Jean-Pierre Ferland, the singer-songwriter who became a fixture of Quebec91裸聊视频檚 cultural landscape over a career that spanned more than six decades, died Saturday at the age of 89.
The agency representing Ferland confirmed the singer, who91裸聊视频檚 signature song 91裸聊视频渦ne chance qu91裸聊视频檕n s91裸聊视频檃91裸聊视频� is regarded as a classic of Quebec music, died of natural causes after being hospitalized earlier this year.
Born in Montreal on June 24, 1934, Ferland was a prolific artist who produced some 30 albums, including the culturally significant 91裸聊视频淛aune,91裸聊视频� which sold some 60,000 copies in a year after its release in 1970.
He was named an officer of the Order of Canada and a knight of the National Order of Quebec, and was inducted into Canada91裸聊视频檚 Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ferland held a concert at Montreal91裸聊视频檚 Bell Centre in 2007 to officially mark his retirement after a more than four-decade-long career, but continued to perform and record up until 2021.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, writing on X, described Ferland as a 91裸聊视频済iant91裸聊视频� of francophone music.
91裸聊视频淗e wrote and sang songs that will be a part of Quebec culture forever,91裸聊视频� Trudeau wrote. 91裸聊视频淗e will be dearly missed.91裸聊视频�
Quebec Premier Fran莽ois Legault described Ferland as a 91裸聊视频済reat builder of Quebec-French song,91裸聊视频� adding that he91裸聊视频檇 listened to 91裸聊视频淛aune91裸聊视频� on repeat.
Legault said Sunday that the government will hold a state funeral for Ferland, if the singer91裸聊视频檚 family accepts.
Canadian singer Roch Voisine paid tribute to an artist he described as 91裸聊视频渋ncomparable.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淗is album 91裸聊视频楯aune91裸聊视频� changed everything,91裸聊视频� Voisine said. 91裸聊视频淎nd all the songs that followed. Rest in peace, Mr. Ferland.91裸聊视频�
While he originally worked as an accountant, Ferland became a fixture on the province91裸聊视频檚 cultural scene a few years after he recorded his first songs in 1958.
He started making a name for himself in both Quebec and internationally in the 1960s before the release of 91裸聊视频淛aune91裸聊视频� in 1970.
Ferland took his first steps into television and movies in the 1970s, and would become an actor, scriptwriter and host for several productions.
While a 2006 stroke prompted his official retirement, he continued to perform and record, and it didn91裸聊视频檛 ultimately halt his output. Notable performances included at a 2008 concert on Quebec City91裸聊视频檚 Plains of Abraham to celebrate the city91裸聊视频檚 400th anniversary with fellow Quebec stars including C茅line Dion and Ginette Reno. He also released a number of new albums, including 91裸聊视频淏ijoux de famille91裸聊视频� in 2009 and the live album 91裸聊视频淟es Noces d91裸聊视频檕r de jaune91裸聊视频� in 2011.
91裸聊视频淚 left this profession, I stopped, I did a farewell show. But it didn91裸聊视频檛 last long,91裸聊视频� he told Radio-Canada in 2021.
91裸聊视频淚 was ashamed, but I came back, and as quickly as possible. It91裸聊视频檚 the most beautiful job in the world.91裸聊视频�
Ferland is survived by his partner and his two children, as well as four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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Jean-Benoit Legault, The Canadian Press
