Lasting legacy JOURNAL PIONEER
‘If it’s Alright with You’ returning for second season, new songs, stories and players
Catherine MacLellan has spent years wondering about her father.
“I knew he was an artist and wrote songs. I knew about the popularity of ‘Snowbird’ but I just thought it was cool when it came on the radio.”
She’s the daughter of legendary singer Gene MacLellan. In 2017, she released the album “If it’s Alright with You: The Songs of Gene MacLellan.” It accompanies a series of shows that will be returning this summer to the P.E.I. Brewing Company, in Charlottetown, with the same title.
The album has been nominated for an ECMA Folk Recording of the Year.
“I’ve learned a lot about my father by doing the show. I think the most surprising thing was that he was such a big deal. He wrote songs and played music all his life, but it was a normal life.” MacLellan put the show together with the help of Bob Mersereau, a former CBC producer, and friend and fellow musician, John Connolly. Mersereau helped write scripts for the show, telling MacLellan stories about her father and dispelling many of the myths that have circulated about Gene. She and Mersereau met when he approached the family about writing a book on Gene.
“I feel like I’m getting to know my father after all these years,” said Catherine. “He’s been gone 22 years.”
This summer, the show is returning for its second season and will feature some returning stories, plus new ones and new songs.
“When the P.E.I. Brewing Company asked us to do a second season it was easy to say yes.”
She added, “Last year I feel like we were just giving the
“He was this man who’s had this huge presence in their lives but (they) didn’t know him. It’s been special. They’re the ones who will carry on the legacy.” Catherine MacLellan
headlines. But this year we’re trying to include things I think people would be interested in knowing and maybe haven’t heard before.” MacLellan learned about her father’s early life after meeting up with his sister in Ontario, how quickly the success of his career unfolded going from “zero to 60 in six months,” and about his kind and generous nature.
“He had a lot of struggles and a lot of successes, but it was this incredible creative journey.” One thing she didn’t expect was by telling her father’s stories, she would become closer to family members.
Catherine also says it’s also been a great opportunity to interact with fans.
“Almost every night after a show I’d have people come up and tell me a story or how they knew about this story because it was this date or time, which would lead me to work it into the next show. Some audience members also brought photos of my dad they had.
“Fans have been so generous. Some have come two, three, four times. I had no idea it would be as successful.”
It’s also allowed Catherine to teacher her daughter and nieces and nephews about their grandfather.
“He was this man who’s had this huge presence in their lives but [they] didn’t know him. It’s been special. They’re the ones who will carry on the legacy.”
It’s opened up a conversation about mental health, she said.
“It’s hard. Every night telling the story of his death and struggle with mental illness, but I think it would be hollow without talking about it. I think it adds up to people being grateful that the conversation is happening and that it’s being talked about.”
MacLellan’s storytelling continues, kicking off July 9 and running every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until Sept. 19.