Les Colocs
Encyclopedia
Les Colocs were a major band of the Quebec music scene
of the 1990s.
, Les Colocs (in English : the room-mates) gave Quebec
ois songs colored with humanity, simplicity and social conscience (especially regarding poverty). They marked the history of Quebec music
with their sound, infused with brass sounds
, first very wild and festive, later more mellow, as well as more inspired by swing, country
, blues
and African music
. This new direction inspired a collaboration with the Senegal-born
Diouf brothers
for the album Dehors novembre (1998).
The group promoted tolerance and had a multicultural line up (for example, Mike Sawatzky is a Cree
from Saskatchewan
, André Vanderbiest is from Belgium
, and Patrick Esposito Di Napoli was from the French Catalonia). Dédé Fortin (as well as members such as Serge Robert
, later to be known as Mononc' Serge) was a passionate Quebec sovereigntist. The band played an important role in the 1995 Quebec referendum
via partisan shows. They were part of the resurgence of political songwriting in Quebec, after a drought in the 1980s and part of the 1990s. They were past contenders in the music band contest L'Empire des futures stars
.
The festive nature of many of their songs contrasts with the deaths of two of their players. In 1994 Patrick Esposito Di Napoli died of AIDS
. The band effectively came to an end in 2000 after frontman Fortin took his own life by seppuku
. They are considered to hold a major place in the history and evolution of the music of Quebec
and have many music fans.
Music of Quebec
Being a modern cosmopolitan society, today, all types of music can be found in the Canadian province of Quebec. What is specific to Quebec though are traditional songs, a unique variety of Celtic music, legions of excellent jazz musicians, a culture of classical music, and a love of foreign rhythms...
of the 1990s.
Profile
Founded in 1990 and fronted by Dédé FortinDédé Fortin
André "Dédé" Fortin was the leader and singer of the Québecois band Les Colocs, formed in 1990.-Early life:...
, Les Colocs (in English : the room-mates) gave 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....
ois songs colored with humanity, simplicity and social conscience (especially regarding poverty). They marked the history of Quebec music
Music of Quebec
Being a modern cosmopolitan society, today, all types of music can be found in the Canadian province of Quebec. What is specific to Quebec though are traditional songs, a unique variety of Celtic music, legions of excellent jazz musicians, a culture of classical music, and a love of foreign rhythms...
with their sound, infused with brass sounds
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
, first very wild and festive, later more mellow, as well as more inspired by swing, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and African music
Music of Africa
Africa is a vast continent and its regions and nations have distinct musical traditions. The music of North Africa for the most part has a different history from sub-Saharan African music traditions....
. This new direction inspired a collaboration with the Senegal-born
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
Diouf brothers
Diouf
Diouf is a typical patronym of Senegalese Serer origin carried by several personalities:* Abdou Diouf , second president of Senegal, current Secretary-General of La Francophonie* El Hadji Diouf , Senegalese footballer...
for the album Dehors novembre (1998).
The group promoted tolerance and had a multicultural line up (for example, Mike Sawatzky is a Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
from Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, André Vanderbiest is from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and Patrick Esposito Di Napoli was from the French Catalonia). Dédé Fortin (as well as members such as Serge Robert
Serge Robert
Mononc' Serge is a Quebec musician who sings in French. He is best known for his exceedingly vulgar lyrics and his irreverent songs making fun of local celebrities and politicians...
, later to be known as Mononc' Serge) was a passionate Quebec sovereigntist. The band played an important role in the 1995 Quebec referendum
1995 Quebec referendum
The 1995 Quebec referendum was the second referendum to ask voters in the Canadian province of Quebec whether Quebec should secede from Canada and become an independent state, through the question:...
via partisan shows. They were part of the resurgence of political songwriting in Quebec, after a drought in the 1980s and part of the 1990s. They were past contenders in the music band contest L'Empire des futures stars
L'Empire des futures stars
L'Empire des futures stars was an annual contest for new musical bands in the Canadian province of Quebec, sponsored by CKOI-FM in Montreal. Many musical artists used the contest as an effective springboard for their careers.-See also:...
.
The festive nature of many of their songs contrasts with the deaths of two of their players. In 1994 Patrick Esposito Di Napoli died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. The band effectively came to an end in 2000 after frontman Fortin took his own life by seppuku
Seppuku
is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai bushido honor code, seppuku was either used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies , or as a form of capital punishment...
. They are considered to hold a major place in the history and evolution of the music of Quebec
Music of Quebec
Being a modern cosmopolitan society, today, all types of music can be found in the Canadian province of Quebec. What is specific to Quebec though are traditional songs, a unique variety of Celtic music, legions of excellent jazz musicians, a culture of classical music, and a love of foreign rhythms...
and have many music fans.
Members
- Dédé FortinDédé FortinAndré "Dédé" Fortin was the leader and singer of the Québecois band Les Colocs, formed in 1990.-Early life:...
(songwriting, vocals, guitar, drums, etc.) - Mike Sawatzky (guitar, saxophone & harmonica)
- Serge Robert (double bass; later known as Mononc' Serge, quit after "Atrocetomique" for a solo career)
- André Vanderbiest (double bass; replaced Serge Robert)
- Patrick Esposito Di NapoliPatrick Esposito Di NapoliPatrick Esposito Di Napoli was a musician and member of the Quebec musical band Les Colocs, for which he played harmonica.-Early life and education:...
(harmonica; died of AIDS in 1994) - Jimmy Bourgoing (drums, quit before recording "Dehors novembre")
- Justin Allard (drums, replaced Jimmy Bourgoing)
- Jean-Denis Levasseur (clarinet & saxophone; joined for "Dehors novembre")
Discography
- Les Colocs (1993)
- Atrocetomique (liveLive albumA live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
; 1995) - Dehors novembre (1998)
- Les années 1992-1995 (compilationCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
; 2001) - Suite 2116 (posthumous; 2001)
- Live 1993-1998 (live compilation; 2004)
- Il me parle de bonheur (2009)
External links
- Official Site
- Extensive French Wikipedia Les Colocs information
- Official Forum
- Fan Site
- Audio excerpts on Archambault.ca