| Birth Name: | Mario LeBlanc |
| Alias: | Fayo |
| Birth Place: | Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Birth Date: | 18 October 1977 |
| Origin: | Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Death Place: | Mont-Carmel, Prince Edward Island, Canada |
| Instrument: | Guitar |
| Website: | Fayo.ca |
Mario LeBlanc (October 18, 1977 – September 30, 2024), better known under stage name Fayo (transl. bean), was an Acadian musician born in Dieppe, New Brunswick.[1] As many artists from southeastern New Brunswick, Fayo sang in chiac, the local French dialect mixing French words with English grammar, and vice versa. His music is a blend of folk, rock and urban poetry.
Fayo started writing songs at the age of thirteen. He then sang for the Acadian band Réveil until 1996. In 1999, he wrote an Acadian poetry book entitled Taches de naissance (transl. Birthmarks).
Soon after, he would start his solo career. In 2000, he won the singer-songwriter of the year award at the Gala de la Chanson de Caraquet (fr) for his album La fiève des fèves (transl. Bean Fever).[2] He then went on tour with two of his friends, Rémi Arsenault (contrabass) and Steven LeBlanc (guitar). Also in 2000, he won the Prix Éloizes (fr) as "Newcomer of the Year" (Découverte de l'Année).
In 2006, Fayo would record his second album Accent Aigu (transl. Acute Accent).
Fayo worked with Bosnian singer Lepa Brena on her 2011 album, Začarani krug. He composed the music for the song "Briši me" with Hajrudin Hari Varešanović.
Fayo died after a brief cancer in Mont-Carmel, Prince Edward Island on September 30, 2024, at the age of 46.[3] [4] [5]