Biography
French-Canadian singer/songwriter Claude Dubois entered the world in Montreal on April 24, 1947. Public performances began for him by age 12, when he joined a local country band. His first recordings appeared with the ensemble Claude Dubois et Ses Montagnards, followed soon afterward by a solo outing that spotlighted the track "J'Ai Souvenir Encore" and brought the young songwriter the Jury Prize at the Festival du Disque. By 1966 he was appearing alongside French-Canadian luminaries Donald Lautrec and Gilles Vigneault. Extensive international touring ensued, encompassing engagements at major French venues, multiple radio and television spots, and repeated bookings at La Comédie-Canadienne back home. Powered by tracks such as "Femme de Reve" and "Bebe Jajou Latoune," the album Touchez Dubois achieved nationwide success that endured well into the early '70s. The groundbreaking release Mellow Reggae advanced West Indian sounds, a longstanding passion of Dubois, across Canada. His role in Luc Plamondon's pop opera Starmania secured a Felix Award in 1979 while exposing his work to listeners previously unacquainted with it. Following a period in rehab in 1981, he issued the breakthrough album Sortie, which surpassed 200,000 units sold. Through an extensive catalog issued on his independent Pingouin label, Dubois has become one of French Canada's most esteemed rebellious, alternative figures. The 2007 project Duos Dubois pairs him with several of Canada's foremost recording artists and reached the national Top Five.