Jim Corcoran
Encyclopedia
Jim Corcoran is a Canadian
(Quebec
er) singer-songwriter
and broadcaster.
in Boston, Massachusetts
in the late 1960s. The former seminarian
returned to his native Quebec in 1970 with the idea to continue his studies at Bishop's University
in Lennoxville
before becoming a Latin professor. Corcoran received his B.A. from Bishop's University in 1973 In his free time Corcoran taught himself guitar. His first language is English
, but he has spent most of his musical career singing in French
.
In 1972, he formed the duo Jim et Bertrand with Bertrand Gosselin and they began performing in the Eastern Townships
. During the 1970s, the group was associated with Quebec folk music
. Corcoran began a solo career in francophone music after the group disbanded in 1979.
Since 1988, Corcoran has hosted the CBC Radio
program À Propos
, an hour-long program presenting the francophone popular music scene of Quebec, Canada and the world to the English network's audience. During the show, Corcoran provides English translations of some of Quebec's most popular songs. À Propos remains on the CBC Radio One
schedule .
He wrote music for Cirque du Soleil
's productions KÀ
, Quidam
and Wintuk. "Let Me Fall", a song Corcoran co-wrote with Benoît Jutras
for Quidam, was recorded by Josh Groban
for his self-titled album
. Corcoran also portrayed the part of David in performances of the opera Nelligan in 1990.
Bishop's University granted Corcoran an honourary Doctor of Civil Law
on 29 October 2004.
* 1986 : Perdus dans le même décor
* 1990 : C'est pour ça que je t'aime
* 1990 : Ton amour est trop lourd
* 1990 : Je me tutoie
* 1990 : La Nostalgie
* 1990 : Le Boogie
* 1994 : L'Amour n'est pas éternel
* 2001 : On s'est presque touché
* 2001 : J'vais changer le monde
* 2002 : Mme Poupart
* 2005 : Éloge du doute
* 2007 : Docteur Gamache
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
er) singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and broadcaster.
Biography
Jim Corcoran was born in Sherbrooke, but went to high school and his obtained his B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the late 1960s. The former seminarian
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
returned to his native Quebec in 1970 with the idea to continue his studies at Bishop's University
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
in Lennoxville
Lennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville is an arrondissement, or borough, of the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Lennoxville is located at the confluence of the St. Francis and Massawippi Rivers approximately five kilometers south of downtown Sherbrooke....
before becoming a Latin professor. Corcoran received his B.A. from Bishop's University in 1973 In his free time Corcoran taught himself guitar. His first language is English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, but he has spent most of his musical career singing in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
In 1972, he formed the duo Jim et Bertrand with Bertrand Gosselin and they began performing in the Eastern Townships
Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships is a tourist region and a former administrative region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of the Saint Lawrence River and the United States border. Its northern boundary roughly followed Logan's Line, the geologic boundary between the flat,...
. During the 1970s, the group was associated with Quebec folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Corcoran began a solo career in francophone music after the group disbanded in 1979.
Since 1988, Corcoran has hosted the CBC Radio
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
program À Propos
À Propos
À Propos is a Canadian radio program that presents French language music for English audiences. Host Jim Corcoran is a Quebec musician who includes translations with featured songs. À Propos began in November 1988 and is currently broadcast Saturday nights on CBC Radio One and repeated on Sunday...
, an hour-long program presenting the francophone popular music scene of Quebec, Canada and the world to the English network's audience. During the show, Corcoran provides English translations of some of Quebec's most popular songs. À Propos remains on the CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
schedule .
He wrote music for Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
's productions KÀ
Ka
-Language:* Ka * Ka * Georgian language, ISO 639-1 code ka* A glyph in the Brahmic family of scripts-Media and entertainment:* Ka * Kà, a Cirque du Soleil show* Mister Mosquito, a video game, known in Japan as Ka...
, Quidam
Quidam
Quidam is the ninth stage show produced by Cirque du Soleil. It premiered in April 1996 and has now been watched by millions of spectators around the world...
and Wintuk. "Let Me Fall", a song Corcoran co-wrote with Benoît Jutras
Benoît Jutras
Benoît Jutras is a Canadian composer known for his unique style of music, which usually includes erhus, bagpipes, and other exotic instruments. His most widely known works are the scores he has written for Cirque du Soleil, including O, Mystère, Quidam, and La Nouba...
for Quidam, was recorded by Josh Groban
Josh Groban
Joshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His four solo albums have been certified at least multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country...
for his self-titled album
Josh Groban (album)
Josh Groban is the first album of singer Josh Groban. The track "You're Still You" charted at #10 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, and "To Where You Are" charted at #1 on that chart as well.-Track listing:...
. Corcoran also portrayed the part of David in performances of the opera Nelligan in 1990.
Bishop's University granted Corcoran an honourary Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
on 29 October 2004.
Awards and recognition
- 1981: Félix AwardFélix AwardThe Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
: Best folk record, Têtu - 1984: Spa Festival, Belgium: Best francophone song, "J'ai fait mon chemin seul"
- 1987: Prix CIEL-Raymond Lévesque
- 1990: Félix AwardFélix AwardThe Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
: Best singer-songwriter, Corcoran - 2006: Juno AwardJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
: Francophone Album of the YearJuno Award for Francophone Album of the YearThe Juno Award for "Francophone Album of the Year" has been awarded since 1992, as recognition each year for the best Francophone album in Canada.-Best Selling Francophone Album :*1992 - Luc de Larochellière, Sauvez mon âme...
, Pages blanches
Discography
- 1981: Têtu
- 1983: Plaisirs
- 1986: Miss Kalabash
- 1990: Corcoran
- 1994: Zola à vélo
- 1996: Portraits
- 2000: Entre tout et moi
- 2005: Pages blanches
Videography
* 1986 : Djeddhy Duvah (En chair et en os)* 1986 : Perdus dans le même décor
* 1990 : C'est pour ça que je t'aime
* 1990 : Ton amour est trop lourd
* 1990 : Je me tutoie
* 1990 : La Nostalgie
* 1990 : Le Boogie
* 1994 : L'Amour n'est pas éternel
* 2001 : On s'est presque touché
* 2001 : J'vais changer le monde
* 2002 : Mme Poupart
* 2005 : Éloge du doute
* 2007 : Docteur Gamache