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Born in Charlemagne (a small town 30
miles east of Montreal, Quebec, Canada), Céline is
the youngest of 14 children of a highly musical
family. Her parents, both musicians, operated a
small club, and on weekends, the entire family
performed and entertained the local population. From
the tender age of 5, Céline sang with her siblings
and quickly acquired the ability to perform live.
At the age of twelve, together with her mother and
one of her brothers, Céline composed a French song
which would forever alter the course of her life.
The demo tape containing the song was brought to the
attention of René Angélil, a well respected
personal manager. In January 1981, René was so
taken by the voice of the young Céline, that he
became determined to make her an internationally
known talent - he even mortgaged his house to
finance the recording of Céline's debut album!
Céline began to receive recognition for her talent
in 1982, winning the Gold Medal at the Yamaha World
Song Festival in Tokyo, along with the coveted
Musician's Award for Top Performer. In 1983, she
became the first Canadian ever to receive a Gold
Record in France.
By 1988, Céline had established a strong name for
herself in her native
province of Quebec, where she was enjoying superstar
status, receiving numerous Felix Awards and racking
up platinum albums. That same year, Céline won the
prestigious Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin
Ireland, where she performed live before a
television audience of 600 million viewers
throughout Europe, the USSR, the Middle-East, Japan,
and Australia.
Céline's international breakthrough came when she
recorded the title track for the soundtrack to the
animated Disney hit movie 'Beauty and the Beast.'
The song went to number one and garnered an Academy
Award and a Grammy Award. "Beauty and the
Beast" formed the cornerstone for Céline's
second English language album, called simply 'Céline
Dion.' That album produced four more hit singles
including "Love Can Move Mountains,"
"Water From The Moon," "If You Asked
Me To" and "Did You Give Enough
Love." In Canada, the album went six times
platinum and set the stage for an incredible streak
of Juno Awards.
At this time, the Céline juggernaut started rolling
at a momentous pace in the UK. British fans took
extremely well to "Think Twice," a ballad
on 'The Colour Of My Love.' For five consecutive
weeks, the song and album stood on top of the
respective British charts, an achievement not
replicated since 1965 and the heyday of The Beatles.
"Think Twice" remained at number one for
two more weeks, surpassing the magic million mark to
become only the fourth million-selling single ever
in the UK by a female artist.
With 'D'eux,' Céline achieved what everyone thought
was impossible - introduced French music to the
upper reaches of the British charts. The world had
truly discovered Céline Dion.
Released in March 1996, 'Falling Into You' became
the best-selling album
released that year; topped the charts in 11
countries, and was voted Album of the Year and Best
Pop Album at the 39th annual Grammy Awards ceremony.
The album has sold more than 25 million copies
worldwide.
'Let's Talk About Love' is the follow-up to Céline's
double Grammy
Award-winning album. Recorded in London, New York
and Los Angeles, 'Let's Talk About Love' features a
host of special guests including some of popular
music's greatest vocalists, songwriters, and
producers.
'Let's Talk About Love' was released on the same day
as the soundtrack of the motion picture 'Titanic'.
Both albums featured the much-loved Titanic movie's
theme song, "My Heart Will Go On," written
by James Horner and produced by James Horner and
Walter Afanasieff. "My Heart Will Go On"
quickly became the wedding song of choice for Céline's
fans.
In a stunning back-to-back achievement, 'Let's Talk
About Love' went on to match the 27 million
worldwide sales of its predecessor; 'Titanic' also
sold over 27 million copies worldwide. It is the
all-time best-selling orchestral soundtrack in
recording history. Céline sang "My Heart Will
Go On" on the worldwide telecast of the 70th
Annual Academy Awards, live from the Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. The song won the
Academy Award for Best Original Song -- the second
Oscar for a song sung by Céline Dion, following
"Beauty And The Beast."
A new French album, 'S'il suffisait d'aimer,'
recorded in February 1998, was officially released
worldwide on September 8. The first featured single,
"Zola sourit" received rave responses on
the radio all over the world. Céline first
introduced her fans to the album's title track
during her Let's Talk About Love World Tour.
Céline's next album, 'These Are Special Times,'
featured sixteen songs for the holiday season,
including the Christmas pop classics "Blue
Christmas" and "The Christmas Song
(Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)"; and such
traditional religious favorites as "O Holy
Night" and "Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye
Faithful)." In addition, 'These Are Special
Times' produced the No. 1 single "I'm Your
Angel," Céline's duet with R. Kelly, who wrote
and produced the song; the Diane Warren-penned title
track, "These Are Special Times"; and
"The Prayer," a duet with Andrea Bocelli.
Also, in 1998, Dundurn Press released the much
anticipated biography: Cé
line...The Authorized Biography. After travelling
with Céline and her entourage for over a year and
spending hours in one-on-one conversions with the
star, Georges-Hébert Germain recounts the story of
one of the world's best loved vocal artists. Céline
and Georges-Hébert Germain later collaborated once
again on Céline Dion...My Story, My Dream. Released
in 2000, Céline recounts her story in her own words
and straight from her heart. The autobiography is an
exquisitely detailed portrait of Céline backstage,
on the road, and in the recording studio.
'All The Way...A Decade Of Song' is a collection of
Céline's greatest hits, including her chart-topping
hit singles "The Power Of Love,"
"Because You Loved Me," "I'm Your
Angel," and the Grammy and Academy
Award-winning classic "My Heart Will Go
On." Also included are "Beauty And The
Beast," "It's All Coming Back to Me
Now"; and "If You Asked Me To."
Seven brand-new songs, were recorded specifically
for this collection, including the title song
"All The Way," a respectful and loving
tribute to one of Céline's all-time favourite
singers, the late Frank Sinatra.
On New Year's Eve 1999, in Montreal, Céline Dion
gave her last public performance before beginning a
temporary hiatus from show business to enjoy her
private life... and improve her golf game!
The most recent album from our beloved singer was
'The Collector's Series...Volume One.' Released in
October 2000, it features Céline's Greatest hits
and best-loved recordings.
But the greatest joy for Céline and René came with
the birth of their son
René-Charles Angélil, born January 25, 2001 at
1:00 AM, weighing 6 lbs, 8 oz. He was baptized six
months later on July 25, 2001, in Montreal's grand
Notre-Dame Basilica.
Céline's future plans include the release of a new
album in March 2002 and the preparation of her
one-of-a-kind theatrical musical spectacular
production at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas created
by Franco Dragone. This unique production is set to
begin in March 2003, and will run for a minimum of 3
years in a brand-new 4,000 seat theatre designed to
resemble the Coliseum in Rome.
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