I've been touring With Celine Dion since August 1995 on the "Falling into you around the World" Tour. The "Let’s talk about love World Tour". In Europe: France, England, Switzerland, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, Ireland, Scotland and Belgium. In the U.S, Canada, Japan, Korea, Brunei, Australia and New Zealand.
For a total of about 400 hundred concerts and Television appearances: Tonight Show (Jay Leno), The today Show, Rosie O’Donnell, David Letterman, Taratata (in Paris) as well as many TV specials in the U.S. Canada and Europe.
I also recorded the song "All By myself" on the album "Falling into you" (in Los Angeles at the Record Plant Studio) with Producer David Foster. And The "Celine Dion, Live au Zenith, Celine "Au coeur du stade" (Stade de France). both recorded live in Paris, and more recently a Live CD and DVD of the permanent show "A new Day".
And now In Las Vegas for the Show "A new day" at THE COLOSSEUM AT CAESARS PALACE in Las Vegas for the last 2 years as Drummer and programmer.
26 years of career.
In 1979, I recorded my first Album with a folk singer. It was the beginning of an era for me.
Thanks to my brother Francois, I was already comfortable in studio. He gave me all the tools I needed to start developing in the art of drumming for pop or folk songs.
College brought me a sense of funk and jazz playing, even though drum lessons were not available in that program, I managed to take what I needed in that environment. I made a lot of friends and I also had a chance to play constantly.
Unfortunately, doing sessions or concerts late at night was not always compatible with studies. But I managed to get through it in 3 years.
At that time, in 1982, I met up with singer Gaston Mandeville (From Quebec) who trusted me and took me into his band and gave me the opportunity to play on his first 3 albums not only as a drummer but also as a piano player and back vocalist.
From then on I played with many singers and bands in Quebec.
Then I got called to do this TV show called Epopee Rock, which was a "sitcom" about the 50’s era, and I was actor/drummer on the show, it aired for 6 years.
Those 6 years were filled with club dates, recording for albums and jingles.
Sessions were not so easy then, since it still was the 80’s and its drum machine "tightness phobia" it was hard on the morale, and a very humbling experience.
But determined as I was, I started to get interested in drum machines and electronic drum pads. This gave me a chance to stay in as many sessions as I could because it was a rare thing to see a drummer open minded about drum machines. It ended up being my salvation in the studio scene.
So I kept working. Also that period was the dawn of my writing experimenting. I was more involved in writing rock songs. Owning a recording studio (pretty small then) gave me the chance to start learning about being a sound engineer. I then become very aware of sounds especially drum sounds, and I started developing my own sound even more. The writing brought me the desire to learn other instruments (bass, keyboards and a bit of guitar). I became more and more careful and "all ears" for all other musical interaction.
Learning about how to play with other musicians and always respecting the style of the music your playing, is the most important thing about being a drummer. Of course the "time", the "chops" count, but in my view it is nothing if you don’t respect the style of music. In 1992, I got hired to play on the 5 day a week Live TV talk show called Benezra; it lasted 3 years and gave a chance to play with a lot of international artists.
Then I joined Celine Dion’s band in 1995…
