HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-01-25, Page 18THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2007. PAGE 19.Entertainment Leisure&Rita MacNeil coming through Blyth
After a cancellation due to illness,
Rita MacNeil is healthy and ready to
hit the road in February.
MacNeil will stop in Blyth on
March 7 on her 11-stop tour that will
take her through Nova Scotia, Prince
Edward Island, New Brunswick as
well as eight stops in Ontario.
MacNeil’s original date in Blyth
was Dec. 9, however tickets for the
original show will be honoured on
the new date in March.
MacNeil is touring in support of
her latest album, Songs my Mother
Loved. MacNeil’s 21st offering is an
album of covers featuring 13 songs
from her youth.
“I chose the songs because they
were songs that I used to sing for my
parents years ago,” MacNeil says.
“They were actual favourites of
my mother’s and some of my
father’s and when I went to put the
album together, that’s how I came up
with the choices.”
MacNeil says that she is happy
with the songs that she chose, but
with her mother’s taste and love of
music, it was a hard list to put
together.
“There was a much bigger list, but
these on the album are the ones I
probably remember the most. In that
sense it wasn’t too bad, but I could
easily do another album of their
favourites as well.”
“My mother had very eclectic
taste in music. She loved to listen to
the radio and certain songs would
catch her ear. She was also a great
inspiration for me in my life. She
was always encouraging me to sing,
so it was a whole combination
because she tried to get me out of my
shell and I would love to sing these
songs. They were favourites of the
time.”
Covering such classic songs was
something that MacNeil says she’ll
never forget adding that the album is
almost like a time capsule
containing songs of the time when
she was young.
“I think the album reflects the
music that was playing at the time on
the radio. That’s why they were
chosen and they’re songs that have
stood the test of time.”
“I mean, a song like You’ll Never
Walk Alone is a profound piece of
music with some amazing lyrics and
sentiments and I think that’s what
music is all about. It’s connecting to
people that keeps you in this
business and keeps the music going
around.”
MacNeil says that making this
album was like a trip down memory
lane, but new material is always on
her agenda.
“Well it was just a thought of
making a tribute to my mother really.
I’ve done my own music for a long,
long time and I’ll continue to do so,
but this was a fun project for me,
very different from anything I’ve
ever done.”
“I certainly enjoyed it and singing
the songs again and recording the
album brought back a lot of great
memories for me.”
Songs my Mother Loved is
something that has been on
MacNeil’s mind for a while and it
was a project that came quite easily
to her, singing these songs again
after so many years.
“It was certainly a joyous
experience to record this album
because it would be the first time I
would be singing these songs in
many, many years. It was a great
experience and I’m just very happy
that I did it. It’s a project that I have
thought about for some time and the
timing seemed to be right.”
“The songs just came back to me.
I didn’t have a lot of angst over
them, they just came back with the
memories and it was a really unique
experience.”
The Rita MacNeil live show
should be a unique experience as
well. MacNeil says the concerts on
this tour will be comprised of two
parts. The first half of the show will
be old favourites from MacNeil’s
past and the second half will be
songs from the new album, a concept
she is very excited about.
“Certainly when we do the shows,
we’ll be doing songs that people
have requested over the years, songs
that I do and the second half of the
show will be from Songs my Mother
Loved. It’s neat to see the reactions
with people because it brings back
memories with a lot of these folks,
so it’s a little like a journey in a
way,” MacNeil said.
“Hopefully we’ll all have a good
time.”
MacNeil has been having a good
time with folks for over 30 years,
with an illustrious career in the
books, she says that she has a lot to
be thankful for.
“I think I’ve achieved success
because of my love of music which
was pretty profound. I have a great
passion for it and that’s all I ever
wanted to do, so I was very fortunate
that I’ve been able to pursue this
career and I think people who have
supported what I do are the reason
I’m still able to tour after 30 years in
the business.”
“I think I’ve been surrounded by a
lot of great people. I work with great
musicians and I have a wonderful
family and siblings and people
wishing me well and coming from
[Cape Breton] has kept me
grounded. I feel very fortunate that
after a tour I can come home and
enjoy the beauty here.”
Although MacNeil loves her home
in Cape Breton, she does like to tour,
especially across Canada. And now
that she’s healthy she is more than
ready to get out on the road.
“I had to cancel the whole
December tour, but I’m doing well
now and I’m looking forward to
getting out.”
“I love getting out on the road and
seeing the folks and doing what I do.
It’s a great joy for me.”
Healthy and ready to sing
Rita MacNeil, after having to cancel her tour dates in
December due to illness, is healthy and ready to get back
on the road in February and March, including a stop in Blyth.
MacNeil is touring in support of her newest album, Songs
My Mother Loved, an album comprised of cover songs from
her childhood. (Courtesy photo)
Randy Stanlake, board chair, and
the United Way board of directors
are thrilled to announce that the
community of Huron County and
Grand Bend have met the challenge
for the third year in a row, raising the
most money ever for the Huron
United Way, $250,000.
United Way acknowledge the
volunteers who tirelessly worked on
the 2006 campaign and the countless
donors who generously supported
the Huron United Way.
Stanlake said, “We had a very
dedicated staff team and an
enthusiastic group of employee
campaign co-ordinators who did a
tremendous job in their workplaces.
We also feel that the work we are
doing with the Community Matters
Consultation process has been
raising awareness and educating
people about how we do make a
difference in their community.”
Highlights of this campaign would
be the record achievements at Sifto,
Dashwood Industries and both the
public and separate school
campaigns. Another successful
Amazing Race and the CN Tower
Climb both added significant
revenue to the campaign.
“What a thrill to announce
achievement of our goal. Our
volunteer and staff team worked
relentlessly to achieve this goal and
we wish to extend our heartfelt
thanks to everyone who donated or
volunteered this year … we simply
could not do it without you!” stated
Kimberley Payne, United Way
executive director.
“We are deeply grateful to
everyone who made a contribution
of their very valuable resources of
time and money,” added Stanlake.
“Your support will make a
difference in the health and well
being of your community in the
coming year, congratulations on
another outstanding success.
Payne reported, “We are waiting
final numbers to be tabulated from a
few workplaces that are just
finalizing their campaigns, however
we can say that we are presently
over $250,000.”
The Huron United Way is a local
non-profit agency investing in
Huron County through its 12 funded
agencies. For more information,
please contact the Huron United
Way at 519-524-7900 or e-mail:
huronunitedway@tcc.on.ca
Huron United Way raises largest
amount in its history, $250,000
Happy 10th Birthday
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January 25
Love Mom, Dad,
Delayna, Hudson
& Bennett
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The Citizen
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