After media frenzy, Montreal violin busker back on streets

Hours after being thrust into the media spotlight, Mark Landry was back in his usual spot, sleeping under a pile of blankets outside Montreal's Joliette Metro station.

The story of Landry'sstolen violin and the new one gifted by a local orchestra on Tuesday was splashed across newspaper front pages and made the top of newscasts.

By the next morning, however, while avideoof him performing with his new instrument was beingsharedonline around the world, Landry once again faced the grind of life on the streets.

A Montreal police officerwho works closely with street peoplein the city's east endwoke him up from his slumberoutside the Metro mid-morning on Wednesday.

She wanted to help settle a dispute he'd had the night before at a dpanneur a convenience storenearby.

Friends say Landry, anative ofMoncton, N.B., moved to Montreal about 15 years ago, hasstruggledwith mental health problems and substance abuse and is nearly blind.

For years, Landryhad a room, sparsely furnished with a mattress on the floor, in a boardinghouse onSte-CatherineStreet,he said ina short documentary about his life.

But he remains a beloved figure in the neighbourhood.

RAW: Montreal homeless man gets new violin

8 years ago

Duration 1:32

Mark Landry, a homeless Metro performer whose violin was stolen, is playing once again thanks to Orchestre Mtropolitain and La Maison du Violon.Daniel Cyr, who lives close toJolietteMetro and sometimes bringsLandrywarm meals while he's busking, said he seems most at peacewhen playing the violin.

"For me, I like to take my dogs for a walk. For him, it's his violin," Cyrsaid.

"People are always surprised by the music he makes."

In an interview with CBC News,Landryhad moments of lucidity and others wherehis speech was disorganized, making himmore difficult to follow.

But heseemed unimpressed by all the attention.

Landry said his original violin, which he had reported stolen days earlier, had been located, while hisnew violin, gifted by the orchestra, was in safe hands ata friend's home.

More than anything, Landrytookexception to being referred to as avioloneux,which translates as fiddler, in media reportsa termhe said belittles his skills as a musician.