Émile Joseph Benoît (March 24, 1913 – September 2, 1992) was a Canadian fiddler who became known for popularizing Franco-Newfoundlander folk music traditions.
[1] 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.
Musicians such as Kelly Russell, Noel Dinn, Pamela Morgan and Jim Payne have cited Benoît as an influence on their own music.
[1] 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.