Kaya (Canadian singer)
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| Kaya (Francis Martin) | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Francis Martin Lavergne |
| Born | August 28, 1968 Montreal, Quebec |
| Origin | Canada |
| Genres | pop, rock, spiritual music |
| Occupation(s) | singer-songwriter, author |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
Francis Martin Lavergne (born August 28, 1968 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian musician and author.[1] He has recorded and performed under the stage names Francis Martin and, as of 2011, Kaya;[2] under the latter name, he has also published several works of spiritual literature.
History
After an early role in a touring production of Starmania,[3] he began recording in 1984,[1] but his first two albums met with little success. Between 1985 and 1987 he studied classical music at the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy in Outremont, while continuing with studio work and beginning to write songs himself.[3]
CBS Records signed him in 1988, the same year that he signed a writing contract with ATV Music Publishing.
Martin then recorded his third album in French, entitled Drôle de nuit, in New York, and scored his first radio hit with "Elle ne C plus".[4] He garnered a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 1991,[5] and a Félix Award nomination for Pop-Rock Album of the Year in 1990.[6]
He went on to record his fourth album Quand on se donne, which was released on Sony Music in 1992, with producer Aldo Nova.[7] Four songs from this album, including "Rock It", "Tous les jours je pense à toi" and the album's title track "Quand on se donne", were hits in French-speaking Canada and the album was certified gold on March 11, 1993.[8] He was nominated for two Juno Awards in 1993: Best Selling Francophone Album[9] and Male Vocalist of the Year,[10] and "Tous les jours je pense à toi" was nominated for Pop Song of the Year at the 1993 Félix Awards.[11]
He followed up with a self-titled album in 1994, which was not as successful on the charts.
Following that album, Martin struggled with depression for several years.[12] He left the music business, and began writing spiritual literature under the pen names James K. Field and Kaya,[13] later launching his own publishing company.[2] He returned to recording in 2011, releasing an album of spiritual music, Born Under the Star of Change, under the Kaya name.[2]
Discography
- Drôle de nuit (1989)
- Quand on se donne (1992)
- Francis Martin (1994)
- Born Under the Star of Change (2011)
Awards and nominations
- 1990: Félix Award for Pop-Rock Album of the Year, Drôle de nuit (nominee)
- 1991: Juno Award for Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year (nominee)
- 1993: Juno Award for Best Selling Francophone Album (nominee), Juno Award for Male Vocalist of the Year (nominee)
- 1993: Felix Award for Pop Song of the Year, "Tous les jours je pense à toi" (nominee)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kaya, dit l’Élu". Quartier Libre, February 9, 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Francis Martin, devenu Kaya, enseigne le bonheur par les rêves". La Presse, March 31, 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "L'ex-chanteur Francis Martin troque le micro pour la plume et les rêves". L'Écho du Nord, December 13, 2008.
- ↑ "En dix questions: Kaya". L'Écho de Repentigny, February 10, 2011.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Gala de l'ADISQ - 1990. ADISQ.
- ↑ "On the way up". The Gazette, October 3, 1992.
- ↑ Gold/Platinum Certification Archives. Music Canada. p. 326.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Gala de l'ADISQ - 1993. ADISQ.
- ↑ "Francis Martin – alias Kaya - revient à la chanson". Quebec Hebdo, November 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Le chanteur Francis Martin devient Kaya l'écrivain". Le Réveil, December 18, 2008.
