GUY BELANGER
https://www.guybelangermusic.com/
At the beginning, in 1974, Guy Bélanger seemed to be definitely heading towards a career focused on the traditional blues. Armed with his harmonicas on his belt, he meets Bob Walsh, also from Quebec City, who will introduce him to the basics of the blues by sharing the different stages of the Old Capital.
Later, he joined the ranks of Delta Blues Band with which he played for more than 4 years. The group presents more than 200 shows per year in Quebec, Ontario or the Maritimes with a repertoire made up of the great classics of the blues. It is also with the DBB that he will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with big names such as Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, James Cotton and Dutch Mason. These different experiences greatly contribute to broaden his musical horizons.
In 1987, he joined the formation of bluesman Bob Walsh. They will participate in 15 editions of the Montreal International Jazz Festival together. In 1995, Les Colocs invited him to participate in the recording of their second album Atrocetomique. Will follow a succession of collaborations with more than 60 Quebec and French artists including Céline Dion and Cirque du Soleil.
In 2003, the meeting with guitarist Claude Fradette gave birth to the soundtrack for the film Gaz Bar Blues which won the Jutra award for best film music and the Lys Blues for best album in 2003. Their collaboration is still alive and they signed the music for the film The Timekeeper (2009) and Vivre à 100 Milles per hour (2019) by Louis Bélanger as well as the music for the television series Les Boys (SRC) by Louis Saïa between 2009 and 2012 and Séquelles in 2016 That year, he also signed as sole composer the soundtrack of the film Les Mauvaises Herbes, nominated for the Prix Iris 2017.
The first solo album of compositions and collaborations, the eponymous Guy Bélanger will finally see the light of day in February 2008 and will attract rave reviews from both the public and the press (4 Lys Blues in 2009 for album of the year, male blues artist, songwriter and revelation band).
Crossroads was released in September 2010 and also won numerous accolades. In 2011, he composed, in collaboration with Benoit Charest, the music for the film Route 132 which will be awarded the Jutra Prize for best original music.
The album Dusty Trails was released in October 2012 and the Canadian tour began a few weeks later. The homecoming album entitled Blues Turn was released in 2014. It was recorded in Chicago, Toronto and Montreal and received a nomination as Independent Recording of the Year at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January 2015. Guy will also win this year- there the prize for the best harmonica player in Canada and will tour his show in the country and in France.
In 2016, the ace-harmonica player composed the soundtrack for his brother Louis’ film
Les Mauvaises Herbes and participated as a special guest in Céline Dion’s Quebec tour during the summer. In the fall, he received the 2016 André Gagnon Prize from the SPACQ (Professional Society of Authors and Composers of Quebec). Recognized for his sensitivity, his generosity and his talent, Guy is admired for his capacity to safeguard sincerity in virtuosity.
Accumulating prizes and distinctions, he launched his 7th career album: Traces & Scars, which will be nominated as Instrumental Album of the year 2017 at ADISQ. This album celebrates Guy’s talent as a composer. Created when the artist was celebrating great personal victories but also experiencing deep mourning, it contains ten instrumental pieces that navigate between folk and blues as well as two superb songs, one of which is performed by Luce Dufault. This inspired, luminous recording, dedicated to the friend Bob Walsh (1947-2016) presents the best of the gentleman harmonica player and composer, whose pleasure to play is evident, intact more than 45 years after his debut.
Guy Bélanger launches the album Eldorado on October 25, 2019, continuing on this long road paved with musical adventures. He is accompanied by his amazing team of Rob MacDonald (guitars), Marc-André Drouin (bass) and Michel Dufour (drums). In addition, emeritus musicians met during his travels and tours have joined him. Cellist Eric Longsworth, Franco-German singer guitarist Mathis Haug and Paul Picard (Celine Dion’s percussionist) are among the number.
