Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers:
Ed Preston

At 93-plus years of age, J. EDWARD PRESTON has the distinction of being the eldest living inductee of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, being so honoured with his induction in 2003.

Ed Preston was born February 7, 1931, in Hamilton. Music has always been a part of his life. As a 10-year-old, he was playing drums for the local Cadet group, and during his formative years, he performed all styles of music – Classical, Jazz, and Pop-flavoured material of the times.

During the late 1940s, Ed ventured into radio show productions for local Hamilton radio stations – most notably producing the “What’s On Tapp” show, hosted by Gordie Tapp, and a Saturday Country music show: “The Western Review”. That experience led to a performing spot on the famed “Main Street Jamboree”, playing drums in support of the headline attractions and special guests, which included highlight moments playing drums behind Sonny James and Brenda Lee, major hit-makers of the day.

In 1967, Preston set the drumsticks aside and joined the RCA Canada record label team as a Promotions and Sales executive. He worked to promote the label’s top recording acts of all musical genres, eventually becoming Vice President and General Manager for its Canadian operations.

His days with RCA Canada provided many special memories. His promotion of the Roger Whittaker recording, “The Last Farewell”, resulted in the international breakthrough for the popular entertainer. Also memorable was the massive response to the death of the label’s main act, Elvis Presley. At the time, Presley’s RCA product became the hottest item in the music world, and Ed Preston was directly involved in overseeing the marketing of the Presley catalogue. During the days when Elvis Presley was topping the charts, Ed was also kept busy creating Gold Record Awards for Canadian sales of the product, which Ed personally delivered to Elvis’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Ed was able to attend several of Elvis’ live concerts, but regrettably, he never had the opportunity to meet and chat with the artist who was so prominent in his work with RCA Canada.

During his tenure at RCA Canada (eventually BMG Canada), Preston was heavily involved in promoting the label’s Canadian Country roster of artists, including releases by Carroll Baker, Family Brown, Dick Damron, The Carlton Showband, Marie Bottrell, Ronnie Prophet, Tommy Hunter, The Good Brothers, Tommy Common, and many others. His time at RCA Canada also allowed Ed the opportunity to promote the Canadian sales of RCA’s Nashville hit makers, including Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, and more.

Ed Preston’s involvement in the success story of the late Roger Whittaker would result in his management of the Whittaker-founded Tembo Records label, which included major releases by Carroll Baker, Eddie Eastman, Patricia-Anne McKinnon, Jane Malton, etc. He also formed Ed Preston Enterprises and EPE Records in 1994, promoting the label’s acts.

J. Edward (Ed) Preston was named CCMA’s Record Industry Person Of The Year in 1983. He was inducted into the “Builders” category of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003.