canadian singer
When was Jackie Rae born?
Jackie Rae was born on 14 May 1922 in Winnipeg.
When did Jackie Rae die?
Jackie Rae died on 5 October 2006 in Toronto.
What was Jackie Rae's occupation?
Jackie Rae was a singer and songwriter.
What nationality was Jackie Rae?
Jackie Rae was British and Canadian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jackie Rae. https://biography.guide/jackie-rae/
MLA: "Jackie Rae." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jackie-rae/.
Chicago: "Jackie Rae." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jackie-rae/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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