Who had a 1963 hit with "Dominique"?

Soeur Sourire ("Sister Smile") a.k.a. the Singing Nun, was born Jeanine Deckers on October 17, 1933, in Belgium. She attended art school as a young girl, while also developing her musical talents. Jeanine learned to sing and play, and write her own songs. She was not from a close-knit family, and even though Jeanine said she was not against marriage, she was more at home with convent life. In the 1950s she joined a Dominican convent and (as was a custom in some religious orders) she abandoned her real name and chose a new one: Sister Luc-Gabrielle. She sang and played guitar for church groups. Eventually, Philips Record Co. discovered her, and signed her to a contract (with her profits being donated to her Order, since had taken a vow of poverty). Sister Luc adopted the stage name Soeur Sourire ("Sister Smile"). In 1963, she wrote "Dominique" (a tribute to the founder of her Dominican order), which was her one big hit. She won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel music that year. A taped version of her singing that song was broadcast on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 (the same year the Beatles appeared on his show). MGM turned her life into a syrupy movie _Singing Nun, The (1965)_ starring Debbie Reynolds in the titular role, and Soeur Sourire wrote most of the songs. It was perhaps more publicity than she wanted, that same year the Singing Nun stopped performing music, preferring to concentrate on her studies in the convent. A year later she left the convent and resumed her singing career; she changed her name to Luc Dominique, combining her religious name and her hit song. By the late 1960s, her songs had controversial themes. She joined with a woman, Annie Pescher, and together they owned and operated a school for autistic children. In the 1980s, the Belgian government said that the Singing Nun owed over $60,000 in back taxes, on money she had earned during her singing career while a nun. She had donated all her proceeds to the convent, but the Belgian government said she owed the money nonetheless. In 1985, Luc Dominique and Annie Pescher killed themselves in a suicide pact. The Singing Nun will be remembered by this song... "Dominique, nique, nique, Over the land he plods along, And sings a little song. Never asking for reward, He just talks about the Lord, He just talks about the Lord." When police found the lifeless bodies of 52-year-old Jeanine Deckers and her lover Annie Pecher they also discovered a note. “We have reached the end, spiritually and financially and now we go to God,” it read, explaining that the financial pressures the pair had been under had proved too much. In a final request it asked for discretion in the coverage of their deaths.

What a superb commentary by Lisa Rodrigues. It seems that only a fraction of this was common knowledge.

Lisa Rodrigues, i knew the song but had no idea of her life. Thank you for sharing this most tragic life.

Thank you Lisa Rodrigues, for the additional information. Very thoughtful of you to include it in the comments. A sad ending that I have never heard before.

Lisa Rodrigues, Sad, so sad. It just highlights though, how government can sometimes be so severe and unmoving. Thank you for your song Soeur Sourire, you brought a smile to peoples faces, and if there is a god, I'm sure he/she welcomed you with open arms. RIP

Great info Lisa. I did not know most of this.

tesla alset, I see you are still at it Tesla. Repeating the answers.

I believe she committed suicide😢

Thanks Lisa Rodrigues much more information than the answer gave I demythologize song well

Lisa Rodrigues...that was the most interesting thing I have read while taking these quizzes!!l

Lisa, fantastic answer,much better than the original, I did not know much of this, never mind the cause of her death. I was quite young when the song came out, but since I went to a French School, I understood the original. Thanks.

You have too much time on your hands Lisa 😜

What a great question and a fantastic full information. Thank you the best yet.

Melissa Bristowe-Browne, This was a really great question and fantastic answer, yet the only comment is "There's a typo in this question -Thw " WOW, People often make mistakes with a letter or two. Did you read the Question and answer? Did you understand the question and answer? Did you actually answer the question? If yes to these questions, then what is your problem. You're just looking to nip-pick. Rather a silly comment.

I remember it well.

So that's the name of the song the nuns keep playing in the asylum in American Horror Story season two!

Darlene Davidson, believe me they do it too.

Lisa Rodrigues, thank you. How sad to lose two people who were kind, talented and inspired.

What happened to that Nun that sang the Our Father in the 70's?

I wish they would tell us more about "the swinging nun"

Very catchy song.

One of a very few artists to have a #1 song and never another in the top 100.

Lots of fun listened to her sing

Got it

There’s a typo in this question - Thw