Will Benoit
from WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.
Will Evans (Founding member of Barefoot Truth)
Lead vocals, drums, guitar
Bio
William Evans Benoit was raised in Mystic, CT. His penchant for music began at an early age. He studied voice and took up guitar and drums. In 2003, he was introduced to guitarist Jay Driscoll while life-guarding on the beach in Groton Long Point. The two became fast friends when they realized they had the same musical tastes. Driscoll and Benoit immediately began to play guitar together- covering Jack Johnson and Dispatch tunes before family and friends. Almost immediately, they began to write songs together which were inspired by the Ocean, the Beach and the outdoors. The songs were very well received by their peers- prompting them to create their first CD. With no name for their project, the name Barefoot was introduced as a result of their playing shows without shoes on.
In 2004, Benoit and Driscoll met up with Jack Gauthier at a Dispatch concert. Gautheir had been the producer of Dispatch's music and agreed to produce an album for Barefoot. In 2005, their second CD, "Changes in the Weather" was released which became the definitive CD for music to "live life by".
In the fall of 2005, Barefoot was forced to change their name to Barefoot Truth due to a band in Texas which had copyrighted the name. The group's popularity continued to soar among young people in the New England area who faithfully spread the music around to all of their friends.
In the Winter of 2006, the band released an EP entitled "Club House Sessions". Afterward, Benoit headed to New Zealand for a semester of study and inspiration. While there, he wrote many new songs and discovered the digederoo- an instrument he incorporated into many of his new songs. Upon returning from New Zealand, he and Driscoll added bassist Andy Wrba and harmonica player Garrett Duffy to the band. Despite the band members being hundreds of miles apart in their respective Colleges, the band still toured actively all over the Northeast- with an emphasis on the Boston area. With the addition of new instruments and added band members, Benoit switched from guitar to drums
In the Spring of 2007, Benoit graduated from St. Michael's College in Colchester, VT. At that time, they headed into the studio to record their fourth CD, "Walk Softly" which demonstrated a real evolution in their sound- as well as a departure from their earlier, more innocent music. Many songs were written during Benoit's New Zealand adventure, such as "Solitude" and "Reeln', along with several of Driscoll's own contributions.
In May of 2008, the band's very first music video is to be released featuring Reeln' from "Walk Softly". The band's popularity continues to grow, as does Benoit's prowess as a singer/songwriter.
Barefoot Truth's Official Homepage
