Mr. Speaker, a truly great man passed away on Saturday. Jean-Pierre Ferland, known to all as our petit roi, is mourned by his wife, his family and millions of grieving subjects. Quebec swayed to his music for more than 65 years.
He was born in Montreal like a flower blooming in a cracked sidewalk and later settled in Saint-Norbert. He bestowed upon us hundreds of songs, each a masterpiece. From Immortels and Écoute pas ça to Je reviens chez nous and Un peu plus haut, un peu plus loin, his repertoire is marvellous and monumental. He sang of love and women his whole life long. His magnum opus, Jaune, was a massive success and perhaps the greatest album in Quebec history.
Fortunately, he is not really gone, not truly. I will always be with you
On your shoulders, in your lap
I am because we must exist
The artist café's constant cat
I am grateful to Jean-Pierre. We were lucky to have had him.