Jérôme Lemay

Jérôme was born in the settlement of Béarn, a small village, part of the Témiscamingue region, on August 22 nd , 1933. He is the tenth child of a family of eleven.

Jérôme took up the guitar playing when he was nine, using his brother's instrument behind his back. At the age of 16, he plays hotels and venues around Rouyn and Val d'Or, as a part of the family orchestra.

Raising to local stardom, Jérôme lands his own radio show at station CKRN (Radionord Network).

Jérôme teams up whith friend Raymond Hébert to form Jay & Ray. The duet is quite popular among teenage girls.

1955 marks the arrival of Jerome in Montréal. He gets his first gig at the Beaver Café. A few weeks later, at Café chez Émile in Québec city, he meets Jean Lapointe who was then performing solo under the name Jean Capri. Jérôme Lemay was then working as Jay Rom...

Jérôme and Jean then decide to become stage partners Les Jérolas were born. It was hard time for the boys who then had to share a sofa-bed in a small apartment.

Their first break came early on when lawyer Charlemagne Landry , the owner of the trendy Café Minuit, became their manager. The duet found instant succes while performing at La Barak. It was in 1955 and Les Jérolas were one of the hottest act in Montreal .

On January 1 st , 1956 Les Jérolas were on television for the fist time as the year's best new artists, sharing the stage with Félix Leclerc. The TV show named Music-Hall was hosted by Suzanne Avon and Michelle Tisseryre.

RCA Victor took up the duet, and by December 1956, their firts record was out. The two songs" Were "L'amour et moi and Rythme et fantaisie".

Their first Paris engagement was at Sa Majesté le Doyen on Champs Élyées. The public ‘s reaction is positive. Les Jérolas will be back….

Jérôme Married his girlfiend Lisette on October of that year.

By 1958, Les Jérolas are the top act in Québec's business. Their new hit record, Le chemin du paradis, is number one on the charts.

Yakety Yak, their new 1959 realase becomes a huge commercial success. The boys are getting a lot of airplay and their first album, a live one entitled Les Jérolas sont là, sells like a hot cakes. Then follows a string of hits such as "Charlie Brown, Est-tu content?, Au pays des incas, Jones s'est montré, La veillée chez le père Jos, Mathilda, Cola Café, Pour fair un duo", and so on …

During the course of theire career, Les Jérolas recorded over twenty albums.



1960 à 1974


Jérôme won his first award in 1960 when is song, “Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras”, is chosen as best Canadian song in CBC télévision contest. It was one the first gold recod in the history of Québec. Les Jérolas are named the number one variety act in French Canada.

Many awards were given to the duet “Gala Music-Hall Labatt” in both 1959 and 1960, “Grand Prix du disque CKAC 1960”, Festival du disque 1966”, 25 th sold-out engagment at Gérard Thibeault' s cabarets in Québec 1966 and much more.

In 1961 Jérome signs the music and lyrics of a new song, Méo Penché, the first french Canadian rock song, that will strengten the success of Les Jérolas for years to come. The song was later recorded by French singer Marcel Amont and a string of Québec artists. Pierre Bertrand (Beau Dommage) recorded it in 1981. It was edited in France by Michel Legrand.

The Higlight of Jérôme's career with Les Jérôlas came on April 28, 1963 when they appeared on the Ed Sullivan's Show. Back then, Ed Sullivan had the highest ratings on American television.

The boy's Fan Club was huge. Their success was become so evident that the CBC gave them their own television shows En scène avec Les Jérolas and Tout l'monde joue.

The movie business took interest on the phenomenon and a feature film was shot by Québec's most celebrated director, Gilles Carle: Place aux Jérolas. Later, Jérôme and Jean lente their acting talent to more Canadian movies such as YUL 871 and Deux femmes en or, one of the biggest commercial success in the history of Canadian cinema. They also success in the history of Canadian cinema. They also starred in a National Film Board production called The Winner.

In May 1964, Les Jérolas opened for Woody Allen at the Blue Angel Club, in New York City . Barbra Streisand, Lucille Ball and Elliott Gould were in the audience.

1965 saw yet another premiere for the boys. They were the first variety artists to successfully take their club act into a large venue. They took the stage by storm at the Comédie Canadienne.

The French Public of Paris was charmed teice by Les Jérolas in 1966, both times at L'Olympia de Paris. First with les Feux Follets in a show called Plein feux sur le Canada and later on as the opening act for French star Claude Francois.

One of their musician was famous jazz drummer Guy Nadon, who played with the boys for over twelve years. Directed by Jean Bissonnette, Les Jérolas, Dominic Michel and Denise Filiatreault teamed up for a Sunday night television special on CBC called Fuddle Doddle.

