Program backs view Quebec rock singer once was world class
By James Hale, Ottawa Citizen, 1992

In these days of Celine Dion, the sequined cyclone from Quebdec who has scored big on the international pop charts, it's tough to remember that French Canadian singers ever went overlooked.. Maybe that's why Rod Gaskell doesn't want us to forget Michel Pagliaro.

Monday night, Gaskell's show Hip Shake (CHUO 89.1 FM) will attempt to make a case that Pagliaro was once one of the world's best rock singers. Known only Pag during his heyday, the singer spearheaded the rise of Montreal rock in the early 70's, yet never moved beyond the fringes of underground FM radio.

"It's incredible that Pagliaro never really spread outside of Quebec's borders," says Gaskell. "Between 1972 and '75, Pag was arguably the finest singer in rock, outperforming many British and American 'name' acts, yet receiving precious little coverage in Canada's English language media. His recordings for RCA were gems that deserve a place in any book on the history of rock and roll."