Pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and teacher, NEIL CHOTEM (1920-2008) was born in Saskatoon, of Russian parents. He settled in Montreal in 1945. He’s a versatile artist who led major orchestras, formed a jazz band and who worked with big names in Quebec music. Nana was at his side on January 8, 1980, during a benefit concert while leading the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

VÉRONIQUE CLOUTIER (1974- ) is a born communicator. At 14 years old, she was already in show business, taking part in various TV and radio programs. She also obtained some roles as actress. With the variety program "La fureur", an essential show in Quebec with more than 1,200,000 TV viewers weekly, she became a true star host. It was there that she met Nana in 2003. The two women met once again in 2018 on the stage of "Tout le monde en parle".

Since his childhood, JEAN-PIERRE COALLIER (1937- ) has a passion for radio. He began his career behind the microphone of a radio station in Ontario in 1956. Three years later, he came back in Quebec where we start seeing him on TV and hearing him on the radio. Over the years we have seen him playing the role of a host in a movie. In 1968, he founded CFGL-FM station inspiring with Nana’s musical style, described as adult contemporary. In 1995, he hosted her in a special "Ad Lib" in which he sings with her and dedicates to her a long interview.

 

LEONARD COHEN (1934-2016) is a montrealer poet-novelist and singer-songwriter. He was already well known for ten years for his poems before starting his musical career in 1967. Several of his songs have been covered by different artists and translated in other languages. Nana recorded some of them and she recognizes in his texts a comparable poetry, philosophy with the one of Nikos Gatsos. The influence is undoubtedly mutual since he also decided to cover the lament "Un Canadien errant". They became friends. Leonard went to see her in concert in Montreal and invited her to his home for coffee. By meeting him, Nana discovered a deep thinker, a funny and lively man.

AUDREY DE MONTIGNY (1985- ) gave her first public performances on the TV song contest Canadian Idol in front of a million TV viewers. Audrey and Nana were interviewed on the same radio program in 2003. The experienced singer recommended to her to perservere in the training of her profession, and to always sing what she likes.

CÉLINE DION (1968- ), the singer with the incredible destiny, makes all those who begin in show business envious. Nana knew her when she was a teenager and has seen her progress. She admires her for the work and the discipline which she displayed in order to arrive at this exemplary level of success. They often met by coincidence in Paris, especially during the first years of Celine's career. Nana also celebrated her fiftieth birthday in her company.

JEAN DUCEPPE (1923-1990) is one of the greatest comedians in Quebec. He is especially known for his theater and TV series roles. For many seasons he played with his company at Théâtre Port-Royal, Place des Arts. After his death, he was honored as the theater bears his name. Nana met him in 1969 during his participation in the TV quiz "Ni oui ni non". He was among those who asked questions to the guests.

DIANE DUFRESNE (1944- ) is a singer with a classical formation, but it was not long before she drasticly changed her style from her beginnings, to become a provocative rocker and self-contemptuous. Recognized for the power of her voice and her eccentric costumes, she outdoes herself in the visual originality of her shows. Nana attended her Premiere at the Olympia which launched her career in France in October 1973. Here, Nana surprised a lot of people when she expressed her enthusiasm to this singer belonging to a universe so different from hers.