Rene Rancourt (born August 4, 1939)[1][2] is an American singer, who is best known for having performed the national Anthem(s) at home games of the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins for 42 years. Rancourt's final combined performance of both "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "O Canada" took place before Game 7 of the Bruins' Eastern Conference first round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 25, 2018. His final anthem performance, of "the Star-Spangled Banner" alone, took place on May 4, 2018 as Boston hosted Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rancourt first began singing the anthem in Boston at Fenway Park. He took part in an opera singing audition on the radio and was heard by John Kiley, long-time organist at both Fenway and the Boston Garden. Rancourt sang before Game 6 of the 1975 World Series when singer Kate Smith cancelled her appearance. Rancourt's original ambition had been to become an opera singer, and the strength of his trained voice overcame the acoustic shortcomings of the old Garden.[6] In 1976, he began singing regularly for Boston Bruins games.
Rancourt's signature fist-pump at the end of the anthem was modeled after the "Stump Pump" of former Bruin Randy Burridge, whom Rancourt admired. Rancourt also saluted at the end of the anthem, for men and women who have served in the armed forces, although it was initially inspired by an elderly fan of Rancourt.[7] Rancourt performed the anthems before Bruins games, as well as singing at auto races, charity events and nursing homes in and around New England. He did not have a contract with the Bruins, and said, "I've never had a contract; I've always just shown up and I've become associated with the Bruins."
Rancourt served in the U.S. Army in the 1960s, in which after winning a singing contest he was assigned to a GI traveling show which kept him from being sent to Vietnam.[8]
On January 17, 2018, the Bruins announced that Rancourt would retire at the end of the 2017–18 season. He was honored during the Bruins' last regular-season game against the Florida Panthers on April 8.[9] His final playoff game was Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 4, 2018. Rancourt retired after the Lightning eliminated the Bruins in five games.
Referencesedit
^"Rene Rancourt: Boston Bruins' crooner started here". Sun Journal. June 6, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
^"You searched: Rene Rancourt 19390804". Public Background Checks. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
^Noël, Jacques (April 1, 2018). "Monsieur «Star Spangled Banner» à Boston est un Rancourt d'Amérique". HuffPost Québec (in French). Huffington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
^Rene Rancourt | Boston's National Anthem Singer New England Today
^Star-spangled career: Bruins' Rene Rancourt reflects on a life defined by the national anthem The Salem News
^Fontaine, Pete. "Bruins anthem singer coming to Reds reunion this weekend". Warwick Beacon.
^Kloke, Joshua (February 25, 2016). "Legendary Boston Bruins Anthem Singer Rene Rancourt Reflects on His Career". www.vice.com. Vice Media. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
^bostonbruins.com. "Bruins Announce Rene Rancourt's Retirement". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
Other sourcesedit
O'Leary Murray, Alison (December 2, 2004). "Bruins Singer Misses His Gig". Boston Globe.
Keefe, Bill (October 2006). "Bruins national anthem singer Rene Rancourt". Boston Sports Review.
November 28, 2023
rene, rancourt, born, august, 1939, american, singer, best, known, having, performed, national, anthem, home, games, national, hockey, league, boston, bruins, years, rancourt, final, combined, performance, both, star, spangled, banner, canada, took, place, bef. Rene Rancourt born August 4 1939 1 2 is an American singer who is best known for having performed the national Anthem s at home games of the National Hockey League s Boston Bruins for 42 years Rancourt s final combined performance of both The Star Spangled Banner and O Canada took place before Game 7 of the Bruins Eastern Conference first round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 25 2018 His final anthem performance of the Star Spangled Banner alone took place on May 4 2018 as Boston hosted Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning Rene RancourtRancourt participating in the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Finals victory paradeBackground informationBirth nameRene RancourtBorn 1939 08 04 August 4 1939 age 84 Lewiston Maine U S Occupation s Singer Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 References 4 Other sourcesEarly life editRancourt was born in Lewiston Maine the son of Leon Rancourt and Bernadette Guenette French Canadians from Quebec 3 4 5 Career editRancourt first began singing the anthem in Boston at Fenway Park He took part in an opera singing audition on the radio and was heard by John Kiley long time organist at both Fenway and the Boston Garden Rancourt sang before Game 6 of the 1975 World Series when singer Kate Smith cancelled her appearance Rancourt s original ambition had been to become an opera singer and the strength of his trained voice overcame the acoustic shortcomings of the old Garden 6 In 1976 he began singing regularly for Boston Bruins games Rancourt s signature fist pump at the end of the anthem was modeled after the Stump Pump of former Bruin Randy Burridge whom Rancourt admired Rancourt also saluted at the end of the anthem for men and women who have served in the armed forces although it was initially inspired by an elderly fan of Rancourt 7 Rancourt performed the anthems before Bruins games as well as singing at auto races charity events and nursing homes in and around New England He did not have a contract with the Bruins and said I ve never had a contract I ve always just shown up and I ve become associated with the Bruins Rancourt served in the U S Army in the 1960s in which after winning a singing contest he was assigned to a GI traveling show which kept him from being sent to Vietnam 8 On January 17 2018 the Bruins announced that Rancourt would retire at the end of the 2017 18 season He was honored during the Bruins last regular season game against the Florida Panthers on April 8 9 His final playoff game was Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 4 2018 Rancourt retired after the Lightning eliminated the Bruins in five games References edit Rene Rancourt Boston Bruins crooner started here Sun Journal June 6 2011 Retrieved February 28 2012 You searched Rene Rancourt 19390804 Public Background Checks Retrieved February 28 2012 Noel Jacques April 1 2018 Monsieur Star Spangled Banner a Boston est un Rancourt d Amerique HuffPost Quebec in French Huffington Post Retrieved February 1 2021 Rene Rancourt Boston s National Anthem Singer New England Today Star spangled career Bruins Rene Rancourt reflects on a life defined by the national anthem The Salem News Fontaine Pete Bruins anthem singer coming to Reds reunion this weekend Warwick Beacon Kloke Joshua February 25 2016 Legendary Boston Bruins Anthem Singer Rene Rancourt Reflects on His Career www vice com Vice Media Retrieved February 1 2021 What about the other story November 3 2006 bostonbruins com Bruins Announce Rene Rancourt s Retirement National Hockey League Retrieved January 17 2018 Other sources editO Leary Murray Alison December 2 2004 Bruins Singer Misses His Gig Boston Globe Keefe Bill October 2006 Bruins national anthem singer Rene Rancourt Boston Sports Review Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rene Rancourt amp oldid 1173006070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
