Gilles Losier

G I L L E S L O S I E RB I O G R A P H YAn Acadian by birth, Gilles Losier grew up immersed in the traditional music of the region. This oral tradition, plus a good classical training acquired at schools for the blind in Montreal and Halifax, has produced an unusually gifted and sensitive musician who sings, plays violin, piano, organ, synthesizers, and electric and acoustic bass. His greatest asset is the rare ability to instantly analyze any musical style and play comfortably in it - from folk and country to blues, jazz, rock and easy listening. Some of the tunes he has composed have already found their way into the folk tradition.To date Losier has played and accompanied a unique variety of music. He has toured the Coffee House Circuit in the USA, and has performed in most of the major concert halls such as Place des Arts in Montreal, The National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Carnagie Hall in New York City, and others in Britain and Europe. He has represented Canada at national and international folk festivals in North America and Europe, at Expo '67 and Expo '86 and the 1976 Olympics. He has toured extensively throughout Canada, the U.S., Britain and Europe. He has toured with many French Canadian dance troupes and played for English and Scottish country dance classes, socials and balls.To his credit are numerous television and radio programs and several films. He has worked on a large number of albums. Among the outstanding musicians Losier has worked with are: the Chieftains; Boys of the Lough; fiddlers Jean Carignan, Aly Bain, Graham Townsend, Alasdair Fraser, Jim Morrison and Seamus Connolly; accordionists Philippe Bruneau, Denis Pepin, Roger Lenteigne and Marc Savoy; singers Ritchie Havens, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Edith Butler and Angèle Arsenault; dance troupes Les Gens de Mon Pays, Les Danseurs de St. Laurent and Marie Calumet; Acadian rock group '1755'. This list goes on and on. Besides his work with other artists, Losier is a fine singer and solo performer.For twenty years Losier was the piano accompanist to master Quebec fiddler Jean Carigan. Losier did most of the arrangements on the many albums they recorded together. Besides the hundreds of concerts they performed, Carignan and Losier worked together on several films.As musical director for Les Gens de Mon Pays, Losier and his trio won the prestigious 'Disque d'Argent' from l'Academe Charles Cros in Paris for the music they played at 'Les Fètes International de la Vigne' in Dijon, France. He received the ‘Stompin’ Tom Connors award from The East Coast Music Association for his outstanding contribution to traditional music in Canada. Besides these awards, he has won various other prizes, including the MOD Ontario Fiddle Championship; judged numerous fiddle contests and given technical workshops on fiddle, piano and oral tradition.As well as being an accomplished musician, Losier is also one of the best piano tuners in North America. For twenty-two years he was the resident piano tuner at Place des Arts in Montreal, one of Canada’s foremost concert halls. Tired of the politics and stress, he resigned from Place des Arts and moved back home to New Brunswick in 1998.Gilles Losier chante L'Acadie, compose, joue le violon, le piano, l'orgue-synth‚tiseur et joue la basse électrique et acoustique. Il a eu des représentations à travers l'Amérique du Nord et aussi en Europe; pour l'Expo '67 et l'Expo '86, pour les jeux olympiques en '76 et le festival mondial d'Écosse en '92.Il a fait ses représentations sur scène, TV, radio, film, ou a fait des enregistrements avec: Les Chieftains, Boys of the Lough, Jean Carignan, Aly Bain, Graham Townsend, Alasdair Fraser, Seamus Connolly; les accordionistes Philippe Bruneau, Denis Pépin et Marc Savoy; les Chanteurs(euses) Ritchie Havens, Kate et Anna McGarrigle, Edith Butler et Angèle Arsenault; avec les troupes de danse les Gens de Mon Pays, les Danseurs du St-Laurent et Marie Calumet; le groupe rock Acadien '1755'.Gilles a gagné plusieurs prix, incluant 'Mod Ontario Championnat de Violon'. Il a donné des ateliers d'apprentissage pour le violon, piano et les traditions oraux.Autrement, Gilles était accordeur de piano à Place des Arts à Montréal pendant 22 années, jusqu'a sa retraite récente. Il démeure présentement au nord du Nouveau Brunswick, dans son Acadie native, mais il retourne fréquement à Montréal; pour visiter, travailler, et jouer de la musique avec ses amis dans la métropole.