Paul Després (February 27, 1964 – August 26, 2024), known by the stage name Paul Dwayne, was a Canadian country singer-songwriter who was a key figure in Acadian musical culture.[1]
Biography
editA native of Bouctouche, New Brunswick,[2] he began performing locally as a teenager,[1] initially singing in English before switching to French.[3] He competed in the 1992 Bud Country Talent Search, finishing in second place behind Sheila Deck.[4]
He released his debut album Mon petit chenou in 1998, receiving nominations for Country Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year at the 1999 FrancoFête.[5] He received an East Coast Music Award nomination for Francophone Artist of the Year in 2001.[6]
He performed primarily original material in French, although he also recorded one album of covers of classic English country songs.[7] He released seven albums between 1998 and 2011;[1] and continued to perform occasional shows at music festivals in the Atlantic Canada region in the 2010s.[8]
Dwayne died on August 26, 2024, at the age of 60.[1] His final performance before his death was a private show at a wedding.[1] His son, James Després, is also a country singer.[7]
Discography
edit- Mon petit chenou - 1998
- Always Country - 2000
- Ensemble pour toujours - 2000
- Noël avec mes amis - 2001
- Ma p'tite guitare - 2003
- Je t'aime - 2006
- Mon Dodge Truck - 2011
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Sylvie Mousseau, "Le milieu de la musique country ébranlé par le décès de Paul Dwayne". L'Acadie Nouvelle, August 27, 2024.
- ^ Daniel Aucoin, "Paul Dwayne a pavé le chemin pour les artistes country acadiens". CKJM-FM, August 28, 2024.
- ^ Grant Kerr, "Francophone group traces roots back to Kitchen parties". Telegraph-Journal, January 25, 2002.
- ^ Sharon Sontag, "Sheila Deck takes the grand prize for talent". Calgary Herald, September 20, 1992.
- ^ "FrancoFete goes global With a little help from the recent Francophonie Summit, the upcoming cultural event is gaining international attention". Times & Transcript, October 30, 1999.
- ^ "The nominees are . . .". Telegraph-Journal, December 7, 2001.
- ^ a b Pascal Raiche-Nogue, "Le chanteur country acadien Paul Dwayne n’est plus". Ici Radio-Canada Nouveau-Brunswick, August 27, 2024.
- ^ Jeremy Trevors, "Country singer excited to perform". Miramichi Leader, June 21, 2017.
External links
edit- Paul Dwayne discography at Discogs
- Paul Dwayne at IMDb