‘THE TIME WAS RIGHT’
P.E.I. singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan excited to bring a show about her late father’s songbook to the Prince Edward Island Brewing Company starting July 2
P.E.I. singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan excited to bring a show about her late father’s songbook to the stage
When P.E.I.’s Catherine MacLellan was starting out in the music business, she would often pore over her father’s songbook.
She quickly became familiar with the songs that the late Gene MacLellan penned from his P.E.I. home like “Snowbird”, “Put Your Hand in the Hand” and “The Call” that artists, including Anne Murray, Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, Chet Atkins, Joan Baez and Ocean, turned into worldwide charttopper hits.
But, the decision to embrace her father’s musical legacy didn’t happen until recently.
In fact, it wasn’t until she won a Juno Award for “Raven’s Sun” in 2015 that she felt the time was right to explore her father’s music in a tribute project.
“The Juno made me feel as though people know me and appreciated my music. Now I want to share my dad’s music. It’s also an opportunity for me to get to know him better. The more I get to know his songs, the closer I feel to him,” says MacLellan who is bringing her brand new show, “If It’s Alright With You: The Life and Music of my Father, Gene MacLellan” to the Prince Edward Island Brewing Company, 96 Kensington Rd., starting Monday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m.
The show will also debut a tribute album of the same name.
Now, for the first time the award-winning singer-songwriter will tell her father’s story in her words and his songs.
“When the brewery asked me to do the show, I wasn’t sure at first. But the timing was right. I’m between records. And I’ve wanted to do a record/show of my dad’s music for a long time, and this gave me a great opportunity,” says MacLellan, adding audience members will hear his beloved music plus rare and previously unreleased songs in a powerful performance.
At times, the show is a trip down memory lane as MacLellan and her band play the melodies that Gene is known for.
“It’s been fun learning the
songs. We’re definitely putting our own spin on them. But, in many ways, we are honouring what he did and where the music came from.”
Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to tell his story.
Born in Val-d’Or, Que., MacLellan grew up in Toronto. He eventually moved to P.E.I., settling in Pownal.
He won a Juno Award in 1971 as best songwriter. MacLellan was a frequent guest on “Don Messer’s Jubilee” and later a regular cast member of “Singalong Jubilee” with Anne Murray
and Bill Langstroth.
Sadly, MacLellan ended his own life in January of 1995.
“It was a shock. The next 10 years I spent figuring out who I was without him as well as dealing with the grief,” says MacLellan.
In the process, she learned about the depression that her father experienced as well as other things in his life.
“So the show is about getting to share that side of things. I’m not just talking about his days in the music business but the end of his life.
“I’m happy that I can share that because so many people have gone through that sort of thing but don’t get to talk about (it).”
Now, in the middle of rehearsals, she’s counting down the hours until opening night.
“I’m really excited. He’s been gone 22 years, and it’s time. There are so many people connected to him, I get to honour them as well.”