Michel Séguin, one of the founders of the tam-tams du Mont-Royal, is no more.
“Sad news this morning. The father of the Tam-Tam du Mont-Royal, Michel Séguin senior, recently passed away. He was my teacher and djembe master for 2 years and also an inspiration to me,” Eric Lafontaine wrote on Facebook. His son confirmed the news to the daily Le Devoir on Wednesday.
In an interview with La Presse Canadienne in 2019, Michel Séguin claimed to have started “the tradition” of tam-tams on Mount Royal. In the mid-1970s, he had traveled to Africa and said he “learned from the greatest masters of percussion”.
Returning to Montreal, he began to organize meetings with other musicians at Mount Royal. He then camped there with his family and practiced percussion.
Michel Séguin has also accompanied artists such as Robert Charlebois and Zachary Richard on tour.
Percussionists on social networks have issued an invitation for a rally at Mont-Royal next Sunday, to pay tribute to him.
