Michel Pagliaro Web Site

Born in 1948, Montreal's Michel Pagliaro learned how to play guitar at age 11 and by 15 was playing in his first band - Les Stringmen, followed by Les Bluebirds and Les Merseys.

At age 18 he became the replacement bass player for the successful Les Chancelliers and went on to become the lead singer for the group, who managed to hit the charts with the 1966 single "Le P'tit Poppy". By age 20 he grew tired of just being in bands and decided to go solo by releasing several singles in Quebec including "Comme d'habitude" (the original french version of "My Way") and "Avec la tete". These early years include many french adaptations of english hits and by 1969 he begins releasing a string of hits of his own compositions: "A t'aimer", "Pour toi, pour toi", "Mama river" and his first rock 'n' roll anthem, "J'ai marche pour une nation".

It would be in 1971 that Pagliaro's fortunes changed as he signed a deal through CHUM Ltd.'s CanCon fulfilling Much Records that provided him the opportunity to spread out into English speaking Canada with the hit "Give Us One More Chance". That same year came the release of his first English album (partially recorded at Abbey Road Studios). The British sounding "Lovin' You Ain't Easy", "Some Sing, Some Dance" and "Rainshowers" made Pagliaro a household name across Canada

If 1971 was the year of the English breakthrough, the release of the french album "PAG" the following year establishing Michel Pagliaro as Quebec's first true rock star. "J'entends frapper", a hard driving rock classic in the "Johnny B. Goode" tradition would become the biggest selling 7" single in the history of Quebec music. The song even impacted English Canada where it went to number one at all the radio stations in the Kingston area. A second single from the album, "Fou de toi" becomes a smash hit also.

Having become the first Canadian artist to be rewarded Gold records in both official languages, Pag builds on this success with the release of "Pagliaro Live", a double album recorded on tour in the summer of 1973. "Live" goes on to become his best selling album ever.

Now recognized as a superb songwriter, Pag returns to his roots for some old time rock 'n' roll. First, he regroups his band members of the time, Hovaness Hagopian, George Lagios, Derek Kendrick and Billy Workman with some old friends and releases a band album under the name "The Rockers". The album features great fifties classics by Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Eddie Cochrane, some in English and some in French. Most notable is "Miss Ann" which had previously appeared on the Live album. This is followed up by one of several albums simply entitled "Pagliaro". Side one continued in the 'classics' vein of "Rockers" while side two featured new Pagliaro compositions.

1975 saw a switch from RCA to Columbia Records, a move that seemed to revitalize him. Almost simultaneously, he would release "Pagliaro" and "Pagliaro I", the former in French, the later in English. Some songs were translations of each other, while others lived only in one language. "What The Hell I Got" was a radio smash in English Canada, while "Louise" and "Emeute dans la prison" rocked Quebec. Extensive touring throughout Canada accompanied these albums, including an appearance with Peter Frampton at Toronto's CNE. In Jonquiere, Quebec, the band played "Emuete dans la prison" (Riot in Cell Block #9) as a real life riot exploded outside the venue, fans frustrated at not gaining access to the sold out show.

Repeating a successful formula, Pag again released coinciding english/french albums in 1976 with "Aujourd'hui" and "Time Race". Again, some cuts, like "Time Race/Le temps presse" appeared in both languages while others, such as "Dock of the Bay" and "Gloire a nous" stood on their on own. Despite some great tunes on "Time Race", Pagliaro still found it difficult to keep his popularity in areas outside of Quebec and found he was more welcome in his native home. There would be very limited output in English beyond this point.

The late seventies and early eighties saw the release of "Rock 'n' Roll" and "Bamboo". The first presenting a more raw 'punkish' sound than we were accustomed to and the second a more mature sounding Pag with somewhat of a 'new wave' influence. Yet again, he had re-invented himself and acquired the respect of a new generation of fans with songs like "L'ennuie cherche un amour", "Travailler", and "Romantique"

Following a self-imposed exile in the early '80's spent in France where he produced French pop star Jacques Higelin, Pagliaro returned to Quebec in 1987 and released two singles "Les Bombes" and "Dangereux" which could only be described as "vintage Pag". A year later he would release his last album of new material to date, 'Sous Peine D'Amour', featuring the hit single 'L'espion' which went Top-10 in Quebec.

Pagliaro became noticeably less visible throughout the nineties, although he did some touring in the first half of the decade and was honoured with a tribute concert at the 1990 Quebec Summer Festival (Festival d'ete du Quebec).

A double album compilation of his greatest hits in both languages, "Hit Parade", was released in 1995 and an English only compilation entitled "Goodbye Rain", featuring five previously unreleased songs hit the stores in 1997.

In the new millenium, Pag has toured Quebec in 2000, made occasional appearances here and there (including half-time show at the 2001 Grey Cup), and released a compilation CD entitled simple "Pag". In 2002 he played a 9 night stand at the Casino de Montreal and completed a tour with young Montreal band "Les Respectables".

In response to the incessant questions about a new CD, Pagliaro insists he is working on it and it will be released 'when it is ready' and maintains that it doesn't matter when it is, it's the result that counts.

Stay tuned for the next chapter ...

With notes from Marc Hohmann, Ken Smith, & Tony Carocchi. Special thanks to Jaimie Vernon of the Canadian Music Encyclopedia.