A “great artist”. A phenomenon “. The idol of a generation who accompanied his admirers through good and bad times. Karl Tremblay, singer of the Cowboys Fringants, who died on Wednesday at the age of 47, was entitled to a final concert of praise.
The members of the group – Jean-François Pauzé, Marie-Annick Lépine, Karl Tremblay’s partner, and Jérôme Dupras – announced the singer’s death on social media shortly before 5 p.m.
He died after a bitter battle with prostate cancer, diagnosed in 2020, which he revealed he had been diagnosed with in 2022.
The response, both online and elsewhere, was overwhelming.
Singer-songwriter Robert Charlebois said he was very sad. We have shared memories… It’s like losing a tribe member […] I knew that [le traitement contre le cancer] wasn’t going in the right direction, but we have the same agent, the same publicist… All week people have been telling me, ‘But his treatments are going well.’ ‘And that’s where I’m devastated,’ he explained in an emotional voice .
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The city of Montreal flew its flags at half-mast Thursday to highlight the cultural legacy of Karl Tremblay, the Cowboys Fringants singer whose death was announced Wednesday.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Simon-Marc Charron
Michel Rivard, another pillar of Quebec song singing, said he was very, very touched by the death of the Cowboys Fringants singer.
Karl Tremblay was a phenomenon for me. I know how difficult it is to keep a group together. They have persevered all these years. They brought to Quebec an energy and sensitivity that was absolutely unique in the history of Quebec singing, he confided.
The political class also reacted. Quebec Premier François Legault confirmed that all of Quebec was crying. Mr Legault will make an official statement at 11am on Thursday to respond to the death of Cowboys Fringants singer.
Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe was very shocked by the death of Karl Tremblay and spoke of collective grief.
This is probably the first time that a great artist like him leaves us and that it means something to me because like many Quebecers, I grew up with the Cowboys Fringants… The Cowboys Fringants are the rest of us. Karl Tremblay is the voice of so many people and the struggles, the minister said during a telephone interview with Radio-Canada.
The Cowboys are my entire life
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The Cowboys Fringants attracted 90,000 people to the Quebec Summer Festival on July 17th.
Photo: Facebook/Cowboys Fringants
Beyond all the tributes, a few dozen admirers of the Cowboys Fringants gathered Wednesday evening in front of the Vieux Palais de L’Assomption, an important venue for the group’s members. Marie-Annick Lépine is particularly responsible for the cultural program.
Shortly after 8 p.m., a man set up an electric piano and played some of the group’s famous songs, including Toune d’Automne, Les Etoiles Filantes and the poignant On My Shoulder.
He did his last show with the Jean-Karl duo [le duo composé de Jean-François Pauzé et Karl Tremblay] Here. You saw that he didn’t run away, but Karl was a warrior. I’ve been following Karl for 20 years, since university, in good times and bad. The Cowboys are my entire life. “Karl was always humble and always there for his fans,” testified a woman he met on the sidewalk in front of the Old Castle.
They are moving Quebec forward, the Cowboys, she added. It was really important to come and pay tribute to him. During his lifetime he could hear how much Quebecers loved him. He has a big place in our hearts.
A father stated that it was important to come to the Vieux Palais with his children to show all our love for Karl Tremblay. My parents mourned Gerry Boulet, we mourned Karl Tremblay.
A man whose son coached hockey at an arena near the Old Castle thought he should attend this impromptu gathering. I always followed them. I’m the same age as Karl. I shed a tear when I heard of his death. “It came for me,” he confided.
He is a guy who has always been authentic and has always remained simple despite his popularity. “A good person,” the man added.
An employee of the youth center L’Assomption, who also took part in the spontaneous tribute, said that there were eight million of us [de personnes] in mourning, at least.
It’s like losing a big brother. It’s a little strange to grieve for someone you don’t know personally, but it’s as strong as if it were my brother. It hurts.
There is no doubt that the feelings of many were turned upside down late Wednesday afternoon and evening. Karl Tremblay may have already had a drink with Maurice in the bistro in the afterlife.
With information from Mathieu Papillon