Daniel Lavoie (born Joseph-Hubert-Gérald Lavoie;[2] March 17, 1949; French pronunciation: [dan’jɛl la’vwa]) is a Canadian singer–songwriter, actor, producer, poet, and radio host, known for his song “Ils s’aiment” and the role of Frollo in musical Notre-Dame de Paris. He releases albums and performs on stage in Canada and France[3][4] and tours in Canada and Europe.[5]
Daniel Lavoie was born in Dunrea, Manitoba on March 17, 1949. He is bilingual in English and French, since his family was part of a small French-speaking community in the predominantly anglophone province. He is the eldest of six children. His father was a shopkeeper and his mother a housewife. Daniel took piano lessons with nuns as a little boy and continued his musical education in a French-language Jesuit boarding school, Collège de St-Boniface (now Université de Saint-Boniface), in St. Boniface neighborhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba.[6]
In 1967, Daniel Lavoie won the CBC’s competition for singer-songwriters “Jeunesse Oblige”.[7] Soon after that he began touring Quebec’s music clubs with groups (Spectre, then Dieu de l’amour vous aime). At that time he changed his name from Gérald to Daniel.[2] In 1973 Daniel Lavoie recorded his first single, “Marie connue”, and in 1974, his second, “S’endormir pour une rose”. His first album A court terme (1975) had moderate success. One of the songs from this albums, “J’ai quitté mon île” became especially popular in France and also in Portugal and Brazil.[7] In 2009 “J’ai quitté mon île” was selected by CBC Radio listeners among the top 49 Canadian songs in all genres that best defined the country’s image for Barack Obama, to be presented to him on an iPod for his inauguration.[8] The second album, Berceuse pour un Lion (1977) was well received in Quebec and contained several hits (“Dans le temps des animaux”, “La Vérité sur la vérité”, “Berceuse pour un lion”),[7] but it was the third album, Nirvana bleu (1979) that brought Daniel Lavoie true recognition in Quebec.[9] He toured all over Quebec and also performed in France (Théâtre Montparnasse in Paris in 1980). His popularity as a live performer was growing. In 1980 he received his first Félix Award for the best male singer of the year. Many more were to follow.[7] In 1981, Daniel Lavoie released his first English-language album Cravings as well as his fourth French-language album Aigre doux.[9]
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