A recently discovered historic wall at Chez Bozo, Quebec’s legendary singer-songwriters’ club from the late 1950s and early 1960s, is set to be designated as a heritage site. The wall, believed to have been lost over time, showcases handprints and signatures of iconic French music figures who graced the venue at 1208 Crescent Street in Montreal.
Originally named after the group Les Bozos, which included renowned artists like Hervé Brousseau, Clémence DesRochers, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Claude Léveillée, and Raymond Lévesque, the club hosted a plethora of musical talents. From André Gagnon to Édith Piaf, the wall boasts signatures of luminaries like Félix Leclerc, Alys Robi, and Pauline Julien, among others.
The discovery of the historic mural, made by singer-songwriter Alexandre Leclerc (Bernhari) through extensive research and collaboration with Maxime Le Flaguais, led to its recognition as a heritage site by Minister of Culture Mathieu Lacombe. This find spurred the reopening of the music venue, now rebranded as La Maison des Bozos, to showcase the iconic wall and host performances by new artists.
In a nod to the past, a new Bozos group is set to be formed, with plans for a new wall where contemporary artists can leave their mark. The sole surviving member of the original group, Clémence DesRochers, has inaugurated a plaque symbolizing the evolution of the Bozos over the decades.
