Plume Latraverse (born Michel Latraverse 11 May 1946) is a prolific singer, musician, songwriter and author from Quebec. Over the course of his career, he has written nearly 300 songs, combining satire, poetry and social commentary. At the end of the 1960s he formed a band named La Sainte Trinité with Pierrot le fou (Pierre Léger) and Pierre Landry. Then he formed a duo with Steve Faulkner (1972–1975). They performed for the last time at the Chant'Août in Quebec City. In 1976, Plume started a solo career and became one of the most influential names in Quebec counterculture. During a European tour (1979–1980) he staged a show during Le Printemps de Bourges and won the Prime Minister of France's Prize (Prix international de la jeune chanson) and the Pop-Rock prize for the best songwriter from Quebec. In 1982 he worked with Offenbach and produced the album À fond d'train. After his filmed biography, Ô rage électrique, Plume presented a farewell of sorts named Show d'à diable in 1984, after which he brought his singing career to a halt, focusing on painting and writing, before reappearing in 1990. He published many of his songs, texts and storybooks.
In 1980 the Montreal Gazette described him as "the French Frank Zappa".
In 1998, Latraverse released the hit single El Niño.
In 2018, he was awarded the Medal of the National Assembly of Quebec in recognition of his cultural impact.
In 2023, Latraverse received the SOCAN Excellence Award in recognition of his long-standing contribution to Canadian songwriting.
He remains active on stage, in 2025, Plume Latraverse began his tour entitled Rémissionnaire, including concerts at the Place des Arts in Montreal, the Grand Théâtre de Québec, Théâtre Lionel-Groulx and Théâtre Gilles-Vigneault in Saint-Jérôme.
Discography
Albums Triniterre (1971) Plume Pou Digne (1974) Le Vieux Show Son Sale (1975) Pommes De Route (1975) À Deux Faces (1976) All Dressed (1978) Chirurgie Plastique (1980) French Tour 1980 (fausse représentation) (1980) Livraison par en-arrière (1981) Métamorphoses Tôme I (1982) Autopsie Canalisée (1983) Les Mauvais Compagnons (métaphorme...ose II) (1984) Insomni-fère (méphortamoses III)(1985) D'un Début À l'Autre (1987) Chansons Pour Toutes Sortes de Monde (1990) Chansons Nouvelles (1994) Mixed Grill (1998) Chants d'Épuration (2003) Hors-Saisons (2007) Chansons nouvelles – revisitées (2008) Plumonymes (2008) RECHUT! (Odes de ma tanière) (2016)
Live albums En Noir Et Blanc (1976) Cinéma Outremont (1977) À Fond d'Train (1983) Vingtemps (2001)
Compilations
Les Plus Pires Succès de Plume (1976) Le Lour Passé De Plume Latraverse Vol. I (1988) Le Lour Passé De Plume Latraverse Vol. II (1989) Le Lour Passé De Plume Latraverse Vol. III (1990) Le Lour Passé De Plume Latraverse Vol. IV (1992) Le Lour Passé De Plume Latraverse Vol. V (1995)
Singles Rideau / Bossa-Mota Bobépine / Lit vert La bienséance / U.F.O Salusoleil / Le retour à la terre La p'tite vingnenne pis l'gros torrieu / Houba houba Le grand barda / Marie-Lou Mognon donc / New Orleans Salut Trenet / Cul-d'sac rock Quatre ans après / Élégie Le fermier Jean / Valse cliché Dis-moé / On peut pas tout avoir Parade de mode / Descente aux enfers La piste cyclable / Ti-gars La ballade de Sandale et Gandhi / Instrumental Tant qu'on pourra El Nino La journée du chèque
Books Contes gouttes (1990) Pas d'admission sans histoire (1993) Striboule (1995)
References
External links Official site in French Biography in French