Daniel Hétu

Hétu, Daniel

Daniel Hétu. Pianist, organist, accompanist, arranger, conductor, singer-songwriter, b Montreal 1 Dec 1950, d Montreal 8 Jan 2008; B MUS (Montreal) 1971. Daniel Hétu began studying piano at four with André Mathieu. Hétu's first single, an organ arrangement of 'La Parade des soldats de bois' (1962, for RCA), received the Grand Prix du disque canadien CKAC (children's section). He studied 1967-71 at the École Vincent-d'Indy and also worked for three years with Neil Chotem (orchestration and arranging). In 1971 he distinguished himself at the Yamaha International Organ Competition in Nemuno Sato, Japan. He was arranger, accompanist, and conductor for René Simard in 1972 and Ginette Reno in 1977. He also worked in this capacity on several of Lucien Hétu's (his father's) recordings and for such artists as Edith Butler, Renée Claude, Nicole Cloutier, Patsy Gallant, Aimé Major, and Renée Martel. Daniel Hétu was music director of the CBC TV programs 'Les Coqueluches' in 1976 and 'Faut voir ca' in 1978 and for CFTM-TV's 'Les Tannants' 1978-81, and 'Michel Jasmin' in 1983. He also performed on the radio program 'Le Radio-café Provigo.' He made several LPs, including Daniel Hétu joue les grands succès de Roger Whittaker (1972, RCA Gala CGPSX-392), Je t'attendais (1979, Célébrité CEL-2001), and Ma vie (1983, Disques No. 1 NO-1833). A 1993 CD, Rétrospective, was reissued in 2001 (Mérite 22-1167). Hétu's song "Je t'attendais" earned a SOCAN Classics Award in 1999.