Jean-Pierre Ferland, OCCQ (French pronunciation:[ʒɑ̃pjɛʁfɛʁlɑ̃]; June 24, 1934 – April 27, 2024) was a Canadian singer and songwriter. He was noted for writing over 450 songs and releasing more than 30 albums. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
After departing Radio-Canada, in February 1958, Ferland began recording the first songs that would eventually comprise his first album Jean-Pierre.[2][5] However, it was not until 1961 that he became known to the public, with the release of his second album, Rendez-vous à La Coda.[5] He also won the Chansons sur mesure competition by Radio-Canada that same year with his song "Feuilles de gui".[1] It was also awarded the grand prize at the Gala internationale de la chanson in Brussels the following year.[2][3]
From 1962 to 1970, Ferland spent much time in Europe (mainly in France and Belgium), writing music and recording albums, as well as performing at a multitude of venues, including shows in Olympia and Bobino.[3] He represented Canada at the 1963 Concours international de la chanson in Kraków, where he received the prize for best performer.[2] Five years later, he won the Académie Charles Cros Award.[1]
Ferland launched the disc Jaune (1970), which sold 60,000 copies within a year and was followed by live shows at the Montreal's Place des Arts. Also, that year, he sang at Expo '70 in Osaka. In 1974, his song "T'es mon amour, t'es ma maîtresse", recorded with Ginette Reno became a hit (#38 CAN-AC Charts[6]).[7]
In the 1980s, Ferland combined songwriting and touring with a career as a television presenter for several popular shows: Station soleil (Radio Québec, 1981–1987), Tapis rouge (SRC, 1986), L'autobus du showbusiness (SRC, 1987), and Ferland/Nadeau (Télé-Métropole, 1990).[7]
Later life and death
Ferland had a stroke caused by fatigue and stress on October 12, 2006, which led him to cancel his final concert at the Bell Centre the following day. He recovered quickly, enabling him to give his farewell concert on January 13 the following year. After retiring from the spotlight, Ferland made an appearance on the Plains of Abraham to perform with Céline Dion on August 22, 2008. Other guest stage appearances, radio and television engagements followed, including coaching in La Voix (season 1).[9] In 2017, Jean-Pierre Ferland released an album La vie m'émeut, l'amour m'étonne.[10]
Ferland was the recipient of the National Achievement Award at the 1999 SOCAN Awards held in Montreal.[14] Six years later, he was honoured by the AV Trust of Canada for the album Jaune with collaboration of Michael Georges.[15] On August 5, 2000, Ferland performed at the wedding of the Hell's Angel René Charlebois, and at the same wedding posed for photographs with Maurice "Mom" Boucher, the leader of the Angels in Quebec at the time.[16]
^ abcdeTaylor, Rachelle; Plouffe, Hélène; Rioux, Christian; Prior, Corinna (July 28, 2010). "Jean-Pierre Ferland". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
^Bourgouin, Francois (June 21, 2007). "Stephen Fentok". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
^ abcdRioux, Christian; Prior, Corinna; Plouffe, Hélène (November 22, 2007). "Ferland, Jean-Pierre". The Canadian Encyclopedia (in Canadian French). Historica Canada. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
^"Il y a 40 ans | 1 fois 5". La Fabrique culturelle (in Canadian French). Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
^"Mr. Jean-Pierre Ferland". The Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Jean-Pierre Ferland". National Order of Quebec (in French). Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.