M.SOUL/ Marcel Soulodre, Canadian singer-songwriter,

musician, born in Saint-Boniface (Manitoba).

His father of French origin and mother of English and American extraction.

Nurtured since childhood on the traditional music played by his parents, it was on his grandmother’s piano that he began playing music at 6 years of age.

In his teens, he received his first guitar but it wasn’t until the age of 21.

After a near fatal car accident, M.Soul began to seriously play music and also to learn the French language of his father.

His first group ‘The Ministers of Soul’, played the clubs of Winnipeg extensively and it was during that time that he encountered some Cajun musicians at the ‘Festival du Voyageur’.

Seeking them out in Louisiana, M.Soul dove headlong into their music and culture.

It was this long journey which sparked his deep desire to compose his own songs beginning in English and then very soon in French.

M.Soul accomplishments have been many :

• Between 1987 to 1990, he composed music and songs for five plays for the theatre Le Cercle Molière.
• He recorded his first album Marcel Soul in 1986 and won as Canadian Singer Songwriter the ‘Song of the Year’ for CBC Manitoba with Ain’t Times Tough  in 1990.
• In 1993 he won the award for best Canadian singer-songwriter for the  Gala de la chanson du Manitoba  followed by best singer-songwriter at Le Chant Ouest in Vancouver.
• As well the award for best song King Louis and was invited to perform at Le Festival International de la Chanson de Granby (Québec).
• He subsequently made the acquaintance of a journalist in Saint-Boniface, a native of the Alsace region in France.
• Together they began an ongoing partnership that produced nearly a hundred songs such as Au pays de la radio to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Radio Canada Manitoba CKSB in 1996.
• In 1996, also, he and his Cajun friends were invited to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
• and in 1997 he was invited to sing his songs the Expo-langues at La Villette in Paris.

This was his first visit to France.

He also performed in Strasbourg, Lyon Toulouse, Angoulême and Nantes.

That same year he composed and performed  Giddy Up live on national television for the opening ceremonies of the Canada Summer Games in Brandon (Manitoba).

• In 1999 he was chosen to sing City of the Plains by composer Victor Davies for the opening ceremonies of the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg before 500 million viewers.
• The albums Giddy Up and Que je recommence were released in 2000, the later winning a Western Canadian Music award for outstanding francophone album.

• In 2002, the idea came to M.Soul of creating a show paying homage to the life and songs of Johnny Cash.

Attributing the song I Still Miss Someone as being the impetus to opening the door to the universe of Johnny Cash.

M.Soul created a 2 hour performance rich with details of the life of Johnny Cash, the ‘50’-‘60’s-‘70’s and of his own personal experiences as a child growing up in Winnipeg.

A tour of three weeks was scheduled for September 2003.

With the passing of Cash on the eve of the tour, what was to be 3 weeks became an intense 3 years traveling throughout Canada and the USA.

‘Wanted Man – A Tribute to Johnny Cash’ continued to tour with over 300 shows in North America and Europe.

• In 2009, after several visits to France, M.Soul decided to settle in Strasbourg, France.

Starting a new career on the other side of the Atlantic is no easy matter but M.Soul quickly found himself talented musicians to perform and participate in festivals throughout Europe.

Shows in Germany (Country Nuremberg), France (West Country Festival-Bain de Bretagne), Switzerland (Country Festival Interlaken), Belgium (Cerexhe).

M.Soul returns every year to his northern native land, happy to visit friends, fans and family and to tour with his ever faithful Canadian musical team.

DISCOGRAPHY

• Cassettes :

“Marcel Soul“(1986).

“Gates Of Heaven“(1990).

“The Chapel Sessions“(1992).

“Marcel Soulodre“(1994).

• CD :

– J’avais dans les yeux (1995).

– Que Je recommence (1999).

– Giddy Up (1999).

– Wanted Man, M Soul Sings The Songs Of Johnny Cash (2005).

– Sur le chemin des rencontres (2007).

– Let It Go, EP de 4 titres (2013).

– Don’t Take Your Guns To Town (2013).

– This Time The Girl’s In Trouble (2016).

– Hello out There. Le Manitoba vous répond (2022).

• Compilations

– Musiques de la Francophonie. Europe, Afrique & Louisiane (1993).

– En Plaine Chanson. Compilation des artistes Manitobains (1995).

– RADO. Compilation des artistes de l’Ouest (1995).

– Gala de la Francophonie Canadienne (1997).

– Semaine de la Francophonie.CD pour les écoles (1997).

– Boîtes à Chanson. Revue musicale (1999).

– Go West Prairie Music Alliance (1999).

 

The NEW Album “Hello Out There le Manitoba vous répond”.

has been released on September 9th 2022

Click here to see the playlist from my 2 first singles :

‘Swingtime Baby’ & ‘Galère’

Hello Out There le Manitoba vous répond.

SOUNDCLOUD    BANDCAMP   SPOTIFY   APPLE   AMAZON  

A New Upcoming Show : Friendly Manitoba

More infos here