R.I.P. George Belleau (1967-2023)

I'd like to send out deepest (if sadly belated) condolences to the family and friends of veteran local rock bassist George "Kinounini" Belleau, who passed away on June 17th at the age of 55. His obituary is posted online at this link. While born in Toronto, a member of the Garden River First Nation, and a graduate of St. Mary's College in Sault Ontario, George eventually made his home in Brimley, Michigan, and was a veteran bassist in many Sault Michigan/E.U.P. bands. SMS readers may recall George surfacing in mid-late 2010s hard rock bands like RamWagon, Full Throttle, the final incarnation of Highway 63, and that band's short-lived side project Mackinaw Trail, while he was also a member of the country cover band Hawk Junction. George also played drums with the Eagle Lodge and was involved in traditional drum groups. Outside of music, he worked as a bus driver and janitor, had a large collection of movies on Blu-Ray, and crafted beadwork, regalia, and instruments in his spare time.

George is survived by his mother, two daughters (sadly, his daughter Ayanna passed away previously), two grandsons, and other extended family, including his niece, Sault Ontario-based rapper Conika. Services took place at the Bay Mills Cultural Center on June 21st & 22nd, with arrangements entrusted to C.S. Mulder Funeral Home in Sault Michigan, and interment was at Mission Hill Cemetery in Brimley. Unfortunately, videos of George in concert are not publically extant to my knowledge, but George was a talented bassist across multiple genres who was able to cross border lines effectively as a musician and personally. Thank you to Glen Thomas for letting me know about his passing, and R.I.P. George!