The singer introduces his little prince, Joseph

Gala, August 2002
By Thomas Durand

It’s in the Quebéc countryside that he’s found his little corner of paradise. There with Joseph, the top of the bill of the musical “Le Petit Prince” re-invents the art of being a cool daddy. Secrets …

A true star in his native Canada and darling of the French public, thanks to the song “Ils s’aiment” in the ‘80’s, then for his role as Frollo in the musical Notre Dame de Paris three years ago, Daniel Lavoie takes on a new challenge. From 1^st October, he will play the role of the Airman in the show “Le Petit Prince” at the Casino de Paris. In this way he is abandoning for some time, his farm of 30 hectares, 50 kilometres from Montréal where he lives cut off from show business. He’s just happy alongside his second wife, Louise, and their own little prince of 13, Joseph.

You have a song of 28, Mathieu and you’ve brought up Gabrielle, now aged 18, the daughter of Louise. What sort of father are you with your last child?

Daniel Lavoie: I’m more granddad that daddy!

That’s to say …

Daniel Lavoie: In spite of my efforts, I can never be strict. What counts for me is to give him some confidence in life.

Is there something in your childhood which laid down the roots of your career as a singer?

Daniel Lavoie: I’ve not analysed it but it’s probably etched on my genes. At home I listened to music from dawn ‘till dusk. From the age of four I did that. Apparently, I had a leaning towards it and my mother, who was fanatical about classical music, encouraged me to learn the piano.

Did your parents therefore encourage you?

Daniel Lavoie: Let’s say that they didn’t discourage me. They would certainly have preferred that I entered a worthy profession, like that of a doctor. For my father and mother it was a case of social climbing. But they always supported me in my artistic life. They were very good parents.

And you are managing to keep a balance between your career and your family?

Daniel Lavoie: Happily or unhappily, yes! I say unhappily because to know success in this work, one needs to be very focussed and that’s never happened to me. A nature lover, I usually live on my farm not far from Montréal. It’s a setting for a very privileged life style which allows me to hold onto a certain family structure.

It’s a priority for you?

Daniel Lavoie: My childhood years were spent in a peaceful little village in Manitoba (one of the English speaking provinces of Canada). My parents loved me and were always there fore me and my five brothers and sisters. It’s exactly that which I want to give my children. Even if this year, I must live some months in Paris to secure the performances of the “Petit Prince”.

Have you taken all your little family to France with you?

Daniel Lavoie: Only Joseph and his mother. I would never had agreed to perform in the show had that not been possible. For the elder two it’s different. They are adults and they are working. Mathieu designs microprocessors. Gabrielle, she’s studying to become a horse trainer.

Is it very hard to leave your beautiful province?

Daniel Lavoie: It’s most difficult for Joseph. He’s left his mates behind. I hope he’ll make some new ones.

Are you two partners?

Daniel Lavoie: We confide in each other often enough during the things we do together, but honestly, not too much. A father is always a drag for a son: he’s the person he talks to when there’s no mates around.

Therefore, Joseph isn’t really your biggest fan?

Daniel Lavoie: (smiling) He condescends from time to time to listen to what I’m doing but he’s hooked onto hard-rock instead. It’s his age!