Exploring the Life and Music of Paul Piché: “Je suis né sur la rue St-Jean”: A Tribute to the Iconic Quebec Artist

The Iconic Life of Quebec Artist Paul Piché

A Night of Love, Friendship, and Family

Surrounded by his extended family, friends, and even his favorite convenience store clerk, our national troubadour, Paul Piché, opened his heart to love and friendship on live national television last Saturday night. Piché couldn’t hold back his tears from the very beginning of the show, setting the stage for a night where friendship, love, and the spirit of family enveloped this magnificent television event, hosted by France Beaudoin. With the help of his wife, Isabel Philion Labelle, Piché was “kidnapped” by the host and her team, giving him an emotionally charged hour. “I’m a big softy. I’ll cry all night,” he declared even before the first artists took the stage for the opening medley. Stéphanie St-Jean, whose talent he admires, kicked off the evening. It’s true that the Gatineau singer has a unique voice, and she proved it once again on Saturday night. It was a joy to see the winner of the 2016 edition of “La Voix” back in action. Marc Hervieux, Damien Robitaille, Florence K, Alain Lamontagne, and Léo Piché, the son of the evening’s guest, all shone in the first performance. Truly, the emotions were running high for Paul Piché as France Beaudoin and her team from “En Direct de l’Univers” seized him. (Eric Myre/Courtesy) His longtime musician collaborators Audrey-Michèle, Rick Haworth, and Jean-Sébastien Fournier also performed a James Taylor classic, and even sports commentator Dave Morissette dropped by his home to join in the singing. Richard Séguin, on video, and Ingrid St-Pierre, live at the piano, took the emotional intensity up a few notches. At that moment, one might have thought that nothing could surpass this performance, given how deeply the two artists were able to touch their friend. But little did we know what awaited us later on the same stage.

Humble Beginnings

Paul Piché’s career spans five decades. He has influenced many musicians, some of whom learned to play guitar by strumming his songs. “Yeah, it’s true that many guitarists have played my songs,” he says. France Beaudoin also referred to his start as a folk singer, which led Paul Piché to recall his early days performing in the bars of Old Quebec City. “The character of Paul Piché was revealed in Quebec City,” he recalls. “I was born on St-Jean Street, so to speak.” Julie Snyder and her daughter Romy sang for Paul Piché. (Eric Myre/Courtesy) To capture this important moment in his career, the cameras of “En Direct de l’Univers” turned to the popular street in the Old Capital where the duo 2Frères awaited him to perform “Y’a pas grand-chose dans l’ciel à soir.” Piché also reminisced about his first guitar, which he carried from one bar to another. “My first guitar was called Maggie, short for ‘ma guitare,'” he recalls with a smile. “My family wasn’t very well off, and it was my brother-in-law’s brother, Robert Bédard, who lent it to me. In fact, I never returned it to him, but it was clear from the start that he would never see it again!”

A Family Man

As we could clearly see, Paul Piché is a family man. His clan was present in the studio and even on stage. When his son Léo performed one of his own songs for him, Piché praised his talented offspring profusely. “I admire his talent as a musician and producer. He is very important to me, both in my career and in my projects,” he confided. And when asked by the host about the family that surrounds him, he didn’t hesitate to open up. “I had three children and raised seven,” he explained. “My little boy, Félix, is 10 years old, and I just had him. Being a father, being a parent, is something very grand, even if not all of them are biologically mine.” Firmly rooted in Piché’s world, this evening could only grow in emotion. Julie Snyder and her daughter Romy brought tears to many eyes, but perhaps none compared to Vincent Vallières and Paul’s son, Léo Piché, performing “L’Escalier.” About thirty guitarists accompanied Stéphane Archambault for the rendition of “Heureux d’un printemps.” (Eric Myre/Courtesy)

The Campfire

An evening with Paul Piché without a campfire is like a raclette without cheese. It’s simply unthinkable! France Beaudoin, therefore, took her guest outside the studio, where about thirty guitarists awaited him. Led by Stéphane Archambault, they performed “Heureux d’un printemps.” But as Archambault recounted, the campfire remained unlit out of respect for the communities that were severely affected by forest fires this summer. “The warmth comes from the heart, from within, and not from the flame of a campfire,” he explained. After a powerful first episode featuring Kim Richardson and the kidnapping of Paul Piché, France Beaudoin and her team are preparing a special show next week with the actors from “La Petite Vie,” which returns to the screen on October 3.

Keywords: Quebec, Music, Paul Piché, Quebec Artist, Tribute, Iconic, Life, Rue St-Jean