Comments on: Come Raise a Glass to the Great Kate McGarrigle – if you happen to be in NYC.

By: Peter Morrison

Peter Morrison — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:04:16 +0000

This is a very late tribute and I apologies. Those unique voices of Kate and Anna are never far from my ears. I saw them in concert in London 1976ish. \Talk To Me Of Mendicino\ never fails make tears.I know all my friends who heard Kate and Anna were touched by their magic and recently watching video’s of The Transatlantic Sessions shows they are so well respected buy the Celtic fraternity. Thanks for those wonderful songs Kate.

By: Laurie Small

Laurie Small — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:33:12 +0000

I only found out last night that Kate has passed away. I have many fond memories of tour with Kate and Anna in Europe back in the 70s. They were part of my self education as a tour manager. I looked at the U tube Old Grey Whistle site to remind me of the lovely music they made. Thanks Kate.

By: Peter Sharp

Peter Sharp — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:11:31 +0000

My sincere condolences to Anna, Jane, Rufus, Martha and the whole family on the loss of Kate. A fan since the 70’s I only got to experience a short Kate and Anna live performance in Glasgow a few years ago when Rufus was appearing (Martha too). A magical and memorable night. I couldn’t hold back the tears when Sara Watkins, Mollie O’Brien, Cara Dillon, Eddi Reader and Karen Matheson sang a beautiful tribute to Kate (Talk to me of Mendocino) at the Transatlantic Sessions on the last night of Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival last week.

Thanks for the beautiful music Kate, and for giving us Rufus and Martha.

Peter

By: George Rothenberger

George Rothenberger — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:54:25 +0000

Jane and Anna and the rest of the family,
so sorry for you loss. I’ve seen you a couple of times, at Winnipeg Folk Festival when Rufus and Martha were small, and more recently at Cedar Cultural Center here in Minneapolis, MN which was a more intimate venue and a lovely time. I’ve loved your work for decades, ever since the 1975 debut, and am heartbroken at Kate’s passing. Oh how I wish I could join you in New York. I am a musician and songwriter myself and Kate’s (and your) body of work means a lot to me, it is woven into my musical fabric and soul. Maybe that’s why Kate’s loss means so much to me. My wife said the other day, ‘It’s not like you knew her’ to which I had to offer in a fit of black humor ’she never writes, she never calls.’ A fan of any artist will feel they know the aritist, but to me it’s more than that. She shaped us, spoke to us, we were part of that folk scare together and I still play that material. I play at a picnic/rally every year and ocassionally with another multi-instrumentalist who like me remembers the old union songs, and folk songs and what have-you, and I know it’s part of the milieu you came from too. Funny, I had just emailed that friend to enquire about doing a tribute get-together for Kate here in Minneapolis. I feel a need to reach out and share the joy and sorrow and express my appreciation and sadness as I do here. Because she did write and she did call.
Thank you Anna and thank you, Jane.
Rest in Peace dear Kate.
George Rothenberger – Mn

By: Denise Goudreau

Denise Goudreau — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:22:24 +0000

My deepest condolences to Anna,Jane,Rufus,Martha and your families on the loss of your dear Kate. As a fan, I was moved and humbled to be able to attend the service for Kate at Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica yesterday, Feb. 1. It was truly a beautiful tribute to her. Your words and music echoed with haunting resonnance in the halls of that most beautiful basilica and was an experience
I will cherish in my heart.

I look forward to more of the music her legacy has inspired.
Rest in Peace, dear Kate.

Sincerely,
Denise ( Montreal fan )

By: Neville Kemp

Neville Kemp — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:42:21 +0000

Sorry not to have done this sooner. Extremely saddened by the news, especially having seen Kate perform at the Albert Hall, London just before Christmas. This was the first time for both my wife and I that we’d seen a live performance, though we’ve been great lovers of the McGarrigles for three decades.

Our heartfelt condolences to all the family and we sincerely hope you will continue to raise money for Kate’s charity with an annual ‘Not so Silent Night’ in London.

By: Diane Pelletier

Diane Pelletier — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:41:25 +0000

Tristesse, voilà ce qui nous reste. Tu vas sûrement rencontrer Lhasa dans les prochains jours. Ceux qui vont vous entourer à ce moment là seront heureux de vous entendre avec toute cette musique que vous leur apporterai.

Reste vos oeuvres que nous fera toujours plaisir d’entendre.

Paix à vous à toi Kate et merci.

By: Lisa Hunter

Lisa Hunter — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:55:52 +0000

Dear McGarrigle/Wainwright family,

Since I learned of Kate McGarrigle’s death last week I have been grieving. I knew her only through her music, but that music played first in my dorm room at college and then in apartments and now in my living room and kitchen as I work and raise children of my own here in Wisconsin. I think of her and your music like that: as offering the music of life, a life well-lived and one I have aspired to, a life not without heartache but filled with children and extended family and friends and creativity and engagement in the larger world. A life centered always on home that reached others through music, but never failed to express the centrality of love and connectedness and everyday adventures and blessings. Maybe this is why her death has felt so personal to me.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences as those of you who did know and love her grieve her death. She will be missed by many she never met whose existence has been made richer by her work.

Sincerely,

Lisa Hunter

By: dougie love

dougie love — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:06:04 +0000

FAREWELL OUR FRIEND, BUT NOT GOODBYE,
YOUR TIME HAS COME, YOUR SOUL MUST FLY,
TO SING WITH ANGELS, FIND THE SUN,
BUT HOW WE’LL MISS OUR SPECIAL ONE,
SHE WALKED AMONG US JUST A WHILE,
WEAVED HER MAGIC, MADE US SMILE,
“YOUR LIFE WAS SO FULL OF LIGHT & TEARS,
WE LIVED IT THROUGH YOU, THROUGH THE YEARS”
THE GOLDEN DAYS, THEY WENT SO FAST,
THE PRECIOUS TIMES, WHY CAN’T THEY LAST?
SO MANY LOVED YOU, DID YOU KNOW?
WE WERE NOT READY TO LET YOU GO,
THE STARS FROM HEAVEN ARE ONLY LENT,
A GIFT FROM GOD, THAT’S WHY THEY’RE SENT,
YOUR STAR WILL SHINE NOW IN THE SKY,
FAREWELL OUR FRIEND BUT NOT GOODBYE.”

By: Patrick Stahel (*1965)

Patrick Stahel (*1965) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:51:35 +0000

I’m shattered & deeply moved! The music & the poetry gave me hope as nuthing else as mixed-up teenager and carried on forever. I always listened to “First Born” in my walkman while roaming through empty crystal mountains searching for an inspiration…
Dear Kate, I once even dared to phone to you from Switzerland in the 80’s & you were so open & kind, I will never forget it! Thanks for all the wonderful spirit you brought into this world.
Love forever, the greatest admiration that cannot put into words that exist here^^, Pat (Switzerland)