Émile Benoît
Encyclopedia
Émile Joseph Benoît was a Canadian fiddler, who became known for popularizing Franco-Newfoundlander
folk music traditions.
Born in Black Duck Brook, Newfoundland
, Benoît worked primarily as a fisherman for much of his life, playing fiddle mainly as a hobby and at local community events. After winning second prize at a fiddle contest in nearby Stephenville
in 1973, he began to pursue music more actively, making it his primary career after his retirement from fishing. He became a popular performer, touring throughout Canada, appearing on 90 Minutes Live
and in several documentary films, and performing in New Orleans, England, France and Norway. He released three albums and wrote nearly 200 songs during his lifetime.
His final album, 1992's Vive la rose
, was recorded with Newfoundland folk band Figgy Duff
. He gave his final performance just two months before his death in 1992. He was posthumously honoured by the East Coast Music Awards in 1993.
Musicians such as Kelly Russell, Noel Dinn
, Pamela Morgan
and Jim Payne
have cited Benoît as an influence on their own music.
In 2009, Benoit's version of the song "Vive la rose" was the basis of a mixed media
animated short of the same name, directed by Bruce Alcock and produced by the National Film Board of Canada
.
Franco-Newfoundlander
Franco-Newfoundlanders, also known as Franco-Terreneuvians in English or Franco-Terreneuviens in French, are francophone and/or French Canadian residents of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador...
folk music traditions.
Born in Black Duck Brook, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Benoît worked primarily as a fisherman for much of his life, playing fiddle mainly as a hobby and at local community events. After winning second prize at a fiddle contest in nearby Stephenville
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville is a Canadian town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland....
in 1973, he began to pursue music more actively, making it his primary career after his retirement from fishing. He became a popular performer, touring throughout Canada, appearing on 90 Minutes Live
90 Minutes Live
90 Minutes Live was a Canadian television late-night talk show, which aired on CBC Television from 1976 to 1978. The program aired weekday evenings at 11:30 p.m....
and in several documentary films, and performing in New Orleans, England, France and Norway. He released three albums and wrote nearly 200 songs during his lifetime.
His final album, 1992's Vive la rose
Vive la rose
Vive la rose is an 18th century French folk song about unrequited love. "Mon ami me délaisse" is roughly translated as "My boyfriend dumped me". The song goes on to explain that he has found a new girlfriend. Another verse says that rumor has it that she is sick. The narrator says that if she dies,...
, was recorded with Newfoundland folk band Figgy Duff
Figgy Duff
Figgy Duff was a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland. They played a major role in the Newfoundland cultural renaissance of the 1970s and 80s. Formed in 1976 by Noel Dinn, who named the band after a kind of traditional white pudding, Figgy Duff travelled across Newfoundland, learning...
. He gave his final performance just two months before his death in 1992. He was posthumously honoured by the East Coast Music Awards in 1993.
Musicians such as Kelly Russell, Noel Dinn
Figgy Duff
Figgy Duff was a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland. They played a major role in the Newfoundland cultural renaissance of the 1970s and 80s. Formed in 1976 by Noel Dinn, who named the band after a kind of traditional white pudding, Figgy Duff travelled across Newfoundland, learning...
, Pamela Morgan
Pamela Morgan
Pamela Morgan was lead singer, guitarist, and arranger for the folk rock Band Figgy Duff from Newfoundland, Canada from 1976-1995. She now performs as a solo artist and has released several recordings. She also owns Amber Music, an independent record label....
and Jim Payne
Jim Payne (folk singer)
Jim Payne is a Newfoundland folk singer, best known for performing and recording many of the traditional sea shanties of Newfoundland culture. He also composed the song "Wave Over Wave" with Janis Spence and founded the record label ....
have cited Benoît as an influence on their own music.
In 2009, Benoit's version of the song "Vive la rose" was the basis of a mixed media
Mixed media
Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed.There is an important distinction between "mixed-media" artworks and "multimedia art". Mixed media tends to refer to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally distinct...
animated short of the same name, directed by Bruce Alcock and produced by the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
.
Discography
- Emile's Dream (1979)
- It Comes from the Heart (1982)
- Vive la Rose (1992)