One of the two McGarrigle sisters and mother of Rufus and Martha Wainwright dies of cancer

Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle, and Rufus Wainwright, photographed at the Paul Morissey estate in Montauk, New York, September 2006. Photograph by Mark Seliger.

Kate McGarrigle, part of the enchanting any idiosyncratic McGarrigle Sisters, has died of cancer Monday night. She was 63.

“McGarrigle’s brother-in-law, Dane Lanken, said the singer died at her Montreal home Monday night surrounded by her sisters, Jane and Anna, and her children, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, also singers. Entertainment Daily ”

The two sisters were from Quebec and combined distinctive harmonies with bilingual songs about love, life and the Quebec life. Kate married Louden Wainright III and had two children before their divorce.

Never destined for stardom, their songs gained a strong niche following of loyal fans.

Most Canadians know her from the song The Log Driver’s Waltz which the National Film Board turned into a short animation that played on Canadian TV for three decades as part of Canadian Vignettes.

This lighthearted, animated short is based on the song “The Log Driver’s Waltz” by Wade Hemsworth. Easily one of the most often-requested films in the NFB collection, Kate and Anna McGarrigle sing along to the tale of a young girl who loves to dance and chooses to marry a log driver over his more well-to-do competitor. Driving logs down the river has made the young man the best dancing partner to be found. NFB

Here is a wonderful mother, son and daughter version of Stephen Foster’s Hard Times sung with sister Anna McGarrigle and Emmylou Harris.

The sisters lacked the commercial appeal that would have made them stars although they seemed quite content to be the appreciated by core fans and musicians. The song Heart Like A Wheel made the career of Linda Ronstadt when she recorded Anna McGarrigle’s song as the title of her breakthrough album.

“Their songs have been covered by a variety of artists including Maria Muldaur, Nana Mouskouri, Emmylou Harris, Billy Bragg, Chloé Sainte-Marie and Anne Sofie von Otter.” Wikipedia

They are a true example that wonderful music doesn’t always come from headliners. Smaller talented acts produce joyous music. Here is a lovely song with Rufus, Elvis Costello and Anna last year on CTV’s Spectacle. Obviously not well then, she soldiers on a folk trouper to end.

If you hunt around, there are several other great posts on YouTube. Thank God for Anna McGarrigle and her fans who posted the videos.