Clairette, CM CQ (April 3, 1919 â€" October 28, 2008) was a
Quebec-based French actress and singer. After her own career slowed
down she became the proprietor of Montreal's "Chez Clairette"
nightclub. In later life she received official honors for her cultural
influence in giving a career break to many up-and-coming entertainers
who later became famous.She was born Claire Françoise Oddera in 1919
to Charles Oddera and Rose Fanucci in Marseille (however her birthname
is given as Claire Oderra in many sources). At the age of 20 she
became a waitress in the canteen of a local French film studio, owned
by writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, who provided her with her first
film role in La fille du puisatier (1939). She adopted the stage name
Clairette at the suggestion of Fernandel. She was later working in
radio, where she was also known as a singer. During the Second World
War, she made three other movies but mostly toured France on stage and
in variety shows.In 1949, she made her first visit to Quebec. She
married at the age of 21 with the marriage lasting four years. In
1956, she emigrated to Quebec. She opened the eponymous "Chez
Clairette" where, every Monday afternoon, she held auditions to scout
out artists. Robert Charlebois, Claude Dubois, Diane Dufresne and
France Castel, Christine Charbonneau were some of those artists whose
careers she helped launch. It was also at "Chez Clairette" that
lyricist Luc Plamondon met his future collaborator, pianist-composer
André Gagnon. After the first "Chez Clairette" closed a second opened
later in a different area of Montreal. It stayed in business for a
decade.She continued to perform while operating "Chez Clairette",
appearing occasionally on the television series, Au pied de la pente
douce. She opened an academy for singers at the home of her younger
sister, singer Danielle Oddera. As the years progressed, Clairette
continued to perform regularly. Her final public performance in June
2008 was at the Théâtre Denise-Pelletier on Sainte-Catherine Street.
Quebec-based French actress and singer. After her own career slowed
down she became the proprietor of Montreal's "Chez Clairette"
nightclub. In later life she received official honors for her cultural
influence in giving a career break to many up-and-coming entertainers
who later became famous.She was born Claire Françoise Oddera in 1919
to Charles Oddera and Rose Fanucci in Marseille (however her birthname
is given as Claire Oderra in many sources). At the age of 20 she
became a waitress in the canteen of a local French film studio, owned
by writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, who provided her with her first
film role in La fille du puisatier (1939). She adopted the stage name
Clairette at the suggestion of Fernandel. She was later working in
radio, where she was also known as a singer. During the Second World
War, she made three other movies but mostly toured France on stage and
in variety shows.In 1949, she made her first visit to Quebec. She
married at the age of 21 with the marriage lasting four years. In
1956, she emigrated to Quebec. She opened the eponymous "Chez
Clairette" where, every Monday afternoon, she held auditions to scout
out artists. Robert Charlebois, Claude Dubois, Diane Dufresne and
France Castel, Christine Charbonneau were some of those artists whose
careers she helped launch. It was also at "Chez Clairette" that
lyricist Luc Plamondon met his future collaborator, pianist-composer
André Gagnon. After the first "Chez Clairette" closed a second opened
later in a different area of Montreal. It stayed in business for a
decade.She continued to perform while operating "Chez Clairette",
appearing occasionally on the television series, Au pied de la pente
douce. She opened an academy for singers at the home of her younger
sister, singer Danielle Oddera. As the years progressed, Clairette
continued to perform regularly. Her final public performance in June
2008 was at the Théâtre Denise-Pelletier on Sainte-Catherine Street.
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