Metis musician and TV host Ray St. Germain, dubbed 'Winnipeg's Elvis,' dies at 83
Ray St. Germain, the singer-songwriter and television personality nicknamed "Winnipeg's Elvis" for his uncanny vocal likeness to the king of rock 'n' roll, has died.
The Manitoba Metis Federation confirmed his death and his family said on social media that the 83-year-old died of Parkinson's disease at a local care centre on Tuesday.
St. Germain built a name for himself in several corners of Canadian entertainment and while he was perhaps best known as host of the nationally syndicated music program "Big Sky Country," his legacy as an advocate for Metis culture also resonates.
"I've made many recordings but no big hits," he wrote in his 2005 memoir titled "I Wanted to Be Elvis, So What Was I Doing in Moose Jaw?"
"I've played pubs, clubs, lounges, fairs, rodeos, festivals and wherever they needed entertainment, including countless charity gigs.... I have a lot of mugs."
St. Germain started his music career at age 14 in the country band the Rhythm Ranch Boys, first playing the accordion and singing, and later adopting the guitar with a little inspiration from Elvis.
His first television appearance was on the cross-Canada singing competition "Talent Caravan" in 1958, where he won the local series by singing Billy Grammer's "Gotta Travel On."
As he grew into adulthood, St. Germain hit the road with shows across Canada, later joining guitar virtuoso Lenny Breau in the Mississippi Gamblers.
Some of his earliest singles instantly drew comparisons to Elvis, particularly his debut "She's a Square," where he imitates the U.S. singer's famous growl.
After a stint in Toronto, St. Germain returned to Winnipeg to host CBC's "Music Hop Hootenanny" from 1964 to 1966.
When that show was cancelled, CBC continued to hire him as a guest host on programs that included "Show of the Week" and "In Person," where he welcomed rising stars Sylvia Tyson, Anne Murray and Gordon Lightfoot.
St. Germain found his groove hosting music programs on various TV and radio networks in the decades that followed, including the two-hour radio show "Metis Hour x2" which he helmed for two decades until his retirement in 2022.
He was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
St. Germain also put significant effort into boosting Metis culture. The Manitoba Metis Federation credits his song "The Metis" with helping him earn an Aboriginal Order of Canada in 1985 and before then, his 1973 release "I'm Mighty Proud I'm Metis" became an anthem for the Red River Metis Nation.
"Not many people were proud to be Metis then," MMF president David Chartrand recalled Wednesday at a press conference to reflect on St. Germain's influence.
"They were hiding their identity and the nation was not yet united as it is today. Ray, who he was, wanted to express his feelings and pride of being who he truly was -- a proud Metis man."
But his Metis roots were not always known to him, his wife Glory said at the press conference.
"When he grew up it was hidden, his parents didn't tell him because it was hard for Metis people to express themselves and who they were," she said.
When he learned of his ties to the community, he "wanted to make a difference," she added. One of those efforts involved encouraging fellow Metis musicians to appear on the programs he hosted.
Earlier this month, a road in Winnipeg's St. Vital neighbourhood was honorarily named Big Sky Country Way to recognize the show that ran for 13 years, and St. Germain's cultural impact.
At the event, St. Germain performed publicly for the final time, delivering a rendition of Presley's "It's Now or Never" from his wheelchair.
"Yeah, I wanted to be Elvis when I was younger but I wouldn't trade my life for his," he wrote in the epilogue of his memoir.
"Besides, he never got to stay at the Harwood Hotel in Moose Jaw."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau says Hezbollah leader caused 'immense suffering,' calls for ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
Lebanon's Hezbollah group confirmed on Saturday that its leader and one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day
Biden and Harris call the Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s Nasrallah a 'measure of justice'
The Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah was a 'measure of justice' for victims of a four-decade 'reign of terror,' U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday.
'I think he needs to go serve a few more meals:' Ottawa Mission CEO fires back at Ford encampment comments
The CEO of the Ottawa Mission is responding to controversial comments made this week by Premier Doug Ford about those living in homeless encampments that received swift blowback from advocates.
Why Will Ferrell wanted a doc about his friendship with a trans woman to release before the U.S. election
Will Ferrell said in an interview with Variety that it was important for him to release his documentary, 'Will and Harper,' before the U.S. election so people could have conversations about trans people.
SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
SpaceX launched a rescue mission for the two stuck astronauts at the International Space Station on Saturday, sending up a downsized crew to bring them home but not until next year.
At least 56 dead and millions without power after Helene's deadly march across U.S. southeast
Massive rains from powerful Hurricane Helene left people stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue Saturday, as the cleanup began from a tempest that killed at least 56 people, caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast and left millions without power.
They hit it off on vacation but then he went silent. So she decided to pick up the phone
When a few weeks passed and Nana Prempeh still hadn’t heard from the guy she met on vacation, she turned to her friends for advice.
LGBTQ2S+ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
What is open and closed this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This Monday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools, as well as those who survived them.