Robert Charlebois
Robert Charlebois (1944-) is a singer-songwriter, actor, pianist, and guitarist from Montreal, Quebec. Balancing music and theatre from an early age, Charlebois was one of the most influential chansonniers to have performed both domestically and internationally, winning awards in countries such as Poland, Belgium, and France. He has continued to perform well into the 21st century, celebrating his 50th career anniversary in 2013 and presenting a large-scale rock concert in 2019.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Robert Charlebois simultaneously partook in early piano lessons for six years and acting at Montreal’s National Theatre School from 1962 to 1965. During this time period, the young Charlebois made his stage debut in September 1962, opening for Félix Leclerc at the Butte-à-Matthieu. Three years later, he was recognized by CBC as “the chansonnier discovery of the year” for his song La boulé that was composed when he was 16, winning the Grand Prix of the Festival du Disque. He continued to balance his musical and theatrical pursuits, performing for famous musical-comedy shows such as L’Osstidcho (1968-1969), one of the most famous shows of the 60s known for its creativity and innovation.
The late 1960s contained Charlebois’ most significant music years since they paved the way for his everlasting career. In 1967, he released his third album that contained famous hits (e.g. “C’est pour ça”, “Marie-Noel”, “Demain l’hiver”) and travelled to California for a three month trip where he was influence by America’s counter-rock culture. It was here where his music and its lyrics adopted a “urban poetic” style that came from popular language. The year 1969, however, commenced Charlebois’ touring phase, performing and winning awards in countries such as Belgium (Grand Prix at the Festival de la chanson française), France (Prix de la Ville de Paris, Gold Medal of the Olympiades de la chanson), and Poland. He also toured across Canada via a rail trip accompanied by other American rock scene figures. Despite his musical successes, he still continued his theatrical pursuits, acting in films such as Sombre Vacances (1975) and Un génie, deux associés, une cloche (1976).
Charlebois’ successes continued into the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. Surprisingly, his fame outside Quebec increased and rivaled the likes of Félix Leclerc, leading Charlebois to become one of, if not the most successful Quebecois figures that paved the way for other artists. He continued to tour in France and Quebec well into the late 80s, performing songs such as the 1983 Félix Award winning “J’t’aime comme un fou”. In the 1990s, he partook in business pursuits, opening a microbrewery whilst continuing his musical activities. Transforming his style to combine a plethora of genres (rock, metal, ballad, latin), he continued to release albums that captivated the new generation. His album Doux sauvage (2001) was one such album that harnessed these aspects. The 21st century nonetheless was an extension of his triumphs in the prior decades, comprising years in which Charlebois was inducted into the National Order of Quebec (2008), Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2008), and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010). His last album, Tout est bein (2010), contained a collection of original songs that harnessed many musical influences (folk, orchestral music, pop) and dived into themes of love, life, and the passage of time.
Robert Charlebois’ influence on the chansonnier tradition and general Quebec culture cannot be understated. Within his long career, he had managed to find success throughout the Western Hemisphere, disseminating his songs and influence onto other Francophone artists. Being one of the first chansonnier to bring elements of American and British pop into the Quebecois tradition, Charlebois pushed a musical agenda that sought to reconcile styles ranging from rock, jazz, to orchestral music. His application of the electric guitar in the chansonnier tradition and theatre in his tours further cemented his uniqueness as an artist. As stated by Benoît L’Herbier in the book La Chanson québécoise (1974): “He has become the epicentre — the nerve centre around which all the others gravitate.”
Sources
- Rioux, Christian , and Carolyn Kotva. “Robert Charlebois.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 24, 2012; Last Edited December 16, 2013.
- Robert Charlebois Website. “Robert Charlebois.” Accessed March 10, 2026. https://www.robertcharlebois.com.
Suggested Listenings
- “Ordinaire” https://youtu.be/zxQBL45O86U
- “C’est pour la” https://youtu.be/IO9UZRfqPxY
- “Doux sauvage” https://youtu.be/NHg2cdQD-BA