Joseph Félix Eugène Leclerc CM (1914 - 1988)

Born 2 Aug 1914 in La Tuque, Québec, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Marie Joseph Andrée Yvonne Jocelyn Louisette (Vien) Viens — married 1 Jul 1942 in Montréal, Québec, Canada

Died 8 Aug 1988 at age 74 in Saint-Pierre, Île d'Orléans, Québec, Canada

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Biography

Félix Leclerc CM is Notable.

Félix Leclerc, a poet, playwright and songwriter, is credited with the origin of the Quebec chanson, which synthesized folk music and poetry with the culture of Quebec, and sparked a national identity through song,

Félix Leclerc was born in 1914, ^[1] in La Tuque, Quebec. ^[2] He was the son of Léonidas Leclerc and Fabiola Perreault. He was the sixth of 11 children.

In 1931, Félix , then 15, was attending school. He could speak both French and English; his mother tongue was French. His father, Leo, was a merchant; his mother, Fabiola, was at home with their ten children. ^[3]

Félix attended the University of Ottawa, but was forced to drop out because of financial difficulties. He turned to radio announcing, all the while writing songs and poetry. As luck would have it, he was discovered by a talent scout who took him to France. His newly found success with French audiences paved the way for his acceptance in Quebec. ^[4]

Félix Leclerc was known as a "chansonnier". He combined his talents for poetry and songwriting, to create a style new to Quebec. Author Pascal Normand described a chansonnier as, "a uniquely Quebec phenomenon--the "chansonnier" who sings about pride in his land".^[5]

Félix Leclerc was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2003. He also received the Award of the Canadian Conference of the Arts and the Order of Canada (CM), among others.^[6]

A sample of his work can be heard here.

Leclerc died in Saint-Pierre, Île d'Orléans, on August 8, 1988 at the age of 74.^[7] Radio stations across Quebec broke into their programming to pay tribute with his music, and reminiscences about the man the Premier of Quebec called "a giant of Quebec poetry and song".^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/3961557?docref=iDcgitcLj-rztyKiZNTmTA
2. ↑ Baptism: "Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968"
   Institut Généalogique Drouin; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Drouin Collection; Author: Gabriel Drouin, Comp
   Ancestry Record 1091 #774608 (accessed 23 April 2024)
   Joseph Felix Eugene Leclere baptism in 1914 in La Tuque, Québec (Quebec), Canada.
3. ↑ 1931 Census: "1931 Census of Canada"
   Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27236; Census Place: Three Rivers-St Maurice, Quebec, Canada; Page Number: 3
   Ancestry Record 62640 #9468921 (accessed 23 April 2024)
   Félix Leclerc (15) son in household of Léo Leclerc (51) at 701 Ste Julie, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada. Born in Quebec.
4. ↑ Newspaper Article: "Felix leclerc"
   The Gazette Tue, Aug 09, 1988 ·Page 30, Montreal, Quebec
5. ↑ Newspaper Article: "With pride they sing their love of Quebec"
   The Gazette Sat, Sep 26, 1981 ·Page 64, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
6. ↑ Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame; viewed at: https://www.cshf.ca/songwriter/felix-leclerc/ on April 23, 2024
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #5312241 (accessed 23 April 2024)
   Memorial page for Félix Leclerc (2 Aug 1914-8 Aug 1988), citing Saint Pierre Cemetery, Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Capitale-Nationale Region, Quebec, Canada; Maintained by Find a Grave.
8. ↑ Newspaper Article: "Quebec's Felix Leclerc, 74"
   The Toronto Star Tue, Aug 09, 1988 ·Page 17, Toronto, Ontario

• Census of Canada, 1921, Province: Quebec, District Name: Portneuf, District Number: 188, Sub-District Name: La Tuque (Town), Sub-District Number: 34, Family Number: 28, Page Number: 3, Line Number: 41, Reference: RG31, Statistics Canada, Item Number: 8060317 link
• Wikipédia: Félix Leclerc (fr)
• La Presse, 9 août 1988, Cahier A, page 1, BAnQ
• Geneanet entry.
• Canadian Encyclopedia entry for Felix Leclerc
• Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America entry for Felix Leclerc
• Wikipedia: Felix Leclerc
• Wikidata: Item Q594644, en:Wikipedia