Rock, Jenny

Websites:  No
Origin: Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Jenny Rock (born Jeannine de Bellefeuille on November 10, 1946, in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec) is a pioneering French-Canadian singer best known for her electrifying performances during the 1960s yé-yé era. With her high-energy interpretations of rock and R&B hits, Jenny became one of the most charismatic and influential voices in Quebec’s popular music scene.

She began performing professionally at the age of 12, touring with Jean Grimaldi’s revue and quickly gaining attention for her lively renditions of Elvis Presley songs—often accompanying herself on guitar. Her breakthrough came in 1965 when, at just 19, she was named "Discovery of the Year" and made history as the only francophone artist to open for the Rolling Stones during their visit to Quebec.

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Jenny Rock released a string of hit singles and EPs that helped define the Quebec pop sound of the era. Her discography includes signature tracks such as Douliou Douliou Saint-Tropez, Le Sloopy, Fume ta cigarette, and Le train pour Memphis—a mix of original material and French-language adaptations of international hits. Her bold, rebellious stage presence and her gritty, soulful voice set her apart in a male-dominated industry, earning her comparisons to France Gall and Nancy Sinatra, with a distinctly Québécois flair.

Jenny was a regular fixture on Quebec television and radio, and her influence extended beyond music. As one of the first women in Quebec to embody the rebellious spirit of 1960s youth culture, she became an icon of feminine independence and musical daring.

Though she stepped back from recording in the 1970s, Jenny Rock remained active in performance, joining nostalgia tours such as La Tournée des Idoles, where she continued to captivate audiences with her enduring stage presence. She is now widely recognized as a trailblazer in the history of francophone rock in Canada.
-Robert Williston