André Gagnon

André Gagnon (2 August 1936 – 3 December 2020) was a Canadian pianist, composer, conductor, arranger, and actor, known for his fusion of classical and pop styles, including compositions Neiges, Smash, Chevauchée, Surprise, Donna, and Mouvements in the disco and pop fields. The youngest of nineteen children, Gagnon began composing at the age of six and according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, "He took theory lessons with Léon Destroismaisons in Ste. Anne-de-la-Pocatière from 1952-53 and studied at the Conservatoire de musique à Montréal with Germaine Malépart (piano), Clermont Pépin (composition), and Gilberte Martin (solfège) from 1957 to 1961." In 1975, the album Neiges stayed on the American Billboard's Top 10 for twenty-four weeks and sold 700,000 copies worldwide. while Gagnon's album Le Saint-Laurent rapidly reached 100,000 sold copies. In 1978, André Gagnon was made an officer of the Order of Canada.

In January 1992, Gagnon composed the music for the film The Pianist. In 1999, the album Juliette Pomerleau was released. In 2011, the album Les chemins ombragés was certified a gold album having sold 40,000 copies.

Awards and recognition

Juno awards 1978: Instrumental Artist of the Year 1995: Instrumental Artist of the Year

He has received Juno nominations in several other years.

Government honours Gagnon was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978 and an Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2018.

Discography Albums

Year Title 1964 André Gagnon – Piano et orchestre 1965 Léveillée-Gagnon 1966 Une voix, deux pianos 1968 Pour les amants 1969 Notre amour 1969 Mes quatre saisons 1971 Let It Be Me 1972 Les Turluteries 1972 Encore 1973 Projection / Les forges de St-Maurice 1973 Les grands succes d'André Gagnon 1974 Saga 1975 Neiges 1977 Le Saint-Laurent 1978 Movements 1981 Left Turn 1982 Les grands succès/Greatest Hits 1983 Impressions 1986 Comme dans un film 1986 Des dames de coeur 1990 Nelligan (with Michel Tremblay) 1992 Noël 1993 Les jours tranquilles 1993 Presque blue 1994 Romantique 1995 Piano 1996 Twilight Time 1996 Musique (Coffret de collection) 1997 André Gagnon au Centre Molson 1997 Éden 1997 La collection émergence 1999 Juliette Pomerleau 1999 Printemps 1999 Été 1999 Automne 1999 Hiver 2001 Histoires rêvées 2003 Piano solitude 2010 Les chemins ombragés 2011 Dans le silence de la nuit (Christmas album) 2016 Les voix intérieures

Singles

Year Title 1968 "Pour les amants" 1969 "Chanson pour Petula" b/w "La fête" 1971 "Rainbow" 1975 "Wow" b/w "Ta samba" 1976 "Surprise" b/w "Douce image" 1977 "Donna" b/w "Holiday Feeling" 1978 "Smash" b/w "Rendez-vous" 1977 "Weekend" 1980 "A Ride to Ville Émard" b/w "Beautiful Days" 1981 "Left Turn" b/w "Two Days in the Country"