Michel Louvain, CM (July 12, 1937 – April 14, 2021) was a Canadian singer most popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He recorded many hit songs, and also worked as a host for a variety of shows on television and radio. In 1965 he was voted 'Mr. Radio–TV', Radio Canada's top show business personality, at the Gala des Artistes.
Louvain was born Michel Poulin in Thetford Mines, Quebec, on July 12, 1937. His father worked as a miner. Louvain first sang as a child in the choir at his local church and had a beautiful voice from a young age,. He dreamed of becoming a singer, which was not to the liking of his parents, who feared the somewhat ill-reputed atmosphere of the "clubs." But at the age of 18, his family agreed that he sing in parish halls and inns in the region. He was employed as a hardware store decorator during his adolescence. He consequently moved out of his hometown and relocated to Sherbrooke, before settling down in Montreal.
Taking the pseudonym of an older French-Canadian singer (André Louvain), Michel Louvain became a master of ceremonies and singer when he replaced his brother (who appeared under the name André Roc) at a cabaret in St-Georges de Beauce. He then sang in Sherbrooke and Quebec City. In 1957 he made his TV debut on the CBC's 'Gala des splendeurs' and began recording for Apex. His first 78, 'Buenas noches mi amor,' was a substantial hit and launched his career in a spectacular fashion. The following year, the young "MC" moved to the major leagues: the famous cabaret Chez Gérard, in Quebec City, and the prominent cabarets in Montreal, such as Mocambo and Casa Loma.
Over the next 20 years, Louvain made many recordings, including the hit songs "La Dame en bleu" and "Je déclare l'amour au monde entier". His recordings in French were sold internationally in Belgium. His song "C'est Un Secret" reached #14 in the Canadian RPM Magazine Top 40, November 29, 1965. Due to his numerous recordings and to his work as host for a succession of CFTM (Montreal) and CBC TV variety shows, Louvain was one of the reigning matinee idols of Quebec; his success was compared with that of Presley in the USA.
His performances attracted mostly young female fans. He first performed in nightclubs, and, when his following grew more mature, in entertainment theaters. In the 1980s, he staged grandiose music-hall shows, with female dancers and scenery, at the PDA and across Quebec, including 'Autour du monde' in 1984.
He went on to record more than 30 albums, starting with 1958's self-titled Michel Louvain. Although Michel Louvain scored the biggest hits of his career with songs like "Pourquoi donc as-tu brise mon coeur" and 1976's "La dame en bleu," his popularity extended into the 21st century, as well. 2011's Je N'ai Pas Changé found him revisiting his older hits with new, Latin-influenced arrangements, resulting in critical acclaim and a boost in commercial sales. In the 2000s, From the age of 60, he tirelessly pursued a career as a singer in cultural centres and casinos. He even played at the Bell Centre two nights in a row, in June 2008, with his touring show 50 Years of Love!
Louvain was gay, but rarely spoke about his private life on the record to the media. He was in a 25-year relationship with Mario Théberge, although the couple did not officially marry until just a few days before Louvain's death in 2021.
(Edited from Wikipedia, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Deezer notes, Toronto Star & Le Droit)