Les Baronets, briefly known as Les Nouveaux Baronets, was a Québécois musical trio and then duo active from 1961 to 1972.
History René Angélil, Jean Beaulne and Pierre Labelle met during their studies. They discovered a common affinity for singing, and performed in multiple contests.
In 1961, Les Baronets had their debut in cabarets, singing comedic songs and doing impressions of popular singers. They were originally inspired by English-speaking bands such as the The Four Lads and The Four Aces. The song "Johanne" on their first 45-rpm (1962) was successful, but they became highly popular (to an "unprecedented level" for a Québec band) thanks to their cover of "Hold Me Tight" by The Beatles called "C'est fou, mais c'est tout". They were one of the first Québécois artist to cover the Beatles in French. By then, they were already managed by Ben Kaye.
Les Baronets covered many songs of the Beatles. They became the most prolific cover artists for the Beatles in Quebec, except a few tribute bands. They performed at cabarets, on television and at Montreal's great venues such as the Comédie-Canadienne and the Place des Arts.Les Baronets signed a contract with Vee-Jay Records in 1965, recorded songs and were about to enter the American market, but the label went bankrupt before they could do so.
In 1966, Beaulne's activities as an impresario stopped him from fully focusing on the group, and he was replaced by Jean-Guy Chapados. The band took the name of Les Nouveaux Baronets. Their popularity then declined, until the original trio reappeared at the Café de l’Est in March 1967. They passed under the label Canusa around 1967.
In the following years, Les Baronets performed in the cabarets in American tourist cities such as Atlantic City. In early 1970, Labelle and Angélil continued as a duo. They switched to the Nobel record label in 1970. They were in the musical La belle amanchure. They were actively recording until 1972.
Discography +Singles Year Title1962Arrêtez le mariage/Johanne1963Mon beau rêve/Lise chérie1963Dans tous les pays/On se trouvera1964Les filles sont si belles/Bon, bon, bon1964C’est fou, mais c’est tout/Oh je veux être à toi1964Est-ce que tu m’aimes/Ça recommence1964Je n’aurais jamais cru/Laisse-moi me reposer1964Joyeux Noël/Le père Noël s’en vient1965L’amour ça fait pleurer/Twist et chante1965Je suis fou/C’est le Freddy1965That’s The Way Love Happens/Mine All Mine1965Johanne/Dans tous les pays1965Vive le temps des Fêtes/Cet hiver je n’aurai plus froid1966Comment/Seul sans toi1966Tu es partie/Je n’aime que toi1966Demain/Non, non, non1966C’est fou, mais c’est tout/Est-ce que tu m’aimes1966Ce n’est qu’un au revoir/C’est bon pour la publicité1966Un petit sous-marin jaune/C’est triste1966Cet hiver je n’aurai plus froid/Vive le temps des Fêtes1967Je suis seul/Ce monde plein d’histoires1967L’hymne à l’amour/Avec cette bague1967Secrètement/Mr. Lee1968La même chanson/Ça m’fait quelque chose1968Lady Madonna/Même si tu revenais1968Hello, je t’aime/Amour et liberté1970Bon matin, ma rose/Sympathie1970Si nous sommes ensemble/Tout le monde s’aime1970Cet hiver je n’aurai plus froid/Vive le temps des Fêtes1971Rita mon amour/Les filles1971Tes histoires d’autrefois/J’ai un side-line payant1972Tarzan/La complainte de Tarzan1974C’est fou, mais c’est tout/Ça recommence1974Est-ce que tu m’aimes/Twist et chante1977Le téléphone 75/Crocodile Dance
+Albums Year Title1963?Les Baronets en spectacle1964Ça recommence1965Les Baronets à la Comédie-Canadienne1967Les Baronets en personne1968Réveillon chez la famille Canusa196915 succès1969Le palmarès des Baronets1970La belle amanchure1971Pierre Labelle et René Angélil197421 titres d’or1989Une soirée au cabaret avec les Baronets1992Les Baronets
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