Félix Leclerc (August 2, 1914 – August 8, 1988) was a Québécois singer-songwriter, poet, writer, actor and political activist. He began his studies at the University of Ottawa but was forced to stop because of the Great Depression.

Leclerc worked at several jobs before becoming a radio announcer in Québec City and Trois-Rivières from 1934 to 1937. In 1939, he began working as a writer at Radio-Canada in Montreal, developing scripts for radio dramas, including Je me souviens. He performed some of his earliest songs there. He also acted in various radio dramas, including Un homme et son péché. He published a number of scripts and founded a performing company which presented plays throughout Québec.

In 1950, he was discovered by Paris impresario, Jacques Canetti, and performed in France to great success. He signed a recording contract with Polydor Records. He returned to Québec in 1953. In 1958, he received the top award of the Académie Charles Cros in France for his second album. He was invested into the Order of Canada in 1971,

Recordings

  • Chante ses derniers succès sur disques (1951)
  • Félix Leclerc chante (1957)
  • Félix Leclerc et sa guitare (1958)
  • Félix Leclerc et sa guitare Vol. 2 (1959)
  • Félix Leclerc et sa guitare Vol. 3 (1959)
  • Le roi heureux (1962)
  • Félix Leclerc (1964)
  • Mes premières chansons (1964)
  • Moi mes chansons (1966)
  • La vie (1967)
  • L'héritage (1968)
  • Mes Longs Voyages (1968)
  • Félix Leclerc dit pieds nus dans l'aube (1969)
  • J'inviterai l'enfance (1969)
  • L'alouette en colère (1972)
  • Le tour de l'île (1975)
  • Mon fils (1978)
  • Le bal (1979)
  • Mouillures (1979)
  • Prière bohémienne (1979)
  • La légende du petit ours gris (1979)

Writings

  • Adagio (tales, 1943)
  • Allegro (fables, 1944)
  • Andante (poems, 1944)
  • Pieds nus dans l'aube (novel, 1946)
  • Dialogue d'hommes et de bêtes (theater, 1949)
  • Le hamac dans les voiles (anthology, 1952)
  • Moi, mes souliers (autobiography, 1955)
  • Le fou de l'île (novel, 1958)
  • Le calepin d'un flâneur (short texts, 1961)
  • L'auberge des morts subites (theater, 1963)
  • Chansons pour tes yeux (poems, 1968)
  • Cent chansons (songs, 1970)
  • Carcajou ou le diable des bois (novel, 1973)
  • Qui est le père? (theater, 1977)
  • Le petit livre bleu de Félix ou Le nouveau calepin du même flâneur (short texts, 1978)
  • Rêves à vendre (poems, 1978)
  • Le dernier calepin (short texts, 1988)

See also

  • Autoroute 40 (Autoroute Félix-Leclerc)
  • Culture of Quebec
  • Le train du nord
  • List of musicians from Quebec
  • List of French-language poets
  • Music of Quebec

References

  • Fondation Félix-Leclerc (Foundation to preserve Félix Leclerc's work, in French)