Serge Fiori, founder of French-Canadian rock band Harmonium, died Tuesday at the age of 73. He shaped an entire era of Quebec music with words that felt like poetry and melodies that never faded. His work with Harmonium and his solo career left a deep mark on culture, creativity, and sound itself. Here are 10 facts you may not know about the man behind some of Canada’s most beloved songs.
1. His First Stage Was a Ballroom in Little Italy
Serge Fiori got his start performing with his father’s orchestra in Montreal’s Little Italy. Surrounded by music from a young age, he stepped into the spotlight as a teenager, already thinking like a composer
2. Harmonium Started With a Play That Never Happened
He met Michel Normandeau through a friend while writing music for a play. The project fell through—but the partnership formed Harmonium, one of the most influential bands in Quebec’s history.
3. His Music Career Paused So He Could Study Meditation and Computer Science
After Harmonium disbanded, Fiori moved to Los Angeles, where he turned inward. He studied meditation, composition, and even computer science, taking a step away from the stage to explore other disciplines.
4. He Brought Harmonium’s Spirit Into His Work With Richard Séguin
In 1978, he teamed up with Richard Séguin to record Deux cents nuits à l’heure. Most of Harmonium’s musicians appeared on the album, creating a kind of spiritual continuation of the band’s work.
5. He Composed the Theme for Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival
In 1984, Serge wrote and performed the original theme for the Just For Laughs comedy festival. His voice, known for introspection and emotion, also found a place in joy and celebration.
6. His Solo Return Came After 28 Years of Silence
After years of working behind the scenes on film scores and meditation music, Fiori returned with a self-titled solo album in 2014. It marked one of the most celebrated comebacks in Quebec music.
7. He Reimagined His Classics for Cirque Éloize
In 2018, Fiori worked with Louis-Jean Cormier on Seul ensemble, a dance and acrobatic show based on his music. The show premiered in 2019, bringing his timeless songs to life on stage in a brand new form.
8. He Was a Pioneer of Progressive Folk Rock in Canada
With Les cinq saisons (1975), Fiori and Harmonium created a concept album that fused folk, prog, and classical elements. Its 17-minute closer, “Histoires sans paroles,” helped define a new sound in Canadian music.
9. Les cinq saisons Made Rolling Stone’s List of Greatest Prog Albums
Rolling Stone ranked Harmonium’s Les cinq saisons at #36 in their list of the 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time. It remains one of the most acclaimed transitional albums ever made in Canada.
10. His Lyrics Spoke to Quebec’s Political and Emotional Heart
Songs like “Depuis l’automne” reflected the separatist sentiments of the time, while others captured universal feelings of love, longing, and hope. His music helped soundtrack both personal and cultural awakenings.
Serge Fiori’s legacy is not just in what he sang—but in what he sparked. From ballrooms to festivals, prog rock suites to meditative chants, he followed every path with heart and honesty. His voice continues to echo, not as a memory, but as music that lives on.