Michael Breen (musician)
| Michael Breen | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Michel Pépin |
| Born |
1960 Nicolet, Quebec |
| Genres | rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1980s |
| Labels | Alert Records |
| Associated acts | Luba, Sass Jordan, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Sarah McLachlan |
Michael Breen is the former stage name of Michel Pépin (born 1960 in Nicolet, Quebec) a Canadian pop and rock singer and session musician.[1] Although he released only one album as a solo artist, he had a hit single with "Rain" in 1987 and received a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist at the Juno Awards of 1989.[2]
Pépin first moved to Montreal at age 17 to pursue work in the music industry.[1] He released one album with the band Concert in 1982.[3] Although a francophone, he was more interested in pursuing stardom in the much larger English-language market than in limiting himself to the French language music scene in Quebec, and worked with Bill Sweetman and Geoff Hughes to write and record English language songs.[3] Their first collaboration, "Face to Face", was a finalist in the 1985 National Talent Search sponsored by Music Express and MuchMusic.[3]
He signed to Alert Records, and under the stage name Michael Breen he released a self-titled album on the label in 1987.[3] Two singles, "Rain" and "How Will I Know", were released from the album.[4] "Rain", which was written by Sass Jordan,[5] was a Top 40 hit in RPM, peaking at #33 the week of November 21, 1987,[6] but the album was only a modest seller, peaking at #91 in the week of November 7.[7]
His video for "Rain" garnered a Prix Félix nomination for Best Video in 1988,[8] and he was nominated for Most Promising Male Vocalist at the Juno Awards in 1989.[2]
Pépin never released another album as a solo artist, although he continued in the music business as a session guitarist for artists such as Luba,[9] Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Sarah McLachlan, Martha Wainwright, Emmylou Harris and Jean Leloup.[10]
References
- 1 2 "Quebec singer takes care making leap into English". Toronto Star, February 11, 1988.
- 1 2 "Juno candidates announced". Vancouver Sun, February 2, 1989.
- 1 2 3 4 "Breen, Michael" at canoe.ca's Pop Music Encyclopedia.
- ↑ "He prefers to learn from own mistakes". Windsor Star, February 12, 1988.
- ↑ "Sassy singer finally a hit". Ottawa Citizen, January 25, 1989.
- ↑ "RPM100 Singles". RPM, November 21, 1987.
- ↑ "RPM100 Albums". RPM, November 21, 1987.
- ↑ "Pop goes Quebec Oct. 23; Nominees announced for popular music prizes". Montreal Gazette, September 14, 1988.
- ↑ "Luba lights up the stage at Stages with a high-voltage performance". Kingston Whig-Standard, December 6, 1989.
- ↑ "Michel Pepin: Credits". AllMusic.
