Biography – Rita MacNeil
– by Shawn Conner
Earlier this year, Rita MacNeil passed away.
Like many Canadians of my generation (X!), I thought of MacNeil, if I thought of her at all, as a mainstream singer that appealed mostly to Top 40 listeners.
But the more research that I did following her death, the more I came to respect the singer.
She overcame tremendous odds to become a success. In an industry that values beauty and youth, she was a large woman who experienced her first real success in her 40s. In an industry that is always looking for something new, she had a career that lasted over 20 years. In an industry centred in Toronto, she was from the East Coast. And before she signed to a record company, she released and financed her albums herself.
So, here’s to Rita MacNeil – a true hero of the Canadian music industry.
(Click on image to see full size.)
Other comics in the Canadian music bio series:
