September 6, 2o20
Manitoba’s queen of country music Lucille Starr died on Friday after a long illness, her family confirms.
The trailblazing chanteuse, best known for The French Song, came from a tightly-knit Francophone community in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood and rose to fame in the 1950s, performing all over the world.
Although Starr performed with Bob Regan as a country duo called the Canadian Sweethearts, she enjoyed a successful solo career as well.
Starr was the first female Canadian country music singer to sell one million records, the first Canadian woman to be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the first Canadian woman to perform at Nashville’s famous Grand Ole Opry.
A close friend of Starr Joyce Smith says she spoke with Starr’s husband, Brian Cunningham, of Las Vegas who confirmed her passing on Friday.
The family says the 82-year-old is survived by her husband, her son Robert Frederickson, stepdaughter Shannon Cunningham and stepson David Cunningham.
At Starr’s request, there won’t be a funeral, her family says.
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Her biggest hit from 1964 “the french song” was also rerecorded in the 80s. She actually moved to maillardville when she was young.
Lucille Starr had not only talent but a fun filled personality that often brought her songs to life and she knew how to dance with the music. Music was always a part of family life in St. Boniface and in Maillardville she found her niche, and Bob Regan. ‘The French Song’ , I believe, was written on Blue Mountain in Coquitlam. RIP, Lucille, you will missed and remembered.