Montreal – Renowned quebec composer Germain Gauthier has died after a long illness, his agency, Bombardier Communications, announced Sunday. He was known as “Monsieur Hits” for his prolific songwriting.
Gauthier leaves behind a catalog of 325 songs, including 35 quebec number-one hits, and a legacy deeply embedded in the province’s musical identity. His melodies provided the foundation for lyrics penned by prominent authors such as Luc Plamondon,Gilles Valiquette,and Pierre Létourneau,resonating across generations.His work was interpreted by a wide range of iconic Quebec artists, including Diane Dufresne (“I am twelve years old,” “Strip-tease,” “Oxygen,” “turbulence”), Martine St-Clair (“A sentimental man”), Nanette Workman (“Call Girl”), Marie Carmen (“Piaf would sing rock”), Roch Nicole Martin (“Don’t go away,” “Tell him I love her”), Renée Claude (“A guy like you”), and Donald Lautrec (“The wall behind the barn”). He also composed film scores, notably for the classic “The War of the tuques.”
Céline Dion featured his melodies on her album “dion sings Plamondon.”
Gauthier’s contributions were recognized with the François-Cousineau Prize from the Foundation of the Professional Society of Authors and Composers of Quebec (SPACQ) in 2007. He also received multiple awards from the Canadian Company of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers (SOCAN), including the SOCAN Classic Award in 2016 for “Piaf sang rock,” co-written with Luc Plamondon.
“SOCAN greets the memory of this immense creator, whose melodies will continue to resonate for a long time,” SOCAN stated on social media. “We offer our sincere condolences to his family, loved ones and the whole musical community.”
A funeral service will be held on September 20 at the Chapel of the Memoria show in Montreal.
