Jean Michel Arcand was born October 19, 1978
Jean Arcand, originally from Sudbury Ontario, began playing the guitar at thirteen due to the influence of his grandmother. Even at age six Jean had a passion for the music scene. He started by imitating Michael Jackson's dance steps to entertain his family and guest.
In 1989, Jean and his family moved to Aylmer Quebec. Jean put together his first band (Handrail) with a group of his high school friends when he was sixteen. As a group they composed and recorded 10 original songs that sold 500 copies. Jean continued to ply his craft with this group. After completing his College Degree in Applied Audio Recording at (TARA) Raven Street Studios, Jean moved to Barrie Ontario in 2001 where he played with various groups and was involved with different projects for two years. As lead guitarist for the Dirty Little Swing Thing he was in opening act for David Wilcox (www.davidwilcoxrocks.com) and Blue Rodeo (www.bluerodeo.com).
In 2003, Jean returns to Quebec in a little town just outside of Montreal, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. He forms the group Classic Cats and enters in the FestiBlues (2004) competition in Montreal, where they placed third. They were the opening act for the likes of Michel Pagliaro, Steve Hill and Nanette Workman.
Jean tours with Big Daddy, a popular Québec entertainer for bars, corporate gigs and Festivals such as the 150th Anniversary of Pointe-à -la-Croix in Gaspé and La Traversé du lac Memphremagog.
In the late summer (2005), Jean accompanied Elizabeth Blouin-Brathwaite for a month at La Station in Longueuil, Québec.
Brotherman, an established Québec Blues band now has Jean for lead guitar and vocals.
Souldust, a band that assisted in the production in Zoumanity for the Circle-du-Soleil has Jean playing Acoustic Slide Guitar and Dobro on the album Souldust.
Jean also played Slide Guitar and Dobro for Larry on the song "Tout petit".
Jean's style has been influenced by such guitarist as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Hill, Brian Setzer, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons etc.
Jean is back in Ontario keeping it real!
