The man with 2000 voices brings hits to Whitecourt

By Ashley Clementovich

Internationally recognized impressionist and entertainer, Andre-Philippe Gagnon, paid a visit to the Eagle River Casino last Saturday night. Described by The Gazette as a “vocal chameleon,” Gagnon hit the stage with an energy and ease that reflected his extraordinary career of nearly 35 years.

Gagnon interlaced stories and humourous commentary between short song snippets.

Bringing the audience back a few decades, Gagnon asked if anyone remembered Woodstock. “If you do, you were not there,” joked Gagnon to one audience member who had raised his hand.

Whoops and cheers erupted from the audience with every imitated musical note. The entertainer moved throughout music’s history, paying homage to the greats from each decade. Switching between Sam Smith’s softer tones, Dean Martin’s relaxing warble, and even Louis Armstrong’s rich, raspy notes, audience members laughed and applauded with flabbergasted expressions clearly blown away by how many phonetic tricks Gagnon had in his repertoire. It wasn’t long before the room was nodding and singing along, smiles etched on everyone’s faces.

For one impression, Gagnon coached the audience on how to perfectly embody Mick Jagger, describing the Brit’s iconic gestures as a “Flying movement like a wounded chicken.”

There was a particularly loud response from the audience when Gagnon moved into the Beatles era transporting everyone back in time with spot-on impressions of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon complete with air guitar and piano. Later, Gagnon demanded complete audience participation, teaching everyone the dance moves to “My Girl,” while he himself sang the parts of all five members of The Temptations at once. The entertainer left nothing behind, perspiring profusely after just over half an hour of performing. “I need some Rolaids,” he rasped, after a particularly strenuous James Brown impression.

Gagnon’s first break-out performance was in 1985 at the Just for Laughs Festival. From there, his career has skyrocketed as he performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, gaining notoriety in countless cities across the globe. Along with meeting music legends such as Frank Sinatra and Lionel Ritchie, Gagnon was also invited by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to perform at a gala event for Prince Charles and Lady Diana. The entertainer quickly became a source of Canadian pride after performing at the 1988 Winter Olympics and, in 1989, became the first and only Quebecer to host the Juno Awards. Gagnon has made waves in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and Australia selling thousands upon thousands of tickets, and gaining fans around the world.

After such an entertaining and memorable evening, there is surely excited anticipation for upcoming performances at the Eagle River Casino.