By External Source
By Erik Leijon
Montreal: The Quebec music industry is in mourning following the passing of industry veteran Paul Lévesque. The impresario, producer and career builder was the longtime manager of Bruno Pelletier of Notre Dame de Paris fame, as well as a onetime manager to Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Luba and even agent to a young Celine Dion. He passed away Saturday, January 25 from bacterial meningitis, according to Pelletier. He was 68,
While Dion’s late husband René Angélil was synonymous with running her career, Lévesque was actually the Quebec superstar’s first agent from 1980 to 1982. Lévesque’s employees introduced Angélil to Dion by playing him her demo tape in 1981 when they were looking for a record producer. Lévesque sued Angélil in 1984 before settling out of court. In 2007, Dion and her family sued Lévesque for allowing her song “Ce n'était qu'un rêve” to be used in a commercial.
Lévesque managed a pair of legendary Montreal acts: Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and Luba. He also managed Quebec legend Sylvain Cossette’s former band Paradox.
Lévesque founded the record label Les Disques Artiste in 1987.
The family will receive family and friends at 4231 St-Laurent, Montreal, Sunday, February 9, from 1:30-4 pm. Tributes after 4 p.m.
Aya NakamuraMarion Gomez/Billboard France