Jackie Rae, born John Arthur Cohen on May 14, 1921, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, was a prominent Canadian singer, songwriter, and television performer. He began his career in entertainment at the tender age of three, performing with his siblings as the "Three Little Rae's of Sunshine" on the Canadian vaudeville circuit. During World War II, Rae served as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, flying Spitfires and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.

In the 1950s, Rae became a household name in Canada as the host of The Jackie Rae Show, a variety program on CBC Television. His career later took him to London, where he worked with the BBC, ATV, and Granada Television. Rae hosted the popular show Spot The Tune from 1959 to 1960 and was the original host of The Golden Shot in 1967. In 1981, he formed the Spitfire Band, which toured across Canada.

As a songwriter, Rae's compositions were recorded by artists such as Donald Peers, Eddy Arnold, and Andy Williams. He collaborated with Les Reed on songs for Engelbert Humperdinck and Tony Bennett. In recognition of his contributions to music and entertainment, Rae was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002.

Jackie Rae was married to British actress Janette Scott from 1959 to 1965 and later to Canadian singer and actress Patrician McKinnon. He passed away on October 5, 2006, in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 85. Rae's legacy is also connected to his family, with his brother Saul Forbes Rae serving as a Canadian diplomat and his nephew Bob Rae becoming a prominent politician and former premier of Ontario.