André "Dédé" Fortin, born on November seventeenth, nineteen sixty-two, was a prominent figure in the Québécois music scene as the founding member, frontman, and guitarist of the influential band Les Colocs, which he helped establish in nineteen ninety. Hailing from rural Quebec, Fortin was the tenth of eleven children, a background that shaped his artistic voice and perspective.
After pursuing studies in cinema at the Université de Montréal, Fortin channeled his passion for storytelling into music. Les Colocs emerged as a folk-rock band that tackled pressing social issues, including poverty, community disintegration, and drug dependence. Their poignant lyrics resonated with many, and their final album, Dehors Novembre, was honored with the Félix Award for Rock Album of the Year.
Beyond his musical contributions, Fortin was an outspoken advocate for Quebec sovereignty, actively campaigning for the