Paul Cormier (10 May 1922 – 7 June 2006) was a violinist from Quebec, Canada, known by his stage name Monsieur Pointu. [1]
Cormier was born in Les Escoumins, North Shore, Quebec, into a family of traveling musicians. [2] He began learning to play the fiddle at the age of nine. [3] He served in the military during World War II. [4]
As a young man, Cormier played violin on CBJ radio in Chicoutimi, and later in dance clubs and hotels in Montreal. [2] He performed with musicians Willie Lamothe, Marcel Martel, Roger Miron, and Paul Brunelle, [4] [5] and also as an opening solo act at concerts. In the 1970s he toured in Europe and Africa with singer Gilbert Bécaud, taking on the stage name Monsieur Pointu, [6] [7] and also hosted a television folk music series on Télé-Métropole. [2]
Cormier played the sound track for an animated film about his music, Monsieur Pointu, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1976. [8] [3] [9] In 1977 he performed at the Fete Nationale in Montreal's Olympic Stadium to a crowd of 40,000. [10]
Cormier died June 6, 2006, in Blainville, Quebec. [6] After his death, Cormier's violin was donated to the Jules Saint-Michel violin museum. [11]
Paul Cormier (10 May 1922 – 7 June 2006) was a violinist from Quebec, Canada, known by his stage name Monsieur Pointu. [1]
Cormier was born in Les Escoumins, North Shore, Quebec, into a family of traveling musicians. [2] He began learning to play the fiddle at the age of nine. [3] He served in the military during World War II. [4]
As a young man, Cormier played violin on CBJ radio in Chicoutimi, and later in dance clubs and hotels in Montreal. [2] He performed with musicians Willie Lamothe, Marcel Martel, Roger Miron, and Paul Brunelle, [4] [5] and also as an opening solo act at concerts. In the 1970s he toured in Europe and Africa with singer Gilbert Bécaud, taking on the stage name Monsieur Pointu, [6] [7] and also hosted a television folk music series on Télé-Métropole. [2]
Cormier played the sound track for an animated film about his music, Monsieur Pointu, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1976. [8] [3] [9] In 1977 he performed at the Fete Nationale in Montreal's Olympic Stadium to a crowd of 40,000. [10]
Cormier died June 6, 2006, in Blainville, Quebec. [6] After his death, Cormier's violin was donated to the Jules Saint-Michel violin museum. [11]