Richard Laviolette
Encyclopedia
Richard Andrew Laviolette (born August 22, 1982) is a Canadian singer-songwriter
based in Guelph
, Ontario
. Exclaim!
has described Laviolette as an "old soul", with a voice that "can swing from a delicate whisper to a guttural bark in the same breath". The Record in Kitchener has said Laviolette is on "the cutting edge of the local scene", along with James Gordon
's son Geordie Gordon. He has released material under a variety of band names, including Mary Carl, Richard Laviolette and His Black Lungs, Richard Laviolette and the Oil Spills and Richard Laviolette and the Hollow Hooves.
west of Tara, Ontario
. In his youth, he learned to play several instruments, including the mandolin and guitar, from his father, becoming proficient in traditional folk and country mandolin styles. In an interview with the Queen's
The Journal, he says his family played an important role in fostering an appreciation for music. Growing up, he did not have much exposure to non-mainstream music, but his family would regularly play music together.
When Laviolette entered high school, he was introduced to musicians that did not receive much mainstream exposure, such as Hayden
and Elliott Smith
. During his teenage years, he played in several bands throughout the Tara, Chesley
and Owen Sound
areas of Ontario. Along with Matt Gowan and some of his family members, he formed the band Sharp Pointy Stick, which played a number of high school and bar gigs in the Southwestern Ontario
area.
Laviolette attended the University of Guelph
with the intention of becoming a teacher.
His debut album was begun in autumn 2003 under the name Mary Carl, while he was still a student at Guelph. The album was recorded in the bedroom of friend Adam Scott, with Michelle Dyck contributing additional vocals. Incorporating guitar, cello, harmonica, piano, accordion, and floor tom, Mary Carl was released on April 1, 2005.
His second album, A Little Less Like a Rock, a Little More Like Home, released on Burnt Oak Records in August 2006, reached spot 127 on the campus/community radio airplay charts in November 2006. He followed up with the albums Aging Recycling Plant in 2009 and All of Your Raw Materials in 2010.
He has performed at such music festivals as Pop Montreal
and the Hillside Festival. In late September 2007, Laviolette and label-mate Chris Yang made a seven-week tour of the United States and Canada.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
based in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
has described Laviolette as an "old soul", with a voice that "can swing from a delicate whisper to a guttural bark in the same breath". The Record in Kitchener has said Laviolette is on "the cutting edge of the local scene", along with James Gordon
James Gordon (Canadian musician)
James Gordon is a Canadian singer-songwriter, known as a founding member of Tamarack. He has also released more than 20 solo albums. As a prolific songwriter, he is known for such diverse songs as "Sweaters for Penguins" and "Frobisher Bay". He wrote the weekly song for the CBC Radio program...
's son Geordie Gordon. He has released material under a variety of band names, including Mary Carl, Richard Laviolette and His Black Lungs, Richard Laviolette and the Oil Spills and Richard Laviolette and the Hollow Hooves.
Formative years
Laviolette grew up on a small hobby beef farmHobby farm
A hobby farm is a smallholding or small farm that is maintained without expectation of being a primary source of income. Some are merely to provide some recreational land, and perhaps a few horses for the family's children...
west of Tara, Ontario
Tara, Ontario
Tara is an unincorporated community in southwestern Ontario, Canada. At the 2006 census, it had 989 residents and 435 dwellings. Within the municipality of Arran-Elderslie, it is a designated place located on the Sauble River, with an area of 2.39 km², and an urban area that covers...
. In his youth, he learned to play several instruments, including the mandolin and guitar, from his father, becoming proficient in traditional folk and country mandolin styles. In an interview with the Queen's
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
The Journal, he says his family played an important role in fostering an appreciation for music. Growing up, he did not have much exposure to non-mainstream music, but his family would regularly play music together.
When Laviolette entered high school, he was introduced to musicians that did not receive much mainstream exposure, such as Hayden
Hayden (musician)
Paul Hayden Desser who records as Hayden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario.His early works are a largely eclectic mix of genres from grunge rock to alt country, as demonstrated by his first full album, Everything I Long For, released in 1995. Since then his work has become...
and Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
. During his teenage years, he played in several bands throughout the Tara, Chesley
Chesley, Ontario
Chesley is a community in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, located within the municipality of Arran-Elderslie. Its town slogan is "The Nicest Town Around"...
and Owen Sound
Owen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
areas of Ontario. Along with Matt Gowan and some of his family members, he formed the band Sharp Pointy Stick, which played a number of high school and bar gigs in the Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario, centred on the city of London. It extends north to south from the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron to the Lake Erie shoreline, and east to south-west roughly from Guelph to Windsor. The region had a population...
area.
Laviolette attended the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
with the intention of becoming a teacher.
His debut album was begun in autumn 2003 under the name Mary Carl, while he was still a student at Guelph. The album was recorded in the bedroom of friend Adam Scott, with Michelle Dyck contributing additional vocals. Incorporating guitar, cello, harmonica, piano, accordion, and floor tom, Mary Carl was released on April 1, 2005.
His second album, A Little Less Like a Rock, a Little More Like Home, released on Burnt Oak Records in August 2006, reached spot 127 on the campus/community radio airplay charts in November 2006. He followed up with the albums Aging Recycling Plant in 2009 and All of Your Raw Materials in 2010.
He has performed at such music festivals as Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal is an annual music festival occurring in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the early fall, usually at the end of September or the beginning of October. More than 400 acts are scheduled to play in more than 50 venues across the city, mostly located in the Mile End area...
and the Hillside Festival. In late September 2007, Laviolette and label-mate Chris Yang made a seven-week tour of the United States and Canada.
Discography
- Mary Carl (2005)
- A Little Less Like a Rock, a Little More Like Home (2006)
- Aging Recycling Plant (2009)
- All of Your Raw Materials (2010)
External links
- Richard Laviolette at New Music Canada