Lucille Dumont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucille Dumont
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Dumont, pictured in 1940.
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| Born |
Lucelle Dumont
January 20, 1919 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Died | July 29, 2016 (aged 97) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Other names | Micheline Lalonde |
| Occupation | Singer, radio/television host |
| Years active | 1935–1999 |
| Spouse(s) | Jean Maurice Bailly |
Lucille Dumont (born Lucelle Dumont; January 20, 1919 – July 29, 2016) was a well-known Canadian singer and a host on both radio and television. She is celebrated for helping to make Quebec popular music famous. She did this by singing many songs written by talented Quebec songwriters. Lucille Dumont also played a big part in the early days of television in Quebec, appearing on some of the first shows for Radio Canada.
She was recognized for her contributions by being added to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. She also received high honors, becoming an Officer of the Order of Canada and an Officer of the National Order of Quebec.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps
Lucelle Dumont was born in Montreal, Quebec, on January 20, 1919. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to perform. This was quite unusual for the time, but it helped Lucille start her journey in music.
A Career in Music and Media
When Lucille Dumont first started performing, she used the name Micheline Lalonde. This was because being a performer was not always seen as a respected job back then.
Starting on Radio
On October 16, 1935, when she was just 16, Dumont made her first professional appearance. She sang on a radio show called Sweet Caporal. This show was produced by Léo Le Sieur, a pianist and composer who became her mentor. In the same year, she began hosting her own radio shows, Linger Awhile and Two Messengers of Melody. Le Sieur often played the organ on the latter show.
Radio Canada hired Dumont to host or appear on many other shows. These included Variétés françaises, Rêverie, Sur les boulevards, and Tambour battant.
Popularizing Quebec Songs
Early in her career, Dumont mainly sang French songs, especially those by Lucienne Boyer. In April 1945, she performed a song called Insensiblement at a War Loan Drive concert. This performance was a huge success and was the first time the song was heard in Quebec. The conductor, Ray Ventura, invited her to tour France. However, she turned down the offer because she was getting married to Jean Maurice Bailly, a sports commentator at Radio Canada.
The Canadian Encyclopedia calls Dumont the best singer of songwriter Jacques Blanchet's songs. She won first place in a Canadian song contest in 1957 by singing his music. She also placed second in another competition in 1962.
In 1965, Lucille Dumont hosted her own television show, also called Lucille Dumont. That same year, she released her second album, which featured songs by Canadian songwriters.
Teaching New Talent
In 1968, Dumont started teaching others how to perform. She opened a music school in Montreal called Atelier de la Chanson. She spent a lot of time teaching, explaining that she found it very rewarding. Many future stars learned from her, including Marie-Denise Pelletier and Suzanne Stevens. The National Order of Quebec recognized her for helping to start the careers of many Quebec artists.
Lucille Dumont retired in 1999. She passed away on July 29, 2016, at the age of 97.
Awards and Special Honors
Lucille Dumont received many awards and honors throughout her life.
- In 1947, she was voted "Miss Radio" by the readers of Radiomonde, becoming the first singer to win this title.
- In 1950, she was called the "Grande Dame de la Chanson" (Great Lady of Song) by Jean Baulu.
- In 2006, Dumont was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- In 2009, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of Canada's highest honors.
- Two years later, in 2011, she became an Officer of the National Order of Quebec.
See also
In Spanish: Lucille Dumont para niños
