Biography:Isidore Soucy
Isidore Soucy
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|---|---|
| Given name: | Isidore |
| Middle name: | |
| Family name: | Soucy |
| Place of birth: | Ste-Blandine, near Rimouski, Quebec |
| Place of death: | Montreal |
| Year of birth: | 1899 |
| Year of death: | 1963 |
| Profile: | Composer, Musician |
| Source of information: | https://archive.org/details/lespionniersdudi0000labb/page/106/mode/2up |
Biographical notes
ISIDORE SOUCY (1899-1962) was born at Ste-Blandine, near Rimouski, in September, 1899. As a young teen he had mastered the violin enough to gain a local reputation. He married in Ste-Blandine in 1924 to Laura Heppell, and moved that same year to Montreal where he found employment working for the city. While still employed, in May, 1926, Soucy recorded his first side for Starr label, a subsidiary of Gennett Records, who, at the time, paid him two cents for every recording sold. His recordings for Starr proved popular enough for Soucy to be offered a regular position for the CKAC radio show Living Room Furniture, which he held for four years. By October, 1935, Soucy had gained enough experience to be offered his own show on radio CHLP, which ran for several years, and he came to the attention of folklorist Conrad Gauthier, who had Isidore perform at the Soirées du Bon Vieux Temps ('evenings of the good old days') at the Monument National.
Soucy undertook a musical collaboration with accordion player Donat Lafleur, lasting some fifteen years, performing as 'Les Vive la Joie'. His next performance undertaking, in the late 1940's was with members of his family. 'La Famille Soucy' was hired Jean Grimaldi for his theater group, resulting in tours of Québec, the Gaspé and New Brunswick, and even the United States. Subsequently Isidore and his son Fernando (who was developing into a skilled fiddler in his own right) joined with accordion player René Alain to form the popular folk group 'La Trio Soucy', finding success with such recordings as "Les fraises et les framboises," "Un festin de campagne," and "Prendre un verre de biÚre mon Minou." In 1961 Soucy hosted the television show Chez Isidore, which was a ratings hit. Isidore died in December, 1963, having consolidated a reputation as one of the great folk violinists of his generation.