Martin Stevens (musician)
{{Short description|Canadian singer (1953–2023)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Martin Stevens
| image = Martin Stevens (musician)_resize.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Roger Prud'homme
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|10|03}}
| birth_place = Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|07|05|1953|10|03}}
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = Pop singer
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
Roger Prud'homme[https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/chroniques/26750/sonne-ma-cloche-encore-encore-encore "Sonne ma cloche! Encore, encore, encore!"]. Le Devoir, May 2, 2003. (October 3, 1953 – July 5, 2023), better known by his stage name Martin Stevens, was a Canadian pop singer prominent in the disco era."Winds of change blow through Quebec". Billboard, January 27, 1979. p. C23. He was most noted as a two-time Juno Award nominee for Best Selling Single, receiving nominations at the Juno Awards of 1979 for "Love Is in the Air""Juno list has that familiar look". The Globe and Mail, March 21, 1979. and at the Juno Awards of 1980 for "Midnight Music"."Complete list of nominees for tonight's Juno Awards". The Globe and Mail, April 2, 1980.
Life and career
A francophone from Verdun, Quebec, he recorded a number of French-language singles in the 1970s, including "J’aime la musique (Comme un fou)" and "Sans ton amour".[https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2017/04/26/quatre-decennies-de-disco "Quatre décennies de disco"]. Le Journal de Montréal, April 30, 2017. His self-titled debut album, released in 1978, consisted entirely of French material except for his cover of Vanda & Young's "Love Is in the Air". His version of the song debuted on the Canadian charts in July 1978,[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=3632& "RPM100"]. RPM, July 22, 1978. and had already reached #21 by September 9,[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4618a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4618a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4618a "RPM100 (1-50)"]. RPM, September 9, 1978. the week the more internationally familiar version by John Paul Young debuted.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4618b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4618b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4618b "RPM100 (50-100)"]. RPM, September 9, 1978. The two versions appear to have cut into each other's chart performance; Stevens' version immediately stalled, peaking only at #19 a few weeks later before beginning to decline,{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/70s/1978/RPM-Canada-1978-09-30.pdf| title=RPM Magazine - September 30, 1978 - page 13}} while Young's peaked at #26 two weeks later.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0018a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0018a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0018a "RPM100"]. RPM, October 21, 1978.
Stevens' second album, Midnight Music, was released in 1979 and consisted entirely of English-language songs."Quebec talent back on disk, tour scene". Billboard, December 22, 1979. p. 72. The title track was a hit in Quebec, but did not perform strongly on the English Canadian charts, reaching number 50.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6912a.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - December 1, 1979}} Stevens was a Prix Félix finalist for Male Artist of the Year in 1979, but did not win.
Stevens published an autobiography, Sexe, drogue et disco, in 2007.[http://journalmetro.com/culture/14972/la-comedie-humaine/ "La comédie humaine"]. Métro, April 7, 2008.
Martin Stevens died on July 5, 2023, at the age of 69.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2023/07/05/le-chanteur-disco-martin-stevens-est-decede|title=Le chanteur disco québécois Martin Stevens est décédé|date=5 July 2023|website=Tvanouvelles.ca|access-date=July 5, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs artist|Martin Stevens}}
- {{IMDb name|13639790}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Martin}}
Category:Canadian male singers
Category:Canadian disco musicians
Category:Singers from Montreal