Marc Gélinas

Joseph Édouard Yves André Marc Gélinas was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on 28 November 1937 to Gérard Gélinas, a bass singer.^[1]

Gélinas started writing songs when he was fourteen, but initially sang those of Francis Lemarque and Joseph Kosma.^[1] In 1954–1955, he studied singing at the Music Conservatory of Montreal. Gélinas's career started in acting, starring in the soap opera Beau temps, mauvais temps in 1955. He starred in Nérée Tousignant in 1956 and Médée.^[2]: 182

His debut as a singer was singing Boucles blondes on the show Rendez-vous avec Michelle in 1955. His first album won the Great Prize of the Canadian disc of CKAC in 1958. He started performing at boîtes à chansons, cabarets and various variety shows. Starting in the 1960s, Gélinas wrote songs for other authors.^{[2]: 182–183}

He starred in the TV shows En quête de chansons (1960–1961), Sur deux notes (1961–1962) and Une semaine avec...(1962) and Musique en tête (1962). He was also host at the cabaret Le Cochon borgne.^[2]: 182

He left the forestage in 1962, but returned in 1965 with Moïra and De vie à éternité, the latter of which earnt him the trophy of best singer-songwriter at the Festival du disque. In 1966 the Festival du disque gave him the prize for best chansonnier-style performer for his album "Ça c'est du Gélinas", of the best pop song for Tu te souviendras de moi and of the most popular chansonnier.^[2]: 183 He also won the Léo-Le Sieur prize for best Canadian pop song for Tu te souviendras de moi.^[1]

He wrote three songs for the Expo 67: Rendez-vous à Montréal, La Ronde and Lorsque le rideau tombe.^[2]: 183

In 1968, Gélinas was named the most popular singer of the year by the Festival du disque, and was Radio-Canada's delegate at the international contest Chansons sur mesure at Brussels and at the International pop song festival of Rio de Janeiro. The next year, he won a Festival du disque prize for his album's quality. He was also named chansonnier of the year at the Gala des artistes.^[2]: 183

In 1970, Gélinas hosted Le rideau s'ouvre.^[2]: 183 He won the Silver Key for Un amour in the CBC national competition.^[1] He quit his singing career to focus on his singing school (which he headed until 1974), his disc label, films, variety shows and commercials.^[2]: 183

In the early 1980s, Gélinas returned to acting. He mostly acted in theatre, but also in television and cinema.^[2]: 183

In 1988, he published a novel with autobiographical tones, Je voudrais bien être pute... mais j'ai pas de clients.^[1]

In the 1990s, he gave occasional concerts.^[1]

Marc Gélinas died on 2 October 2001 in Sainte-Agathe, Quebec, Canada^[1] from liver cancer.^[3]