January 14, 2021, marks the fifth anniversary of René Angélil’s passing. He entered the music scene as a singer in the group Les Baronets in the 60s, up until 1972. By then, his career as a manager started, for which he was known up until he passed away in 2016.
Les Baronets’ Career 1961-1972
The band members were René Angélil, Pierre Labelle, and Jean Beaulne, forming together in 1959. They officially became part of the “yéyé” music movement in 1961. Their songs included French covers of classic hits by the Beatles.
Manager
René Angélil became a manager in the 70s after the group’s run ended. He and his friend Guy Cloutier started to manage artists, including two legends René Simard and Ginette Reno. In the 80s, he became a solo manager, and he almost quit his career to go into law school. However, in 1981, he listened to Celine Dion’s demo tape. He became her agent soon after, until 2014, following his cancer diagnosis.
René Angélil had a state funeral in his honour. He leaves behind a significant legacy.
