The Mighty Pope is regarded as being one of Canada’s first major soul artists. He was born in Lucea Jamaica in 1948, earning his nickname, “Pope” from the Vatican-shaped plot of land he grew up on. As a young boy, he sang in church choir and local talent shows on the island. Upon moving to Toronto in 1965, he very quickly became a part of the city’s growing Jamaican community. He earned the prefix “Mighty” from his impressive vocal strength. Despite not having much performance experience, Pope soon became a popular performer on the Yonge Street strip, becoming a regular at Le C’oq D’or, and The Hawk’s Nest. He fronted iconic bands like The Sheiks, and Frank Motley & the Hitch Hikers before becoming a solo act. Pope is credited with reigniting The Sheiks, who were the first band to introduce ska music in Canada, after their lead singer returned to Jamaica after one Canadian winter. With Pope, they recorded their first single, “Eternal Love,” on the independent Toronto label Raymond Records. His time with the Hitch Hikers included extensive touring all over Ontario and Quebec, as well as an LP recording entitled The Hitch Hikers featuring The Mighty Pope.

After briefly fronting two other groups, Ram, and The Wild Oats, Pope finally began his solo career. He continued to play the circuit, performing at any club in central Canada that would have him. He gained recognition for his unique musical style, an amalgamation of his ska influences with a modern soul and funk approach, as well as adoration for his fashion sense – his custom-tailored suits, shirts, capes, and fancy footwear, earning him a reputation as a “sex symbol” at the height of his career in the mid-to-late ‘70s. Pope’s first single, “If You Want A Love Affair,” was released in 1976 under RCA Canada. The success of the song led to the release of his self-titled EP in 1977, marking the first major label solo LP recorded in Canada by an Afro-Canadian artist, breaking down huge barriers for future generations. Tunes off the LP like “Heaven On The Seventh Floor” and “Tower of Sound” broke the Canadian Top 20, and even made it onto the U.S. Cash Box chart. “If You Want A Love Affair” was beloved by the UK Northern Soul scene as well. He later signed with Quality Records in 1979, who released his second album, Sway. The music off this record, namely “Sweet Blindness” and a seven-plus minute version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”” were club favorites and shot up the charts.

Pope’s recording career was short-lived, and after performing in clubs for a few more years, he decided to focus on family, settling down to become an accountant. He took part in some mini tours in the mid-2000s to celebrate Jamaican-influenced music in Canada after The Sheik’s “Eternal Love” was included on a compilation album entitled JAMAICA TO TORONTO: SOUL FUNK & REGGAE 1967-1974. He entered the studio once more in 2011 to sing with the Sureshot Symphony Solution on a track called “Mr Fame & Fortune” for their self-titled record that year.