Composer
Soeur Sourire
Belgian nun and musician
1933–1985
1 works and musical collections
- Born
- 1933
- Died
- 1985
- Birthplace
- Laeken
- Place of death
- Wavre
- Citizenship / historical state
- Belgium
- Period (estimated from birth year)
- Contemporary
Biography
Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers (religious name Luc Gabriel; 17 October 1933 – 29 March 1985), better known as Sœur Sourire (French for 'Sister Smile') or "The Singing Nun" in English-speaking countries, was a Belgian singer-songwriter and former member of a community of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. In 1963, she acquired widespread fame with the release of the Belgian French song Dominique, which topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and other charts, along with her debut album.
Owing partially to confusion over the terms of the recording contract, she was eventually reduced to poverty. Deckers also experienced a crisis of faith, leaving the order, though she still remained a Catholic. She died by suicide in 1985 with her life partner, Annie Pécher.
Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.
Life and musical career
- Occupations
- religious sister; singer-songwriter; guitarist; drawing teacher; nun; composer; musician
- Genres
- traditional folk music
- Official website
- http://www.singingnun.net
- Birth name
- Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers
- Pseudonym
- Sœur Sourire; Luc Dominique; The Singing Nun
- Languages used
- French
- VIAF ID
- 78679420
- ISNI
- 0000000120290664
- GND ID
- 131486071
- Library of Congress ID
- nr96036536
- MusicBrainz ID
- c26869b8-a6f1-49e3-a2e1-9cb70304f3fe; 6e35eccf-3660-4c1e-a65b-d9c8232ff91a
Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.
In this catalogue
- Common listed instruments
- Piano, Vocal
- Source entries with composition dates
- 0
These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.
Catalogue
Sheet music catalogue
Instruments describe listed editions, including arrangements. Composition dates and keys appear where recorded; collection pages show their individual contents.
| Title | Work details | Listed instruments | Sheet music |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominique | See work details |
| View sheet music |
Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 78679420. Portrait: Priscila Sherlyn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.