Renée Claude facts for kids

Renée Claude CM (born Renée Bélanger; July 3, 1939 – May 12, 2020) was a talented Canadian singer and actress. She was especially known for singing songs by famous artists like Stéphane Venne, Michel Conte, Georges Brassens, and Léo Ferré.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Renée Claude was born as Renée Bélanger in Montreal, Canada. She loved music from a young age. She studied piano at the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy. She also took singing lessons to improve her voice. In 1955, she won a music contest on a radio show called Découvertes de Billy Munro. This was her first big win!

A Career in Music

In 1960, Renée Claude appeared on a TV show called Chez Clémence. This was her first major TV performance. Around this time, she started singing in small music clubs in Quebec City. She became known for performing songs by artists like Léo Ferré and Georges Brassens.

Her first album, Renée Claude Volume 1, came out in 1963. She released three more albums by 1966.

Hitting the Big Stage

In 1967, Renée Claude got to perform on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in the United States. She also sang at Expo 67, a big world's fair in Montreal. That same year, she released her album Shippagan. The song "Shippagan" became her first major hit in Quebec. In 1968, she won an award for best singer at the Gala des artistes.

She continued to release many popular songs. Some of her hits included "C'est notre fête aujourd'hui", "Le Tour de la terre", and "Tu trouveras la paix".

Later Music and Tributes

As music styles changed, Renée Claude started creating shows that honored artists who had inspired her. She paid tribute to singers like Clémence DesRochers, Georges Brassens, and Léo Ferré. In 1996, she won a special award, the Grand Prix du Disque for French Song, for her album On a marché sur l'amour, which featured songs by Léo Ferré.

Acting Roles

In the 1990s, Renée Claude also began acting. She appeared in plays like Nelligan. She was also in TV shows such as Avec un grand A and Lance et compte. She even acted in movies like It's Your Turn, Laura Cadieux and North Station.

In 2009, Renée Claude was given a special honor. She was made a member of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest awards a Canadian can receive.

Health and Tributes

In February 2019, it was announced that Renée Claude had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is a condition that affects memory. After this news, many famous singers came together to honor her.

Singers like Céline Dion, Ginette Reno, and Diane Dufresne recorded a special version of Renée Claude's song "Tu trouveras la paix". They did this to raise money for Alzheimer's research. Some of these artists also performed at a benefit concert in Montreal in November 2019.

Death

Renée Claude passed away on May 12, 2020. She died from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

Discography

• 1963: Renée Claude Volume 1
• 1964: Renée Claude Volume 2
• 1965: Renée Claude Volume 3 – Il y eut un jour
• 1966: Renée Claude Volume 4
• 1967: Shippagan
• 1969: C'est notre fête aujourd'hui
• 1969: Le tour de la terre
• 1970: Le début d'un temps nouveau
• 1971: Tu trouveras la paix
• 1972: Je reprends mon souffle
• 1973: Ce soir je fais l'amour avec toi
• 1975: Je suis une femme
• 1976: L'enamour, le désamour
• 1979: Bonjour
• 1981: Moi c'est Clémence que j'aime le mieux
• 1983: Renée Claude chante Georges Brassens
• 1986: Renée Claude
• 1990: Nelligan
• 1993: J'ai rendez-vous avec vous: Renée Claude chante Georges Brassens
• 1994: On a marché sur l'amour: Renée Claude chante Léo Ferré