Born in the city of Dieppe in New Brunswick on October 18, 197l, Fayo has lived in Prince Edward Island since 2009. His music has left its mark on Acadia, notably through his unique style, where he mixed folk, rock and urban poetry.
In fact, Mario LeBlanc’s discography includes three albums. His first opus, The fever of beans, was released in 2001. After this album, which allowed the general Acadian public to discover his musical talent, the Dieppe native released Acute accent in 2006 and Fitness in 2012. In addition to his musical compositions, Fayo wrote and published in 1999 a collection of Acadian poetry entitled Birthmarks, published by Éditions Perce-Neige.
If Mario LeBlanc’s music allowed him to perform throughout Canada and Europe, particularly in France, Belgium and Switzerland, he nevertheless had other strings to his bow. Moreover, he has worked as a janitor at École-sur-Mer in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, since 2014.
In 2000, Fayo won the songwriter prize at the Gala de la chanson de Caraquet. In addition, during his tours and residencies in France and Belgium, he was recognized as one of the great ambassadors of Acadia.
It is important to note that Fayo’s death took the entire Acadian community by surprise, because it was only his family and close friends who knew he was ill. To this end, many Acadian artists expressed their bitterness and, at the same time, their surprise after this news.
PHOTO : Facebook – Mario LeBlanc
“I am in shock to learn of your departure. Everything happened so quickly, wrote Serge Brideau on his Facebook page. We met and celebrated a few times, we didn’t see each other often, but I really liked you, and I liked your songs.”
“I liked your approach to the song with the way you said things. You were capable of doing something that I have always admired; to write a good, catchy chorus that stuck in your head,” adds the singer of Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire.
Furthermore, for several years, Mario LeBlanc has not been at the forefront of the musical scene. However, he had not stopped writing and composing music. Moreover, he was working on a new musical project with the participation of Pascal Miousse and Pastelle LeBlanc from the group Vishtèn.
A celebration of Mario LeBlanc’s life was held at the Center La Belle-Alliance, in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, on Sunday, October 6. “I know all his songs by heart. Every breath, I can reproduce them,” wrote Carol Doucet, manager of Grenier Musique, about Fayo after her death.
“Go listen to his three albums, it’s the best tribute we can pay to him,” she adds.
