Richard Andrew Laviolette, born on August 22, 1982 in Port Colborne, Ontario, was a Canadian singer-songwriter. He learned to play instruments such as the mandolin and guitar from his father. Laviolette's debut album Mary Carl was released in April 2005. His second album, A Little Less Like a Rock, a Little More Like Home, was released on Burnt Oak Records in 2006 and reached number 127 on the campus/community radio airplay charts. In 2017, Laviolette released Taking the Long Way Home. His final album, All Wild Things Are Shy, was posthumously released on September 5, 2024. The album was longlisted for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize, with "Constant Love" longlisted for the Polaris SOCAN Song Prize. Laviolette passed away on September 5, 2023 at the age of 41 due to complications from Huntington's disease.
