Ten Reasons Kate McGarrigle Was Cool

Canadian folk singer/songwriter Kate McGarrigle has died of cancer at age 63.

McGarrigle lost her battle with a rare form of cancer, clear cell sarcoma, and passed away Monday (Jan. 18) night in Montreal after going into a coma on Saturday (Jan. 16).

Rather than dwell on the sadness of this artist's passing, we here at CHARTattack prefer to celebrate what made McGarrigle great. Here are 10 reasons why Kate McGarrigle was cool:

1. McGarrigle began her career as a member of Montreal folk group The Mountain City Four with her sister, Anna McGarrigle, and folk singer/songwriter Jack Nissenson.

2. McGarrigle recorded 10 albums with her sister, Anna McGarrigle, and they sang in both English and French, despite being anglophones from Quebec. Two of those albums, 1981's Entre La Jeunesse Et La Sagesse and 2003's La Vache Qui Pleure, are entirely in French. Many musicians nowadays can't even ask where the bathroom is in French.

3. "Heart Like A Wheel." Need we say more? This track was written by Anna McGarrigle, but both sisters performed it. Linda Ronstadt's version is probably more famous, especially considering hers was released first in 1974 on an album of the same name. The McGarrigles' version of the song came out a year later on their 1975 self-titled debut album.

 

4. Melody Maker magazine dubbed Kate And Anna McGarrigle's self-titled debut album as its album of the year in 1975.

5. McGarrigle was married to American singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III in the 1970s.

6. McGarrigle's songwriting legacy extends to her children. She is the mother of two successful songwriters: Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright.

7. McGarrigle and Anna McGarrigle were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2008. They performed "Heart Like A Wheel" live with Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright.

8. McGarrigle was made a Member of the Order Of Canada in 1993.

9. Kate And Anna McGarrigle won Juno Awards for their 1997 Matapedia and 1999 The McGarrigle Hour albums. They also received Women Of Originality awards in 1999 and SOCAN Lifetime Achievement awards in 2006.

10. McGarrigle was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and continued to perform despite her illness. She appeared with Anna McGarrigle, Rufus and Martha Wainwright and their cousin, Sloan Wainwright at their annual A Not So Silent Night show in London, England on Dec. 10. Here's her performance of "Proserpina" from that show: