Daniel Lavoie: official website

The warm voice from the frozen plains: Daniel Lavoie

By Maria Creuza de Souza
2000

A voice which intoxicates, don't stint yourself.

This beautiful and big country, Canada, has already produced many talents but it always takes us by surprise in the quality of its artistes. Daniel Lavoie was born in the cold regions of Manitoba, Canada in the harmonious and favourable conditions of a beautiful countryside. He grew up surrounded by love and the human warmth of a large family. These "fertilisers" which he carried in his flesh and in his soul gave him the strength to transform these huge expanses of relentless white, dressed in green for just a few months of the year, into fields covered with "musical flowers" in a limitless Spring. He had taken in these plains with poetry and words and embraced them in the gentleness of his incomparable voice. He tried to be satisfied with being just a simple performer but Mother nature took a hand in these things and she gave him real talents which were expressed by the strong personality of a big human being which was fortunate for his family and for his friends; just as well for a musician – writer – composer – performer, master of a warm and sensuous voice to which no one is impervious. He has a very elegant and refined presence and he also has a lot of charm. His heavy eyes carry the serenity of deep waters, hope in the big green pupils and peaceful harmony in the whites. He also has the energy of the latest exploding nova and that of a star millions of years old, such is the impression he makes. Too often he can fill up our eyes and our ears with his handsome face and his talent but he prefers it, when he can, to deliver it "care of" the country! Wise attitude seeing that he re-assures us in this way that he is a Daniel in great shape and good health. From these ideal conditions for living and creating he gives us all we could wish for with his songs and his words. We also note his loyalty by immersing himself from time to time on his "ship" and leaving his island like a magician, surrounded by those things which he also loves: the gods and spirits of nature.

Daniel sings in English and in French. These songs are rich in rhythms and melodies with flavours from Brazil and the world, the words have a great poetical streak, they have already had much success. From theme music for films, one was played on an American "soap", to the prizes of the Best Song for the Year with "Ils s'aiment" in 1985, his work is more and more intricate and mature. Je vourdrais voir New York … La nuit se lève … Lys et dèlices … Dis lui, dis lui Mona … Le jours de plaine … (…) and the English titles, Here in the heart … Hello Louise (…) and many others, also a success, best testifying to the diversity and quality of his work. His role of Frollo, in Notre Dame de Paris, the musical by Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante, has contributed to making him better known. He is, unquestionably one of the most important talents of our age.

Biography of Daniel Lavoie

Writer-composer- performer – actor, born on the 17th March 1949 in Dunrea – Manitoba – Canada into a big family who were of French origin.

His career

Leaving behind a medical career with the English Jesuits he travelled across Canada with a few musicians and toured firstly in night-clubs, bars and popular dance halls.

1967 He carries off the prize in a competition for writer-composer – performer, organised by SRC (Society Radio Canada) in the section of the programme Jeunesse Oblige (Youth Imposes Obligation).

1969 He is a member of musical groups singing in French and in English.

1970 Tour in Québec, where he settles down, and performs in cafés and piano bars.

1973 – 1974 Release of the songs 'J'ai quitté mon île', 'Beceuse pour un lion' and others …

1979 The album Nirvana Bleu was well-received by the public and the radio stations and by the French public at the Petit Montparnasse for three weeks.

1980 He was awarded the Félix award for male performer of the year.

1981 Shows in Québec and Ontario and he released in English and in French the albums 'Cravings' and 'Aigre-doux, How are you'?

He received other Félix awards for male performer of the year.

1982 Tour at the Theatre Bolsino in Paris and at the Bourges Festival, in Belgium, Switzerland and in Québec.

1983 He puts all his efforts into writing his new album: 'Tension attention'.

1984 He wins three Félix awards with his album 'Tension attention'.

1) Song of the Year: 'Tension attention'.

2) Male Performer of the Year

3) Record of the Year.

Still in 1984, he puts on a show Hôtel des Rêves at the Spectrum and at the Theatre Saint-Denis in Montréal.

A week at the Olympia [Paris].

Tour in Switzerland, France and Belgium.

1985 Gold medal at the Midem in Cannes for "Ils s'aiment" the song which sold two million copies in France and Québec and was recorded in English, Spanish and Portugese.

Félix for the artiste who has become the most famous within the French speaking market outside Québec.

Winner of best French language album of the year ('Tension attention').

1986 He received the medal: Jacques-Blanchet, for the quality of his work.

- Prize Wallonie-Québec.

- He released 'Vue sur la mer' in London.

- The album 'Tips' released in Canada.

1987 The Renonciat Trophy awarded by the Radio Community of programmes in the French language.

- Five shows at the Olympia in Paris and a tour through 21 European towns.

- The Félix for the artiste who has become the most famous within the French speaking market outside Québec.

- Best French album of the year: 'Vue sur la mer'.

1988 Invited by Liza Minelli to be on her special TV show Liza, he sings 'Never been to New York' and 'Whom do you love?'

- tour in Québec.

- theatre Outremont.

- took part with Michel Rivard, Peter Gabriel and Bruce Springsteen in Human Rights Now, a show in aid of Amnesty International, performed at the Stade Olympique de Montréal.

1990 Album 'Long Courrier'.

- Félix for the pop-rock record of the year.

- Les Francofolies de Montréal presented Fête à Daniel Lavoie, a show in his honour.

1991 Took part in the film "Le fabuleux voyage de l'Ange" by Pierre Lefevre.

Played Eugène Delacroix in the symphonic rock-opera "Sands et les Romantiques", by Catherine Lara and Luc Plamondon.

Took part in the FrancoFolies in Bulgaria.

1992 Prize for best French song at the International Summer Festival in Québec.

- album: 'Here in the heart'.

- 'Weak for love' played in an episode of the American "soap" General Hospital.

1993 Repeat of the rock-opera "Sand et les Romantiques", at the Theatre Saint-Denis in Montréal.

1994 Album in English: 'Woman to man', recorded in Los Angeles.

1995 Tour in France.

1996 Album for children with his wife Louise Dubuc: 'Le bébé dragon.'

1997 Chosen for the role of Frollo in the musical: Notre Dame de Paris, by Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante. This show broke all the records for recognition by the public and for prizes awarded by the media.

1998 – 1999 Release of the show Notre Dame de Paris by Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante in Paris at the Palais de Congrès.

2000 Release of the show Notre Dame de Paris, by Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante in the English version at the Dominion Theatre in London. Daniel stayed until the 30th September 2000