Emile Benoit

Émile Joseph Benoît was a Canadian fiddler who became known for popularizing Franco-Newfoundlander folk music traditions. Born in Black Duck Brook, Dominion of 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. His final album, 1992's Vive la rose, was recorded with Newfoundland folk-rock band Figgy Duff.