1996

LUCILLE STARR

Lucille Starr, born May 13, 1938 is a French-Canadian singer, songwriter, and yodeler best known for her 1964 hit single “ The French Song”. Born Lucille Marie Raymonde Savoie in St. Boniface, Manitoba she was a natural musician who could play guitar, bass as well as the mandolin. She began her singing career while living in a suburb of Vancouver where she was part of a local band. Using the stage name, Lucille Starr, she eventually teamed up with band member Bob Regan both as his wife and to form their own country singing due called Bob & Lucille. Between 1958 and 1963 they released several 45 RPM records that were mainly covers of an eclectic mix of fashionable country, pop, rockabilly and folk songs of everyone from Perry Como to Connie Francis. Their records met with success on the west coast, and in 1963 they were signed by A&M Records with whom they began recording as The Canadian Sweethearts.  At A&M Records in Los Angeles, Lucille recordd a 45RPM called The French Song that was produced by Herp Albert with his Tujuana Brass playing backup. A beautiful ballad of lost love sung in both French and English, the song struck a chord with both country fans. In 1964, at a time when the Beatles dominated the charts, The French Song was a huge international success that made Lucille Starr the first Canadian female artist to ever have a record sell a million copies. The song took her from near obscurity to the world stage, touring the US and appearing on the Louisiana Hayride radio show and on Chicago radio station WLS and Popular National Barn Dance. As well, Lucille sang on television musical variety shows such as Shindig and Hullabaloo followed by tours of Pacific Rim Countries, Australia, South Africa and across Europe where she became a particular favorite in the Netherlands. The song is reported to have sold in excess of 6 million copies, earning one platinum and five gold records.  In 1967 Lucille and her Canadian Sweethearts duo signed a recording contract with Epic Records in Nashville, Tennessee. The musical collaboration ended in 1977, and although she never again had a hit of the magnitude of The French Song, Lucille enjoyed a long and prosperous career. In her honor, a street in Coquitlam was named Lucille Starr Drive.