(Toronto) Canadian musician Jerry Doucette, whose songs Mama Let Him Play and nobody allowed his group “Doucette” to become part of the musical movement of yacht rock of the late 1970s, died at the age of 70.
Posted at 9:42 p.m.
His wife Maggie confirmed that the Juno award-winning artist died Monday of cancer at a senior center in Delta, British Columbia, surrounded by his family.
“He was a damn good father to a family of five and he was a great-grandfather of 10 children,” she said in a phone interview. He loved to play the guitar and he played it loudly around the house whenever he wanted. »
Jerry Doucette was born in Montreal and raised in Hamilton. He learned the guitar at the age of six and then started his own band. He then moved to Vancouver and joined the Seeds of Time before playing with the Rocket Norton Band.
His own band, formed under his name, was launched a few years later and found success with his 1977 album Mama Let Him Playwhich saw his single of the same name break into the Billboard top 100.
In a statement, his family said the idea for the song’s title was inspired by a comment from Mr. Doucette’s late father, who had to listen to his son practice his guitar playing on his way home from shifts. When his wife insisted that the son stop making noise so that her husband could rest, the latter replied: “Mom, let him play. »
The album was certified platinum in Canada the following year, meaning it sold over 100,000 copies.
In 1979, the Doucette group won the Juno for the most promising group of the year, the same year in which they launched The Sweet is Loosefeaturing the song nobody.
Over the years, Mr. Doucette has opened for Meat Loaf and earned a reputation as a mentor to young musicians.
He recorded five albums and continued to perform live until 2018 when he announced on social media that he was quitting the music industry.
“Health issues and a desire to spend more time with my sweet Maggie and our family, including 10 grandchildren, convinced me to retire,” he wrote.
“Keep listening to Canadian artists and keep encouraging live music – it’s the lifeblood of our industry…Mom, let them play. »