Kate and Anna
McGarrigle are sisters from Montreal ,
Quebec , Canada ,
who in 1975 formed a folk duo and went on to write and record some of the best
contemporary folk music of the last 30 years. The musical McGarrigle family
grew as Kate married folk singer, Loudon Wainwright and bore him musical
children, singers Martha and Rufus Wainwright.
The McGarrigles
appeared on the music scene in 1976 with the release of their classic debut
album, “Kate and Anna McGarrigle,” a superb collection of songs ranging from
folk and blues to gospel all sung with the McGarrigle sisters’ trademark tight
harmonies. The album’s highlights are the songs “Mendocino” and “Heart like a
Wheel,” with the latter tune becoming a hit for Linda Ronstadt. The song, “Go
Leave” is for Kate’s husband Loudon Wainwright, with whom she had a famously
difficult marriage.
The
McGarrigle’s follow-up release, “Dancer with Bruised Knees” (1977), was another
fine effort that like the debut album, included several songs sung in French.
The McGarrigles
have continued to record fine albums, and the best of their more recent
offerings are “French Record” (1981), “Love Over and Over” (1982), “Heartbeats
Accelerating” (1990), and “Matapedia” (1996).