François Cousineau (b. 10 May 1942) is a Canadian pianist, composer, arranger and orchestra conductor from Quebec.
Biography François Cousineau was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on 10 May 1942. He is the brother of Luc Cousineau and Jean Cousineau. Cousineau started studying piano at 5 years old and obtained a baccalaureate in music at the école de musique Vincent-d'Indy in 1961.
In the early 1960s, Cousineau formed a jazz trio that performed in dance events and was an accompanist for chansonniers such as Jacques Blanchet, Georges Dor and Claude Gauthier. He composed his first song, "La robe de soie" , for Clémence Desrochers. He then composed songs for other chansonniers. He also studied law in the early 1960s, his studies being financed by his work in music. He passed the bar in 1966.
Soon after, Cousineau started working with Pauline Julien, becoming her accompanist for seven years. He also composed for her. From 1972 to 1977, he worked closely with Luc Plamondon, composed around fifty of Diane Dufresne's songs and was responsible for the musical direction of the latter's shows. In 1980, he participated in the TV special Cousineau-Rivard with Michel Rivard. In 1982, he was responsible for the musical direction for Claude Dubois's show at the Montreal Forum.
In 1972, Cousineau became one of the owners of the recording studio Tempo in Montreal.
He became a founding member of the Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec in 1981 and founding president of the Société du droit de reproduction des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs au Canada in 1985.
In 1990, Cousineau became the president of the executive council of the SOCAN. He was SOCAN's president from 1994 to 1996.
Cousineau's first solo album François Cousineau (1999) obtained the Félix Award in 2000 in the category "Instrumental album of the year".
In 2005, the Société professionnelle des auteurs et des compositeurs du Québec created the François Cousineau Award to honor the career of notable Quebec songwriters.
He became a knight of the National Order of Quebec in 2011.
In total, Cousineau wrote over 200 songs for artists such as Robert Charlebois, Renée Claude, Céline Dion, Louise Forestier, Daniel Lavoie, Pierre Létourneau, Danielle Oderra, Ginette Reno, Martine St-Clair and Fabienne Thibeault. He wrote over 2000 arrangements and orchestrations. He also wrote music for theater plays and commercials. He was responsible for the musical direction of multiple TV shows.
Style Cousineau is a versatile composer. He has an extended knowledge of musical vocabulary and can switch from jazz to boogie, from classic to contemporary.
Awards and honours
1970 – Gala Méritas – Best Musical Theme in a Canadian Film for L’initiation
1994 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for Pars pas sans m’dire bye bye
1994 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for J’ai rencontré l’homme de ma vie
1994 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for En écoutant Elton John
1995 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for Les hauts et les bas d’une hôtesse de l’air
1995 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for Chanson pour Elvis
1995 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for Partir pour Acapulco
1999 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for Sur la même longueur d’ondes
2000 – Félix Awards – Instrumental Album of the Year for François Cousineau
2003 – SOCAN Awards – National Francophone Award for Lifetime Achievement
2003 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for Conversation téléphonique
2009 – SPACQ – André-Gagnon Award for Lifetime Achievement
2010 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for T’es belle (co-written with Jean-Pierre Ferland)
2011 – National Order of Québec – Knight
2012 – SOCAN Awards – SOCAN Classics Award for Un jour il viendra mon amour
Discography +SinglesYearTitle1965Les beaux dimanches/Tout un jour/Blues pour Angéline1969Pauvre amour/Le sursis de San Remo1970Un jour il viendra mon amour/Un jour il viendra mon amour1970Une fleur sur la neige/Une fleur sur la neige1970Thème pour Julien/La machine à faire l’amour1971Sept fois par jour/Ram Da Doo Di Dah +AlbumsYearTitle1965La corde au cou1970L’initiation1972Les plus célèbres musiques de films du Québec de François Cousineau1999François Cousineau
Filmography +Musical scoresYearTitle1963À tout prendre1964Pour la suite du monde1965La corde au cou1969L’initiation1970L’amour humain1971Sept fois par jour1972Quelques arpents de neige
References