The harmonica player, archivist, writer, composer and SOCAN member Gabriel Labbé, a major figure in Quebec traditional music, died on March 13, 2008, at the age of 69. Author of two books, Les Pionniers du disque folklorique québécois and Musiciens traditionnels du Québec, his albums were re-issued in the fall of 2007.

Built over a 40-year career as a researcher, his collections were donated to the Library and Archives Canada, where they are kept under the name of Gabriel Labbé funds. He will be greatly missed by the Quebec arts community, and is survived by his widow Thérèse and his son, La Presse journalist Richard Labbé.