[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/2400857_fpkk3/17-SoeurSourire-Dominique.MP3] Soeur Sourire – Dominique (1963) #1 Adult Contemporary, #1 Pop Single
Born Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers, the woman who became known in America as the “Singing Nun”, entered a religious order in 1959 and became Sister Luc-Gabrielle.
Sister Luc-Gabrielle enjoyed composing songs as gifts for her friends. Eventually the Phillips Record Company signed her seeing her potential and renamed her Soeur Sourire (Smiling Sister).
Her song “Dominique” topped the U.S. charts and her first LP, entitled “The Singing Nun,” also zoomed to #1 and is the only Belgium song to do so here in the states.
Sister was a reluctant sensation who did not care for performing concerts nor was her Mother Superior pleased – especially after Soeur’s Ed Sullivan appearance in 1964 and the MGM Autobiography starring Debbie Reynolds was released.
Eventually Sister left the Order and released an unsuccessful second LP. She and Annie Pesher then ran a school for autistic children until the government demanded $600,000. from her in back taxes. (And yet Sister had given all of her musical earnings to her order.) Unable to pay the money Sister and Annie committed suicide.
Such a sad ending for this talented and dedicated one hit wonder. There are many Web Pages dedicated to the Singing Nun’s story. Here are some interesting ones for additional reading.
TRIVIA: Deckers’ made a disco version of her 1963 sole hit in 1982 — almost twenty years later. Check out the video below. -’) I prefer the original though. Don’t you?
Related posts:
- "Tell Him" Performed by The Exciters (1963)
- "Sukiyaki" Performed by Kyu Sakamoto (1963)
- “Pushover” Performed by Etta James (1963)
- "I Wanna Be Your Man" Performed by The Beatles (1963)
- “Two Lovers” Performed By Mary Wells (1963)
Filed under: Dominique, Fabulous Female Vocalists, One Hit Wonder, Phillips Record Company, Pop/Folk, Sixties, Soeur Sourire, Soeur Sourire Composer
