About Jo

Jo Lemaire was born in Gembloux, next to the Belgian city of Namur. She was first discovered as the leading lady of her own band - near the end of the 1970's. The band was called quot;Jo Lemaire + Flouze". 
 

1979 : New Wave
The debut album hit the markets in 1979 and Jo's career took off like a jet plane. quot;Jo Lemaire + Flouze" as the album was called, got tremendous appreciation. It was followed the next year by another album "Precious Time" (1980) . "Pigmy World" (1981) was her third album, and it got Jo the status of an international artist, also thanks to the Serge Gainsbourg cover song "Je suis venue te dire que je m’en vais".

The Jo Lemaire version of the song was a big European hit and received a platinum record in Belgium. Almost as big an honor as the song's success was the spot on Gainsbourg's compilation album (He Lets Them Sing), surrounded by people like Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot.
In 1982, Jo started her solo career. Producing her first solo album "Concorde" (1983) . We were talking vynil records here, so for our younger visitors : they had 2 sides. In this case, an English version and a French version. It turned into a Gold Record, confirming Jo's talent and her personal approach.
1990 : Chanson
Three Gold Records and a short break later, Jo launches a remarkable record : "Duelle" (1990), filled with powerful but sober French songs. Another Gold Record, and a warm welcome in France. Next, Jo sings in her second language, Dutch, on a tribute CD for another Belgian artist "TURALURA". The song is called "Heimwee naar huis", and she turns it into a nice personal version. In this period, international appreciation is always there. Particularly in neighboring France or the Netherlands. But also in Switzerland and Quebec. Jo is often seen and heard on stage at Quebec and Montreal's Summer Festivals. In 1997 she produces the album "Jour et Nuit" collaborating with Dutch and Flemish artists ( Frank Boeijen and Wigbert Van Lierde).
1997 : Night Of The Proms
In that special year Jo is the Surprise Act at Night of The Proms Antwerp, an act that turns into another overwhelming musical victory. As it turns out, Jo performs 15 nights and reaches 18 000 fans. The Jo Lemaire appreciation by the audience equals the feelings generated by The Simple Minds in that same perfomance. Then in 1998 Jo combines acting and singing in a musical called "Brel Blues".
19 songs by Jacques Brel have been translated into Dutch, and Jo performs in a stunning multilingualism. Touched by the appreciation of the Dutch speaking audience in Holland and Flanders, Jo produces a cd album ‘Enkelvoud’ or Singularity , using Dutch versions of her own French songs. The translators for this project aren't just translators : they are famous Dutch speaking authors like Benno Barnard, Bart Moeyaert and Geert Van Istendael. The result is a series of Dutch concerts with Liesbeth List, at the LAK Theatre in Leiden (NL) ; List performing Jacques Brel songs and Jo exploring another impressive repertoire : the one created by Edith Piaf.
1999 : Edith Piaf
1999 then becomes the Piaf Year for Jo Lemaire. First, launching a theatre tour ‘Une Vie’ at the Ancienne Belgique Theatre in Brussels. The very personal performance Jo creates for the powerful Piaf songs are a trigger for tremendous appreciation. Up until today, over 180 editions of this show have been performed.

The first edition of the Piaf performance was published as a Universal CD for the Belgian market later that year. And at the same time, a video version was produced for Belgian television and distributed worldwide. The Piaf succes lasted way into the year 2000. That Summer, Jo's performance at ‘Festival d’été de Quebec’ (her 4th edition) , contains the ‘Hommage to PIAF’ and gets unanimous appreciation by the world press at the festival. The show is also broadcast on TV5.
2000 : French language ambassador
Jo is elected most popular French speaking Belgian personality, by a selection of young voters in a Belgian newspaper. This inspires her to produce a concert program for Dutch speaking children at school, promoting their enthusiasm for the French language. The project evolves into 2 CD's ("Eventail Junior"), based on the Spike and Suzy comics. The demand is huge and extends to another school project year.
Then in 2001 a new French album is produced. ( ‘‘Flagrants délices’), causing the press to describe it as The Best Jo Lemaire CD ever...
The theatre tour "Une Vie" is widely appreciated, so director Dirk Brossé and Jo Lemaire decide to perform a series of concerts with a symphonic orchestra. The new concert tour lsquo;‘Transit’’gelanceerd, gets positive feedback from the
music and art critics in the press.
Belgian Cultural Ambassador
In 2001 and 2002, Jo works hard, doing over a 100 concerts a year. Class and quality are a focus, singing in various languages is a passion. This combination is much valued in corporate event production. A small third of the concerts are embedded in corporate events now, bringing Jo to
Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Quebec, Parijs, Reims, New-York, or Hong-Kong. This is where Jo adds a touch to private parties, seminars, corporate events, or celebrations.
2003
In 2003 Jo prepares her 2004 Tour and new album, exploring a whole new sound. The album is very international, and generates huge enthusiasm in the audience, and some remarkable standing ovations. One of the special concerts Jo performs is the one on Jan 31st 2005...
In the audience, Queen Paola of Belgium appreciates Jo Lemaire's music.

Now
More international corporate events are upcoming, Jo launches JoLemaire Radio and her new video driven website, and works on
the Paris S'Eveille Show with Dirk Brossé .