Last Call for Cayouche at Maisonnette
The Acadian singer Cayouche was laid to rest on Saturday afternoon at Maisonnette during a celebration of life. Réginald Charles Gagnon, better known as Cayouche, passed away on Wednesday, May 29 at the age of 75. Hundreds of fans and friends came to pay their final respects to this old hippie, whose songs have been part of Acadian folklore for 25 years.
Claudia Benoît, who came from Tracadie with her son Paulo Blanchard, paid her respects in front of Cayouche’s ashes before singing the lyrics of the song “Le portrait de mon père.” People from all over took moments of reflection in front of the urn, which was adorned with a motorcycle and contained the ashes of the deceased. The urn rested on a beer crate and quickly filled the community hall of Maisonnette. There were tears, but also hugs and plenty of anecdotes.
Cayouche’s motorcycle, photos, and guitar completed the funeral decor. His motorcycle was displayed in the community hall of Maisonnette during the celebration of the life of the “old hippie.” Daniel Big Dan Léonard did not hesitate to ride 12 hours on his motorcycle from Montreal to bid farewell to his great friend. Roberte McLaughlin learned to play the guitar by practicing Cayouche’s three chords. Roxanne Roy had the privilege of knowing this man with a big heart and a straight talker.
During the ceremony, his former manager Jean-Marc Dufour and his friend Barbara Losier spoke and paid tribute to the man. Music obviously played a big part, with musicians from Moncton and Maisonnette taking the stage to play some of the late musician’s works. The highlight of the event was certainly the presence of 11-year-old Lucas Brideau, who performed four songs from his idol’s repertoire.
It was a solemn and touching ceremony, reflecting the spirit of the old hippie.