Noel Dinn is one of the unsung heroes of the Newfoundland music scene.

Always a leader and a visionary, his single-minded determination, drive and talent overcame many obstacles faced during his life and times. While still a teenager, and the youngest person ever on the St. John's pro hockey team, Noel's early musical influences were American R&B and rock records, which came to St. John's with the American servicemen. With no formal musical training whatsoever, Noel decided to teach himself to play the drums and piano; beginning what developed, over the years, into a singularly distinctive style on both instruments. Early on he suffered a severe physical setback, almost losing an arm while working in the mines in Labrador City, but with his characteristic determination and will power overcame it to play the drums.

While still in his teens, Noel began to play drums with various bands around St. John's, developing his style with jazzman Ralph Walker and The Garrison Hill, which boasted a horn section. Then together with Sandy Morris, Bryan Hennessey and Nelson Boland, Noel formed his own band in the mid 60's, the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Band, complete with original music and Newfoundland's first psychedelic light show. Noel was also writing poetry and formed strong relationships with others of like-minded vision - writers Neil Murray, Nelson Connolly, Mike Wade and others, who together formed the underground intelligentsia of St. John's.

With the disbandment of the Cream Cheese Band, Noel formed Lukey's Boat, a powerhouse rock band, which began to explore Newfoundland traditional songs with singer Laverne Squires. Lukey's Boat unfortunately was never recorded, however, are remembered by many as one of the best bands ever to come out of St. John's. They spent a brief period in Montreal which led them to a showcase in London, England where they stayed for a year, then slowly disintegrated as the 60's lifestyle took its toll. Noel stayed on for awhile then returned to Newfoundland, where he began to explore in earnest the idea of bringing traditional music out of the kitchen and onto the stage. This vision coincided with a general movement in Newfoundland to dispel the stereotypical Newfoundland image and bring her rich cultural heritage to the fore with dignity. Neil Murray was hosting the immensely popular "Jigg's Dinner", featuring Newfoundland traditional music, and in 1974 Noel formed Figgy Duff.

Then followed years of research, led by Noel around Newfoundland, in search of the real and almost buried folk music. Noel studied the rhythm and drive in the music and painstakingly translated it for the younger musicians who dedicated themselves to the cause. Noel had begun an odyssey that took them through the better part of the next twenty years.

To say simply that Noel was the leader of Figgy Duff is a colossal understatement. He was the band's leader, arranger, manager, booking agent, inspiration, drive (and driver), banker, secretary, not to mention drummer and pianist. As a producer he helped in the production of all of Figgy Duff's works and also produced "Vive la Rose" by Emile Benoit and "The Color of Amber" by Anita Best and Pamela Morgan. He never stopped, not until he died at the age of 45. His legacy is a renewed sense of pride in the music of Newfoundland and a changed face on Canadian folk music overall. Noel Dinn helped make a place on the world stage for Newfoundland music as a distinct and beautiful musical genre and convinced a generation who followed that there is value in tradition.

Discography:

Figgy Duff - Figgy Duff
Figgy Duff - After The Tempest
Figgy Duff - Weather Out The Storm
Figgy Duff - Downstream (also co-Producer)
Figgy Duff - Retrospective
Emile Benoit - Vive La Rose (co-Producer)
Anita Best & Pamela Morgan - The Color Of Amber (co-Producer)
Pamela Morgan - On A Wing And A Prayer (writing - 4 tracks)

also:

Due South Soundtrack - (Figgy Duff) Various Artists
Putumayo's Celtic Collection - (Figgy Duff) Various Artists
Close To The Floor - (Figgy Duff) Various Artists