Biography

Félix Leclerc, (August 2, 1914 – August 8, 1988) was a French-Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, writer, actor and Québécois political activist. He was born in La Tuque, Quebec, Canada from a family of pioneers in 1914, sixth in a family of eleven children. In 1939 Leclerc joined Radio-Canada in Montreal as a radio scriptwriter. Several of his series were extremely popular, including 'Le Restaurant d'en face' (on which he broadcast his song 'Notre sentier'); 'Je me souviens,' In 1948 Leclerc founded the troupe VLM, which presented his plays Le P'tit Bonheur and La P'tite Misère in Montreal and elsewhere in Quebec. Some of his songs, including 'Le P'tit Bonheur', served as interludes between scenes. He delivered his earthy songs in a robust baritone and soon became a top-ranking star. In February 1951 he was awarded the Grand prix du disque de l'Académie Charles-Cros in Paris for his song 'Moi, mes souliers'. Beneath his name, printed in large letters on the billboards, was 'le Canadien.'