Singer-songwriter, TV host and Métis country music legend Ray St. Germain has died.
The 83-year-old died on Tuesday at Deer Lodge Centre, surrounded by family and dear friends, after several years of living with Parkinson’s disease, his wife, Glory, posted on Facebook.
“I was blessed to have 50 years with my amazing husband Ray St. Germain. Together, we spent our lives filled with music, love, and laughter with our five children,” the post stated.
“We are deeply grateful to all the musicians who have shared the stage with Ray, contributing to his unforgettable performances and his television series. Your collaboration has not only brought joy to our lives but has also been instrumental in recognizing his numerous awards throughout his illustrious career.”
St. Germain died at 5:28 p.m., says a social media post by his daughter, Sherry.
“He was there when I came into the world and I was lucky enough to watch him go home,” she wrote.
“We will honour his legacy always. He was such an amazing father and husband to my mama.”
St. Germain was born July 29, 1940, in Winnipeg and emerged as a country and rockabilly musician in his mid-teens. He went on to perform alongside the likes of Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
The longtime promoter of Métis and Indigenous culture, affectionately dubbed by many as Winnipeg’s Elvis, was inducted into the Order of Manitoba, the province’s highest honour, in 2013.
St. Germain was also inducted into the Aboriginal Order of Canada (1985), Order of the Sash — Saskatoon and Prince Albert (1986) and Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame (2005). In 2018, he was presented with an honorary diploma by Red River College (now known as RRC Polytech), the highest honour given by the institution.
He performed three weeks ago, belting out a rendition of Elvis Presley’s song It’s Now or Never from his wheelchair at an honorary street renaming, to the applause of family, friends and fans.
St. Michael Road, in Winnipeg’s St. Vital neighbourhood, was given the honorary name Big Sky Country Way, in tribute to St. Germain and his nationally syndicated TV show that aired for 13 years.
St. Michael Road is where St. Germain grew up and where his childhood home still stands.
Up until a couple of years ago, St. Germain was still hosting Métis Hour x2a two-hour radio show on Saturday mornings on NCI-FM Radio. He was behind the mic on that call-in program for 23 years.
‘A mentor and a friend’
Naomi Clarke, who co-hosted the show with St. Germain for more than 20 of those years, said “it was an honour to be able to call him one of my closest friends.”
“I actually trained him in radio, and then he trained me with some life skills afterwards,” she said, noting those skills include how to treat people, how to make sure you honour friendships and commitments.
“He was a mentor and a friend, and we became family.”
He was funny, kind and willing to help anyone, particularly musicians looking to make their way, Clarke said.
“Anywhere he could help, he was always a mentor and generous with his time.”
Since St. Germain’s retirement from the show, Clarke has continued to include his music every Saturday as a way to honour him and ensure he was still part of it. She also had him call in regularly.
“He couldn’t let go, and neither could I,” she said.
“He was just an amazing person, and his children are all so talented and musical in their own right, and they’re going to carry on that legacy.”
That goes for his grandchildren, too, she added.
“So his legacy’s going to live on for a really long time, and I don’t think anyone in Manitoba’s going to forget him anytime soon.”
Clarke said this Saturday’s show will be an emotionally difficult one
“I know he’s gone to the spirit world, but I know he’ll still be with us … tuning in every Saturday from above,” she said. “I know he’s not suffering or in pain anymore, so I’m thankful for that.”
The Manitoba Métis Federation, in a Wednesday news release, called St. Germain “a cherished citizen of the Red River Métis community and a renowned musician who touched the hearts of many with his talent and passion.”
David Chartrand, the federation’s president, described St. Germain in the release as a national treasure and a true legend, saying he graced television screens and auditoriums alike, sharing his love of music far and wide.
St. Germain’s voice was known around the world, but his heart belonged to the Red River Métis people, Chartrand added.
During his early years in the music business, St. Germain teamed up with guitar virtuoso Lenny Breau, who also lived in Winnipeg at the time. They toured as the Mississippi Gamblers.
St. Germain eventually moved to Toronto but found little work, said a post on the Facebook page for the Manitoba Music Museum, written by Winnipeg music historian John Einarson.
St. Germain returned to Winnipeg and spent the next three years hosting CBC’s Music Hopfrom 1964 through 1966. His backing band included Breau.
“We were stars back then, because there were only a couple of channels to choose from, and CBC was the channel to be on,” St. Germain said in the 2019 Manitoba Music Museum post by Einarson.
“I did guest appearances on shows like Juliette. That’s how I met Anne Murray, and we later did some TV specials together.”
St. Germain went on to be host or an entertainer, often both, on more than 600 episodes across TV and radio programs, including My Kind of Country and then Ray St. Germain Countryfor which he was writer, producer and host. The show, which also featured family members as regular performers, was later renamed Big Sky Country.
A funeral and celebration of life for St. Germain is set for July 6, with more details to come, Glory St. Germain posted in her Facebook tribute to her husband.
