Motown, 18-10-2007

C'est officiel! Corneille a signé avec la compagnie Motown qui couvre les États-Unis et le monde (exception faite de la France, du Canada et du Japon).

Corneille Joins the Ranks of the Legendary Multinational Motown Records!

Montreal, September 11, 2007 – After having promoted his first English album, The Birth of Cornelius in Japan, France and Canada earlier this summer, Corneille is now preparing for the official U.S. release of the album. It is now official; Corneille is joining his idols, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, by signing to the legendary Motown Records.

Motown Records was founded in 1960 in Detroit, and has nurtured the careers of some of the world’s greatest musical stars including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Five and Lionel Richie. The label, now based in New York City, has had successes more recently with Erykah Badu and India Arie.

It is none other than Sylvia Rhone, president of Motown Records, who personally chose Corneille as a new artist. He is one of those very rare Canadian artists to have obtained a record contract with this famous label. This whole experience began several months ago at the Verre Bouteille in Montreal, during a special showcase Corneille performed for media and representatives from a number of multi-national record companies. On the day following that performance, Corneille and his manager Kevin Canning received many interesting offers but it was his desire to be a Motown artist that led to Corneille signing to the roster and realizing his dream.

Upon announcing the signing, his manager declared: “The Motown label fits Corneille like a glove, as much for his musical style as for the way he composes…”, also: “…with partners such as Wagram France, DEJA Musique/ Warner Music Canada, Sony Music Japan as well as Motown Records in the United States, and labels in the Universal Music family in the U.K. and other territories, Corneille and his music could not have a better team to propel him to the level of the greatest international stars.”

“This is fantastic! I never thought that this dream would ever come true,” says Corneille. “This proves that you should always believe in your wildest dreams! For me this represents an incredible recognition to be able to join the ranks of my idols.”

“Words cannot express how unreal this all feels. The little boy in me keeps pinching himself! Most of the artists who have shaped my path as a singer-songwriter (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, among others) are part of the Motown institution. I am so honoured to know that my name has been added to that prestigious roster. This album, The Birth of Cornelius, is even more special to me now, since it is the one that has helped me make this dream come true.”

Corneille’s new album should be available in the U.S. in the first half of 2008.

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Source: DEJA Musique, www.dejamusique.com .

Corneille is managed exclusively by Kevin Canning Management,
collocated in Tokyo, Japan and New York City.

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