With that much succes at their doorstep, Les Jérolas became radio and televison endorsers for such giants as Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, Esso and Hydro-Québec. They also shot an award-winning commercial for “Laurentide beer".

In 1968, they opened up for legend Charles Aznavour at Montréal”s most prestigious venue: La Place des Arts (salle Wilfied-Pelletier).

In 1969, Le Club Richelieu International hired them to play the “Théatre des festivals” in Cannes.

In 1971, it s back to Paris for the boys who play the Olympia with singer Dalida. They appear on European television with Nana Mouskouri on Roger Pierre et Jean-Marc Thibeault's show.

In October of 1973, Jérôme and his long-time partener Jean Lapointe gave their last big show as Les Jérolas. Its was called l'Opéra au parlement (Ça va barber).

Les Jérolas broke up in July of 1974. Jérôme goes back to solo career. Jérôme's first solo effort came out in 1975: Jérôme, 1er Volume on Select Records (S-398-230). Later that year, he lands a lead role in the movie Oui mais, also starring Ernest Guimond.

1975 - Today

His “Tang” television commercial gets a “Coq d'argent”.

In 1976 and 1977, aside from touring as a solo artist, Jérôme participated in the big CBC year-end- revue Bye bye with the likes of Jacques Normand, Denise Filiatreault, André Monmorency, Benoit Marleau, Michel Desroches, and Many more.

In 1978, he moved to TVA for their year-end special, sharing the stage with Jean-Guy Moreau, France Castel and Paul Houde.

His second solo albums came out in 1978: La Deuxième partie de mon show (Capitol St-70060).

Jérôme is honored on a CBC special feature: Spécial Jérôme Lemay. He also does vedette en direct and Les Beaux Dimanches with Jacques Boulanger.

In March 1979, Jérôme performs at La Place des Arts in a series of five sold-out shows at la Salle Maisonneuve.

In 1981-1982, Jérôme Played two –month engagement at the Théàtre des Variétés, in Montreal.

A third solo album comes out: Sans arrêt (Merite 9013).

Already a licensed commercial pilot, Jérôme takes a break from show bussiness in 1983 to indulge in his passion for small planes. He only appears on television once in a while.

After an offer by Quebecor to publish the whole story of Les Jérolas, Jérôme takes some time off and puts it down on paper. It is published under the tittle Les Jérolas and gets good public response.

In 1990, Jérôme signs a contract with Transport Canada to host a documentary on air safety.

Later on , he does many appearances on television series Le monde selon Croc. In 1992, director Gilles Carle Gets Jérôme back under the spotlight for a role in his new movie La Postière. He is noticed by the critics who are talking about a comeback.

In 1993, after noticing Jérôme's strong comeback in show business, Jean Lapointe invites him for a one-shot deal at “Festival Just pour Rire”. It's a magic moment as the audience is up on their feet for a long standing ovation. It is now clear that people want a Jerolas reunion Jerome and Jean decide to include a half-hour “best of” in Jean's solo show Un dernier coup de balai. It becomes the higlight of the show.

This new show takes Jean and Jérôme in the largest venues aroud Québec, Ontario and New-Brunswick for weeks of sold-out performances. The show is record for television and Cd is released under the tittle Les Jérolas: au revoir et merci (BYCD_204).

During the “Téléthon Jean Lapointe”, Jérôme and his son Jérôme Jr. Make a guest apparance. They are cheered by the crowd. A new duet is born Lemay, père et fils.

In Agust of 1994, Lemay, père et fils give a string of concerts at La Butte St-Jacques. Jean Lapointe joins theme on stage for a few songs.

Together, Jérôme and his son Jr. appear on shows and hit the stages around the province. In 1995 Jérôme Lemay decides it' time for Jérôme Jr. To lauch his solo career.Jérôme becomes manager and Junior's first CD comes out in 1997 under the name Lemay.

In the meantime, Jérôme senior goes on his own career....

He gets rave reviews in his role of the Transport Minister. In the third edidtion of Les Parlementeries. Also in 1997, Jérôme is a guest at the “Festival juste pour Rire” at the Francofolies festival at the Place des arts and at the Casino de Montreal.

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Radio-Canada offered him a first role int the popular television drama Bouscoutte.

1999, 10 ieme gala S O C A N trophee for “Méo-Penché”

Summer 2001, Centre des arts, Shawinigan and

A new CD “Lemay d'amour Lemay d'humour”

Summer 2003, Théartre de Marieville

2004, a new CD “Lemay eur de Jérôme”

2005, Le festival juste pour rire (St-Denis and TV)

A New DVD “JEROME LEMAY et les Jérolas une histoire d'amour.