Martin Deschamps
Encyclopedia
Martin Deschamps is a Canadian
rock
singer from Quebec
. He records and performs both as a solo artist and as the lead vocalist for the reunited Offenbach
.
At the age of 9, his family moved to Rawdon, Quebec
. During his youth, his handicap was not mocked in school. He entertained his student friends in class and maintained good enough grades to be the first of his class.
He started playing the drums when he reached 11 years of age, and by the age of 15, he was playing bass guitar
and started singing. From 1989 to 1995 he was a graphic designer for Bell company. The first band he played in was called Any Way, as their drummer. Knowing he wanted to become a band leader, he formed his own group called Deep Freeze.
competition. He was subsequently invited to join rock band Offenbach
on a reunion tour as the replacement for the late Gerry Boulet
, and immediately departed on a 50-show tour. He then released his own solo debut, Comme je suis, in 2000. Selling 60,000 copies in Quebec, the album spawned three hit singles and was nominated for three Félix Award
s, for best new artist, best rock album and best single ("Quand").
For his second album, 2001's Différent, he donated a portion of the profits to Montreal's Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
, and subsequently became a spokesperson for the province's Semaine des personnes handicapées.
He subsequently recorded two songs for the soundtrack to Denise Filiatrault
's film L'Odyssée d'Alice Tremblay and a duet with Lynda Lemay
, and mounted a successful concert tour in France
.
His third album, Le Désert, was released in 2003. That album's single "Vérité" spent five weeks at #1 on Quebec's pop charts.
Offenbach subsequently released the album Nature in 2005, and Deschamps toured with the band that year.
He performed during the 2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony
.
He performed at the state funeral
for Jack Layton
, deceased leader of the New Democratic Party, on August 27, 2011.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer from 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....
. He records and performs both as a solo artist and as the lead vocalist for the reunited Offenbach
Offenbach (band)
Offenbach is a Quebec blues rock band, initially active from 1969 to 1985. Following a successful reunion tour in 1996, the band released a new album in 2005.-History:...
.
Young age
Deschamps was born with congenital deformities of all four limbs; he is missing both his left arm and right leg, and has only two fingers on his right hand.At the age of 9, his family moved to Rawdon, Quebec
Rawdon, Quebec
Rawdon is a municipality located on the Ouareau River in southwestern Quebec, Canada, 45 minutes north of Montreal. It is the seat for the Regional County Municipality of Matawinie, in the Lanaudière region...
. During his youth, his handicap was not mocked in school. He entertained his student friends in class and maintained good enough grades to be the first of his class.
He started playing the drums when he reached 11 years of age, and by the age of 15, he was playing bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and started singing. From 1989 to 1995 he was a graphic designer for Bell company. The first band he played in was called Any Way, as their drummer. Knowing he wanted to become a band leader, he formed his own group called Deep Freeze.
Career
His musical career began in 1996 when, with that group, he was named best vocalist in the L'Empire des futures starsL'Empire des futures stars
L'Empire des futures stars was an annual contest for new musical bands in the Canadian province of Quebec, sponsored by CKOI-FM in Montreal. Many musical artists used the contest as an effective springboard for their careers.-See also:...
competition. He was subsequently invited to join rock band Offenbach
Offenbach (band)
Offenbach is a Quebec blues rock band, initially active from 1969 to 1985. Following a successful reunion tour in 1996, the band released a new album in 2005.-History:...
on a reunion tour as the replacement for the late Gerry Boulet
Gerry Boulet
Joseph Gaétan Robert Gérald Boulet was a Canadian rock singer. Most famous as vocalist for the Quebec rock band Offenbach, he also released two solo albums...
, and immediately departed on a 50-show tour. He then released his own solo debut, Comme je suis, in 2000. Selling 60,000 copies in Quebec, the album spawned three hit singles and was nominated for three Félix Award
Félix Award
The Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
s, for best new artist, best rock album and best single ("Quand").
For his second album, 2001's Différent, he donated a portion of the profits to Montreal's Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
The Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine is a pediatric university health centre affiliated with the Université de Montréal, located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
, and subsequently became a spokesperson for the province's Semaine des personnes handicapées.
He subsequently recorded two songs for the soundtrack to Denise Filiatrault
Denise Filiatrault
Denise Filiatrault, OC, OQ is a Canadian actress and director.In 1982, she won a "Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role" Genie Award for her performance in Les Plouffe...
's film L'Odyssée d'Alice Tremblay and a duet with Lynda Lemay
Lynda Lemay
Lynda Lemay is a Canadian francophone singer-songwriter. Through her mother she is a descendant of Zacharie Cloutier....
, and mounted a successful concert tour in France
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...
.
His third album, Le Désert, was released in 2003. That album's single "Vérité" spent five weeks at #1 on Quebec's pop charts.
Offenbach subsequently released the album Nature in 2005, and Deschamps toured with the band that year.
He performed during the 2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony
2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Paralympics was held on March 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada....
.
He performed at the state funeral
Death and state funeral of Jack Layton
On August 22, 2011, Canadian New Democratic Party leader and Leader of the Opposition Jack Layton died after a bout from an unspecified, newly diagnosed cancer. Prior to his recent diagnosis, Layton led his party to gain a historic rise in seats during the 2011 federal election...
for Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
, deceased leader of the New Democratic Party, on August 27, 2011.