A musical connection Sawler book examines the spiritual and musical parallels of Gene and Catherine MacLellan

In 2004, Catherine released her own debut album to critical acclaim and has since become a Juno Award winner and two-time ECMA winner.

Author Harvey Sawler says the book explores Catherine’s perspective of her father, while also interviewing about 30 others, including Catherine’s mother Judith and Lennie Gallant, about the two.

“Everything kind of meets in the middle in terms of (Catherine) picking up (Gene’s) musicality and his spirituality,” Sawler said, during an interview with The Guardian.

“Although he was very religious, Harvey Sawler chats with Gene MacLellan fan Naomi Bondt during a book launch and signing at Back Alley Music in Charlottetown on the weekend. The book “Put Your Hand in My Hand – The Spiritual and Musical Connections of Catherine and Gene MacLellan” explores the parallels between the two accomplished P.E.I. songwriters.

she’s not religious in the way that he was but she still has the same viewpoint about life… they kind of meet, as the title says, in their spiritual and musical connections.”

In the memoir, Sawler paints an intimate portrait of Gene, described as a complex man whose words and melodies left many

wanting more than he was able to give before taking his own life in 1995 at the age of 56.

Catherine addresses the issue of mental health and her father’s legacy in the book, which includes her own lyrics, family photos and previously unpublished lyrics from Gene’s journals to give new insight.

Sawler said he first had the idea for the book about 12 years ago but started it about two years ago.

During that time, Sawler said Catherine has come into her own as an accomplished musician.

“(It’s) sort of a culmination of Catherine finally accepting she can be close to Gene’s music and

not have to feel like she’s riding on his coattails,” said Sawler.

“Once she reached her own Juno Award-winning and ECMAwinning status, I think it’s more comfortable for her to come back to (Gene’s music).”