{{Infobox musical artist | name = Les Baronets | years_active = 1961-1972 | past_members = René Angélil <br /> Jean Beaulne (1961-1966, 1967-1970) <br /> Pierre Labelle }}
'''Les Baronets''', briefly known as '''Les''' '''Nouveaux Baronets''', was a Québécois musical trio and then duo active from 1961 to 1972.
== History == René Angélil, Jean Beaulne and Pierre Labelle met during their studies. They discovered a common affinity for singing, and performed in multiple contests.<ref name=":0" />
In 1961, Les Baronets had their debut in cabarets, singing comedic songs and doing impressions of popular singers.<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}} They were originally inspired by English-speaking bands such as the The Four Lads and The Four Aces.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Les Baronets |url=http://quebecinfomusique.com/artistes/biographie.asp?artistid=405 |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=Québec Info Musique |language=fr}}</ref> The song "Johanne" on their first 45-rpm (1962) was successful, but they became highly popular (to an "unprecedented level" for a Québec band) thanks to their cover of "Hold Me Tight" by The Beatles called "C'est fou, mais c'est tout".<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}} They were one of the first Québécois artist to cover the Beatles in French.<ref name=":0" /> By then, they were already managed by Ben Kaye.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Thérien |first=Robert |title=Dictionnaire de la musique populaire au Québec 1955-1992 |last2=D'Amours |first2=Isabelle |publisher=Institut québécois de recherche sur la culture |year=1992 |isbn=2-89224-183-9 |location=Québec |language=fr}}</ref>{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}}
Les Baronets covered many songs of the Beatles.<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}} They became the most prolific cover artists for the Beatles in Quebec, except a few tribute bands. <ref name=":0" /> They performed at cabarets, on television and at Montreal's great venues such as the Comédie-Canadienne and the Place des Arts.<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}}Les Baronets signed a contract with Vee-Jay Records in 1965, recorded songs and were about to enter the American market, but the label went bankrupt before they could do so.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Arts- |date=2017-03-26 |title=René Angélil, les Baronets et le rêve américain |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1024518/rene-angelil-baronets-reve-americain-musique-contrat-etats-unis-producteur-vie-rose |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=Radio-Canada |language=fr-ca}}</ref>
In 1966, Beaulne's activities as an impresario stopped him from fully focusing on the group, and he was replaced by Jean-Guy Chapados. The band took the name of Les Nouveaux Baronets.<ref name=":0" /> Their popularity then declined, until the original trio reappeared at the Café de l’Est in March 1967.<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}} They passed under the label Canusa around 1967.<ref name=":0" />
In the following years, Les Baronets performed in the cabarets in American tourist cities such as Atlantic City. In early 1970, Labelle and Angélil continued as a duo.<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}} They switched to the Nobel record label in 1970.<ref name=":0" /> They were in the musical ''La belle amanchure''. They were actively recording until 1972.<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=15|location=}}
== Discography == {| class="wikitable" |+Singles<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=|page=16|location=}} ! Year !! Title |- |1962 |Arrêtez le mariage/Johanne |- |1963 |Mon beau rêve/Lise chérie |- |1963 |Dans tous les pays/On se trouvera |- |1964 |Les filles sont si belles/Bon, bon, bon |- |1964 |C’est fou, mais c’est tout/Oh je veux être à toi |- |1964 |Est-ce que tu m’aimes/Ça recommence |- |1964 |Je n’aurais jamais cru/Laisse-moi me reposer |- |1964 |Joyeux Noël/Le père Noël s’en vient |- |1965 |L’amour ça fait pleurer/Twist et chante |- |1965 |Je suis fou/C’est le Freddy |- |1965 |That’s The Way Love Happens/Mine All Mine |- |1965 |Johanne/Dans tous les pays |- |1965 |Vive le temps des Fêtes/Cet hiver je n’aurai plus froid |- |1966 |Comment/Seul sans toi |- |1966 |Tu es partie/Je n’aime que toi |- |1966 |Demain/Non, non, non |- |1966 |C’est fou, mais c’est tout/Est-ce que tu m’aimes |- |1966 |Ce n’est qu’un au revoir/C’est bon pour la publicité |- |1966 |Un petit sous-marin jaune/C’est triste |- |1966 |Cet hiver je n’aurai plus froid/Vive le temps des Fêtes |- |1967 |Je suis seul/Ce monde plein d’histoires |- |1967 |L’hymne à l’amour/Avec cette bague |- |1967 |Secrètement/Mr. Lee |- |1968 |La même chanson/Ça m’fait quelque chose |- |1968 |Lady Madonna/Même si tu revenais |- |1968 |Hello, je t’aime/Amour et liberté |- |1970 |Bon matin, ma rose/Sympathie |- |1970 |Si nous sommes ensemble/Tout le monde s’aime |- |1970 |Cet hiver je n’aurai plus froid/Vive le temps des Fêtes |- |1971 |Rita mon amour/Les filles |- |1971 |Tes histoires d’autrefois/J’ai un side-line payant |- |1972 |Tarzan/La complainte de Tarzan |- |1974 |C’est fou, mais c’est tout/Ça recommence |- |1974 |Est-ce que tu m’aimes/Twist et chante |- |1977 |Le téléphone 75/Crocodile Dance |}
{| class="wikitable" |+Albums<ref name=":12" />{{Reference page|pages=16-17|page=|location=}} ! Year !! Title |- |1963? |Les Baronets en spectacle |- |1964 |Ça recommence |- |1965 |Les Baronets à la Comédie-Canadienne |- |1967 |Les Baronets en personne |- |1968 |Réveillon chez la famille Canusa |- |1969 |15 succès |- |1969 |Le palmarès des Baronets |- |1970 |La belle amanchure |- |1971 |Pierre Labelle et René Angélil |- |1974 |21 titres d’or |- |1989 |Une soirée au cabaret avec les Baronets |- |1992 |Les Baronets |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Musical groups from Quebec Category:Musical groups established in 1961 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1972