MONTREAL - Claude Leveillee, hailed as a singer-songwriter who helped define Quebec's culture and who composed songs for the legendary singer Edith Piaf, died Thursay. He was 78.
Tributes flowed from the province's artistic community and the provincial legislature.
Culture Minister Christine St-Pierre said the government had been in touch with Leveillee's family and didn't rule out a state funeral.
There was also talk that a piece of Montreal's new theatre district, surrounding the Place des arts auditoriums, could be named after Leveillee.
The first Quebecer to play Place des arts, Leveillee performed with such big Quebec names as Yvon Deschamps, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Gilles Vigneault and Robert Charlebois.
Piaf, the immortal French singer, invited him to Paris to write songs for her _ which he did, spending months practically sequestered in her apartment. His compositions included "Boulevard du crime'' and "Les Vieux Pianos.''
Leveillee made his debut in 1955 in the revue "Bleu et or'' at the Universite de Montreal, where he was studying social sciences. He went on to a stellar career that also included acting.
Premier Jean Charest told the legislature in a tribute that Leveillee "defined, in many ways, our culture.''
Leveillee was part of the singing group "Les Bozos'' and created several popular characters for childrens' TV shows.
He was a collaborator of pianist Andre Gagnon, who described him as "an immense talent.''
Guy Latraverse, who was Leveillee's first agent, put him in the same league as Quebec icon Felix Leclerc.
"After Felix Leclerc, there was him,'' said Latraverse.
In Ottawa, Heritage Minister James Moore also expressed sadness and called Leveillee a towering Quebec artist.
