Clairette (French-Canadian entertainer)
Encyclopedia
Clairette, was a Quebec
-based French
actress and singer. After her own career slowed down she became the proprietor of Montreal
's "Chez Clairette" nightclub.
. He provided her with her first film role in La fille du puisatier
(1939) and had her change her name to Clairette. She was later working in radio, where she was also known as a singer. During the Second World War, she made three other movies but mostly toured France on stage and in variety shows.
In 1949, she made her first visit to Quebec
. She married at the age of 21 with the marriage lasting four years. In 1957, she emigrated to Quebec. She opened the eponymous "Chez Clairette" where, every Monday afternoon, she held auditions to scout out artists. Robert Charlebois
, Claude Dubois
, Diane Dufresne
and France Castel, Christine Charbonneau were some of those artists whose careers she helped launch. It was also at "Chez Clairette" that lyricist Luc Plamondon
met his future collaborator, pianist-composer André Gagnon
. After the first "Chez Clairette" closed a second opened later in a different area of Montreal. It stayed in business for a decade.
in 2003 and a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
in 2002.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
-based French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
actress and singer. After her own career slowed down she became the proprietor of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
's "Chez Clairette" nightclub.
Background
Born as Claire Oderra in 1919, she grew up in Marseille. At the age of 20 she became waitress in the canteen of a local French film studio, owned by writer and filmmaker Marcel PagnolMarcel Pagnol
Marcel Pagnol was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. In 1946, he became the first filmmaker elected to the Académie Française.-Biography:...
. He provided her with her first film role in La fille du puisatier
La Fille du Puisatier
The Well-Digger's Daughter is a 1940 French romantic comedy drama film directed by Marcel Pagnol.-Selected cast:*Raimu as Pascal Amoretti*Fernandel as Félipe Rambert*Josette Day as Patricia Amoretti*Line Noro as Marie Mazel...
(1939) and had her change her name to Clairette. She was later working in radio, where she was also known as a singer. During the Second World War, she made three other movies but mostly toured France on stage and in variety shows.
In 1949, she made her first visit to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. She married at the age of 21 with the marriage lasting four years. In 1957, she emigrated to Quebec. She opened the eponymous "Chez Clairette" where, every Monday afternoon, she held auditions to scout out artists. Robert Charlebois
Robert Charlebois
Robert Charlebois, OC, OQ is a Quebec author, composer, musician, performer and actor. He is an important figure in French language song....
, Claude Dubois
Claude Dubois
Claude André Dubois is a Canadian singer-songwriter.Dubois was an early star of the francophone musical Starmania...
, Diane Dufresne
Diane Dufresne
Diane Dufresne, CQ is a singer and painter, and has sung a number of classics of Quebec repertoire of popular songs....
and France Castel, Christine Charbonneau were some of those artists whose careers she helped launch. It was also at "Chez Clairette" that lyricist Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian lyricist.-Career:Plamondon has written for many artists, notably the Québécois singers Bruno Pelletier, Diane Dufresne, Robert Charlebois, Céline Dion, Ginette Reno, Fabienne Thibeault, Martine St. Clair, and Garou, as well as the French singers Julien...
met his future collaborator, pianist-composer André Gagnon
André Gagnon
André Gagnon, OC is a Canadian musician and composer. He shifted from a classical musical style to an adult contemporary style in the mid-1970s with albums such as Neiges....
. After the first "Chez Clairette" closed a second opened later in a different area of Montreal. It stayed in business for a decade.
Last years
She continued to perform while operating "Chez Clairette", appearing occasionally on the television series, Au pied de la pente douce. She opened an academy for singers at the home of her younger sister, singer Danielle Oderra. As her years progressed, Clairette continued to perform regularly. Her final public performance in June 2008 was at the Théâtre Denise-Pelletier on Sainte-Catherine Street.Honours
She was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2003 and a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
in 2002.