An iconic Canadian pop singer and television personality for more than 60 years, Michel Louvain was born as "Michel Poulin" in Thetford Mines, Quebec, on July 12, 1937. He made his TV debut on Gala des Splendeurs in 1957, then released his debut single "Buenas Noches Mi Amor" later that year. Specializing in sentimental love songs, he became one of the kings of Francophone pop music, combining showbiz savvy and romantic material into a unique style that attracted a loyal, female-dominated fanbase. He went on to record more than 30 albums, starting with 1958's self-titled Michel Louvain and running all the way until 2019's La Belle Vie. Although Michel Louvain scored the biggest hits of his career with songs like "Pourquoi donc as-tu brise mon coeur" and 1976's "La dame en bleu," his popularity extended into the 21st century, as well. 2011's Je N'ai Pas Changé found him revisiting his older hits with new, Latin-influenced arrangements, resulting in critical acclaim and a boost in commercial sales. A staple of daytime Canadian television for decades, he continued hosting variety shows and giving matinee performances as he entered his early 80s, and was playing on launching a national tour in late 2021 to support La belle vie. Several months before the tour's opening date, however, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He died in his sleep on April 14, 2021, three months shy of his 84th birthday.
