Canadian Folk Singer Kate McGarrigle Dead At Age 63
A press release from the National Arts Centre brings the sad news that Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle died Monday night from cancer at age 63. According to a Globe & Mail report, McGarrigle died at home surrounded by her sisters Anna and Jane and her children Rufus and Martha Wainwright. She had been battling cancer since the summer of 2006.
Kate and her sister Anna recorded ten albums as The McGarrigle Sisters. Their songs have been covered by internationally renowned artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Billy Bragg, Emmylou Harris and Elvis Costello.
Because of her age, Miss Mussel knew McGarrigle mostly as Rufus Wainwright’s mother. Or so she thought. It turns out that The McGarrigle sisters are the voices behind her favourite National Film Board short – The Log Driver’s Waltz. First released in 1979, this film was shown regularly on TVO, one of the two channels available at Miss Mussel’s childhood farm. It became an instant favourite and, in the days before TV Guide, seemed to appear at random, making it even more appealing.
Tributes and news reports will be added as they come in. Please feel free to add your own in the comments.
Globe & Mail | CBC | CP | CTV (video) | Chicago Tribune | Huffington Post | Rufus Wainwright | Carl Wilson (pop critic at the Globe & Mail) | New York Daily News | Telegraph | Guardian obit | Nonesuch (their label) | NY Times/Reuters
On this day..
- Saturday Photograph - 2008
Yassha on 
Tina on 
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