Monique Leyrac

Born on February 26, 1928, in Montreal, Quebec, Monique Leyrac had already established herself as a successful radio actress and Canadian film star by the time she released her debut album, Monique Leyrac chante Léveillée et Vigneault, in 1963. Pleins feux sur Monique Leyrac and Monique Leyrac followed in 1964 and 1965, respectively. 1965 proved to be a pivotal year for Leyrac, who appeared in two international singing competitions — the Sopot International Song Festival and the Festival de la Chanson — and won first place in both. Her rendition of Gilles Vigneault's "Mon Pays" became a nationwide hit, and Leyrac was honored as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1967. She released the self-titled Monique Leyrac that same year, as well as Monique Leyrac à Paris. Six additional solo albums followed, the last of which, 1977's Monique Leyrac sings Félix Leclerc, was certified gold in Canada. Leyrac focused on her acting career during the 1980s and received multiple awards during the decades that followed, including the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 1997, knighthood in the National Order of Quebec in 1998, and the Prix Denise-Pelletier in 2013. She lived until 91 years old, passing in Cowansville, Quebe, on December 15, 2019.

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