Roch Voisine was born on March 26, 1963 in Edmunston New Brunswick and grew up in Saint-Basile. He is the father of two boys, Killian and Alix-Elouan.

1986 to 1991 : The beginning

Roch Voisine had his great music debut in the summer of 1986 where he sang before more than 50,000 people at LaRonde in Montreal on Canada Day. And, after many television appearances, he hosted Top Jeunesse in 1988, a television show which brought him considérable public attention. A year later, he interpreted Danny Ross, a leading role in the popular television series "Lance et Compte". In June 1989, he released his first album Hélène, which in a very short time became a huge success in Quebec and in France.

Just three weeks after the album was released in France, Hélène held first spot for nine consecutive weeks on the Top 50 chart. Roch Voisine's success was spectacular and dazzling: three million records were sold and the album held first place on the charts in Quebec, France Belgium, Switzerland and Norway. In 1990, in the midst of all of this success, Roch Voisine won the award for francophone Album of the year at the Victoires de la musique awards in France. He launched his first french tour and released the album, Double, on which many English songs could be heard.

1991 to 1992 : Rochmania

In March 1991, Roch Voisine embarked on his second European tour : thirty eight concerts in the biggest venues and performing before 250 000 fans. It was madness in Paris, where for two evenings more than 30,000 spectators crowded in front of the doors of the Palais des sports. The following year, he became the youngest artist ever to receive the distinct honorary title of the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres awarded by the French government. February 6th was the kickoff for his Europe tour, which he opened in Bercy before more than 15 000 people. The tour continued in major cities across France, Belgium and Holland with more than sixty sold out shows. The High point of his European tour was a concert on April 17, 1992 at the Champ de Mars in Paris before 75,000 spectators. The show was broadcast live by TF1 television with an estimated audience of 14 millions viewers.

A few weeks later, Roch Voisine performed his show to a sold out audience in Montreal. In July 1992, he participated in Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II. He sang "I'll always Be There", a song written in collaboration with the well-known Canadian Producer, David Foster. For this event David Foster accompanied Roch Voisine on the piano. In October, the third double album, Europe Tour, was released in Canada and Europe and included 22 songs and the prize-winning "La Légende Oochigeas" which rapidly climbed to number 1 on the charts.

1993 to 1999 : Consecration

In early 1993, Roch Voisine learned that he had been included in the collection of celebrities at the famous Musée Grévin in Paris and that a lifesize wax figure of himself would be rubbing shoulders with the sculptures of Madonna and Patricia Kaas ! In October, he launched his album I'll Always Be There, a collaborative effort with David Foster and which would result in more than one million copies sold.

It is following this tour that Roch Voisine decides to record a new album in french. Between two concerts, he traveled between Paris, Montreal, Nashville and New York to produce Coup de tête which was released in September 1994. In November, he signed a contract with BMG International. This contract anticipated the release of four albums destined for the International market and promised Roch Voisine absolute artistic freedom.

In May 1995, he returned to the United States and settled in Los Angeles and fully engaged himself into his creative passion. He began writing the lyrics for his new English album, Kissing Rain. He would devote the whole of 1996 to record the album and surround himself with the finest musicians from California and a few special guests like Richard Marx. The album was released in Canada in late November 1996. In 1997, Roch Voisine set out on a new tour to promote the disc, having just been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

1998-1999 : Chaque feu

With the support of a new team (érick Benzi, Gildas Arzel, Jacques Veneruso), Roch Voisine dedicated his time in the preparation and recording of Chaque feu, his first French album in five years. The album consisted of fourteen entirely new songs and was released on April 21 in Quebec and in France on May 4.

2000 to 2007

2000

In the summer of 2000, he goes back to the recording studio and the results are two Christmas albums, one in french and the other one in english. A Christmas concert followed the release of L'album de Noël and of Christmas is Calling.

2001 to 2006

In January 2001, Roch travels to Africa as a Unicef representative. Upon his return, he begins to record his 11th album, Roch Voisine, which was launched in Quebec and in France. In 2002, the album Higher is released followed by Je te serai fidèle which climbs rapidly to the top of the best sellers list with more than 500 000 copies sold in France, Switzerland and Belgium. As a crowning achievement, Roch is awarded the Male francophone artist for 2005 at the NRJ Music Awards.

2007

The album Sauf si l'amour was released in Europe in October 2005 and was followed by a European tour starting at the Olympia in Paris. In 2007, and by popular demand another European tour took place and earned him étoile Chérie FM for the 2007 tour. In the fall, he continued with a Quebec tour.

On May 19, 2007 Roch Voisine received an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Moncton, Edmunston Campus, to commemorate his musical accomplishments. A Diamond disc was awarded for 8 million albums sold which would compensate his 20 year career.

The European and Canadian version of the album Best of was also launched in 2007.

2008 to 2010 : Americana

2008

In August, a new album Americana was released on the European market. It was recorded in Nashville, the heart of country music in the United States. Americana I would be the first in a series of albums regrouping the indispensables of North American music. It is mainly an English album with just a hint of french. Roch's musical style and approach is well respected in the United States but still unfamiliar in France.

This album was recorded at the famous Blackbird studios and Sound Emporium and marked Roch's return with his distinct and unique sound which connects the francophone and North American cultures in which he grew up in. "City of New Orleans" is the first single of the album and evokes the blues and country roots music. The second, "Let It Be Me/Je t'appartiens" earned him a gold disc for Americana I.

In late 2008, he was presented with the Excellence Award for Leadership in Canada by the University of Ottawa in recognition for his participation in the Unicef organization in Africa.

2009

In August 2009, Americana II was released in Europe.

With the public's excited enthusiasm for Americana I & II albums, Roch traveled throughout France, Belgium and Switzerland until December 2009.

2010

In early 2010, FRANCE TELEVISION offered Roch a musical break with an official commentator's role for Hockey as well as for the opening and closing ceremonies for the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver !

June 2010, Americana III California :

A French tour with more than 50 dates was imminent with the sales of 200 000 albums of Americana I and II and with the release of Americana III. Roch continued to perform his American greatest hits but this time with a hint of the west coast ; Simon and Garfunkel, The Mamas and the Papas, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, America. The synergy between Roch's interpretation and Chad Carlson's creative production is tangible on every track.

In September 2010, Roch presented Americana I in Canada followed by the recording of the album, Confidences. This new album was released last December in Europe and will be available in Canada in late 2011.

View More +