Rita MacNeil
singer-songwriter | 1944 - 2013
BornMay 28, 1944 in Big Pond, Nova Scotia, Canada
ActiveApril 16, 2013 in Big Pond, Nova Scotia, Canada
Biographyas told to Tara Thorne
Cape Breton’s “first lady of song” may best be remembered for a singing voice that could shake the rafters, but it was her soft-spoken nature and determination to overcome paralyzing shyness that endeared her to legions of fans. Born and raised in Cape Breton, MacNeil was a gifted singer from early on, moving to Toronto at 17 where she was inspired by the women’s movement to sing protest songs at folk clubs. She’d carry that mode of expression with her—along with tales of the working class—throughout the rest of her career. Despite suffering from chronic stage fright, MacNeil became a fixture in the public mind after a six-week run of shows at Expo ’86 garnered increasingly strong reviews. Her ability to connect emotionally through song made her beloved by audiences. When Globe and Mail writer Rod Mickleburgh saw her on Canada Day, 1986, performing “Working Man,” he was forever changed: “There probably wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” he said. “I mean, it just moved me to tears. I never heard a song quite like it.” She went on to become a fixture on the Canadian music scene, releasing 24 albums between 1980 and 2012, appearing on her own TV show, Rita and Friends, and picking up three JUNO awards along the way. An East Coast legend, MacNeil was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1992, and received the Order of Nova Scotia in 2005.
IN DEPTH
Pianist Kim Dunn, who played in MacNeil’s band from 1999 until her death in 2013, on how the singer turned shyness into strength and endeared audiences to an unlikely superstar:
One of the things I respect about her most of all is the fact that she pretty much left it to us, let us do our own thing with her music, which was amazing. It was something that was born out of trust and Rita liking what we were doing. It was a change for her—that ended up being a smaller band than she was accustomed to. When she took off, and she really took off from Expo ’86, the band was large and the productions were huge and layered. The musicianship in the band was great, everybody was very sensitive to the music; at the same time it was very rootsy and organic and real. And she loved that. We didn’t really have a bandleader as such, we all threw in ideas and we all got along so there weren’t any problems. She was there to tell us if something wasn’t happening, and offer up just the right suggestion when it needed it to be said. I really appreciated that.
Rita MacNeil’s ability to connect emotionally through song made her beloved by audiences.
I think of that often—you hear lots of stories about how I think the common theme and belief was that Rita was very shy and whatnot, and humble—in that regard I always saw a strength in her, to be able to just sort of go through these changes and let her music go, but at the same time feel strength in the knowledge that it was gonna be okay. She was one who always shared immensely her stage and spotlight. I benefitted greatly from her generosity by sharing her stage and platform because she would let me share her stage and platform. It’s not often you come across that, it really isn’t—I’ve played with enough people to know that a lot of people don’t do that.
She had such a deep commitment and love for her fans and I think that her songs really affected her crowds because they were such heartfelt, deep, emotional lyrics. Deep from the heart. A lot of feeling and emotion went into them and she always showed it on stage.
Cape Breton’s “first lady of song” may best be remembered for a singing voice that could shake the rafters, but it was her soft-spoken nature and determination to overcome paralyzing shyness that endeared her to legions of fans. Born and raised in Cape Breton, MacNeil was a gifted singer from early on, moving to Toronto at 17 where she was inspired by the women’s movement to sing protest songs at folk clubs. She’d carry that mode of expression with her—along with tales of the working class—throughout the rest of her career. Despite suffering from chronic stage fright, MacNeil became a fixture in the public mind after a six-week run of shows at Expo ’86 garnered increasingly strong reviews. Her ability to connect emotionally through song made her beloved by audiences. When Globe and Mail writer Rod Mickleburgh saw her on Canada Day, 1986, performing “Working Man,” he was forever changed: “There probably wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” he said. “I mean, it just moved me to tears. I never heard a song quite like it.” She went on to become a fixture on the Canadian music scene, releasing 24 albums between 1980 and 2012, appearing on her own TV show, Rita and Friends, and picking up three JUNO awards along the way. An East Coast legend, MacNeil was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1992, and received the Order of Nova Scotia in 2005.
IN DEPTH
Pianist Kim Dunn, who played in MacNeil’s band from 1999 until her death in 2013, on how the singer turned shyness into strength and endeared audiences to an unlikely superstar:
One of the things I respect about her most of all is the fact that she pretty much left it to us, let us do our own thing with her music, which was amazing. It was something that was born out of trust and Rita liking what we were doing. It was a change for her—that ended up being a smaller band than she was accustomed to. When she took off, and she really took off from Expo ’86, the band was large and the productions were huge and layered. The musicianship in the band was great, everybody was very sensitive to the music; at the same time it was very rootsy and organic and real. And she loved that. We didn’t really have a bandleader as such, we all threw in ideas and we all got along so there weren’t any problems. She was there to tell us if something wasn’t happening, and offer up just the right suggestion when it needed it to be said. I really appreciated that.
Rita MacNeil’s ability to connect emotionally through song made her beloved by audiences.
I think of that often—you hear lots of stories about how I think the common theme and belief was that Rita was very shy and whatnot, and humble—in that regard I always saw a strength in her, to be able to just sort of go through these changes and let her music go, but at the same time feel strength in the knowledge that it was gonna be okay. She was one who always shared immensely her stage and spotlight. I benefitted greatly from her generosity by sharing her stage and platform because she would let me share her stage and platform. It’s not often you come across that, it really isn’t—I’ve played with enough people to know that a lot of people don’t do that.
She had such a deep commitment and love for her fans and I think that her songs really affected her crowds because they were such heartfelt, deep, emotional lyrics. Deep from the heart. A lot of feeling and emotion went into them and she always showed it on stage.
Contemporary Country Singer-Songwriter | born 1961
artist, singer-songwriter | 1950 - 1996
Singer-Songwriter and TV Personality | born 1962
