B: October 16, 1932 in Montréal, Québec
D: June 9, 2011 in Saint-Benoit-de-Mirabel, Québec
Claude Léveillée was a singer-songwriter and sometimes an actor. He had been ill for some time before his death and had suffered two strokes in the past. The first, in 2004, happened while he was giving a show celebrating his 50 years in show business. Early reports said he died of a heart attack. Léveillée, who was 78 years old, was the first Quebecer to play Montréal`s Place des arts. Over the course of his long career he had appeared with Yvon Deschamps, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Gilles Vigneault, Robert Charlebois and many, many more. The iconic French singer, Edith Piaf, invited him to Paris to write songs for her — which he did. Songs he wrote for her included Boulevard du crime and Les Vieux Pianos. Québec Premier Jean Charest paid tribute in the province`s National Assembly saying Léveillée “defined, in many ways, our culture.” Federal Heritage Minister James Moore also expressed sadness and called Léveillée a towering Quebec artist. Claude Léveillée was made a Knight of the National Order of Québec in 1998. |
Features & TV Movies: La ligne de démarcation (1966) La lune viendra d’elle-même (2004) TV Series – Cast: Scoop (1992) Tabou (2002) Credits as a Composer: Des souris et des hommes (TV-1971) Juste un souvenir (TV-1980) |