Western Mass. musician Hal Benoit died earlier this month of a heart attack in Nashville, Tenn. Benoit was a talented blues guitarist and songwriter widely known and respected in the Valley's music community. He hosted open mics at the Basement (when it was Bishop's Lounge), which, Hal's sister Susan Benoit says, he thought of as a "musician's workshop"—"For Hal, the best part was matching people up in interesting or synergistic ways and then enjoying the music that came out of it."
Hal Benoit moved to Nashville in February of 2007 to focus on his career and his playing. At his Myspace page, www.myspace.com/halbenoit, you can listen to some of his songs and read the comments of many who knew him in the Valley and beyond.
