Paul Picard has worked as percussionist for Celine Dion and Cirque du Soleil among others.



Paul Picard has enjoyed a diversified career as a pop, jazz, and classical percussionist. He recently appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival with bassist Charlie Haden, and has performed with conductors Arthur Fiedler and Henri Mancini. When he's not on the road, the Montreal-based musician teaches and plays a number of studio and television gigs.



Paul Picard began "banging on things" at age 4, and was seriously playing percussion by age 9. His early influences include drummers Sandy Nelson, Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, Max Roach, Joe Morello, Elvin Jones, and Philly Joe Jones.



At age 18, he entered the Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec, where he studied under classical artist Louis Charbonneau ("the best timpanist on earth").



Later, Paul Picard was influenced by studio percussionists Paulinho Da Costa, Ralph MacDonald, and, especially Don Alias, "who knows how to make a pop song groove".



Paul first played for Céline Dion when she recorded "Une Colombe" and was then in her band for her first tour in 1985. He then returned to playing in Quebec, with people such as Michel Rivard and Paul Piché. He rejoined Céline's team on August 6th 1995, for an outdoor festival in Alberta.