RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

http://www.rufuswainwright.com/ 

Cosa dire di RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, cantautore canadese nato a New York il 22 luglio del 1973? Cresciuto con la madre a Montréal, frequentando per un breve periodo la McGill University, dove ha studiato pianoforte classico, pur rimanendo appassionato alla musica rock. Wainwright si è interessato all'opera lirica fin dall'adolescenza. Inoltre è divenuto un appassionato fan di Edith Piaf, Al Jolson e Judy Garland…

E poi, tutto quanto si conosce della sua carriera e poliedrica produzione artistica, delle sue amicizie tra gli astri della musica leggera, della vita privata oggetto di critiche o approvazioni…

L’artista è a Roma per lavorare a un’opera sull’imperatore Adriano.

E’ un autentico figlio d’arte,

A proposito… mamma e zia …

KATE  & ANNA MCGARRIGLE

Singer/songwriters Kate and Anna McGarrigle performed to critical and popular acclaim throughout North America, Europe, and the Far East for more than three decades. Their songs have been widely recorded by other artists, including Linda Ronstadt, Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, and Nana Mouskouri.

Born in Montreal of mixed English and French-Canadian background, Kate and Anna became stars on the city’s folk music scene while still in school and soon began to compose their own songs. When some of these songs found their way into the repertoires of established artists, Kate and Anna were invited to record their own album, 1975’s Kate and Anna McGarrigle. The elegance of their vocal harmonies, and the variety and originality of their music, delighted critics and fans alike, and the album earned international praise.

In the years following their debut, Kate and Anna released a series of albums that met with collective acclaim from sources such as Rolling Stone and the New York Times. Their concerts were typically informal, homey affairs which in later years had the sisters accompanied by an extended family of Montreal folk instrumentalists and singers including Kate’s son Rufus and daughter Martha, among other McGarrigle family members who often contributed to their performances.

The sisters were invested with the Order of Canada (1994), and in 1999 received the Women of Originality Award. In 2006 they received SOCAN’s lifetime achievement award. In January 2010 Kate McGarrigle died of cancer at age 63. Since Kate’s passing, the family has lead tribute concerts in London, Toronto and New York. 

… papà …

LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III

Prolific folk singer Loudon Wainwight III has earned a cult following with his witty, self-mocking style and humorous lyrics. The son of a writer and editor at Life magazine, Loudon began his career in the late ’60s, singing humorous and nakedly honest autobiographical songs.

Signed to Atlantic Records, he recorded Album I (1970) and Album II (1971), accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, before switching to Columbia Records for which he made the folk-rock Album III (1972), which featured his best known hit “Dead Skunk.” Subsequent releases such as Attempted Mustache (1973) and the half-live Unrequited (1975) did not continue his initial commercial success, though Wainwright’s humour and engaging stage persona made him a cult figure and a concert favourite.

Wainwright has also made many film and television appearances. His most notable role was Captain Calvin Spalding (the “singing surgeon”) on three episodes of M*A*S*H, but he has also had parts in films like The Aviator, Big Fish, Knocked Up and the TV series Undeclared.

Loudon has regularly communicated with his family in song; his son Rufus was the subject of two of Wainwright’s more famous releases, the breastfeeding ode “Rufus is a Tit Man” and the retrospective “A Father and a Son.” Rufus, in turn, covered his father’s “One Man Guy” on his second album Poses and wrote “Dinner at Eight” about a family dispute. While family ties between Loudon and his children have been complicated at times, both Rufus and Martha contributed backing vocals to his Grammy-winning 2009 release High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project.

… sorella… 

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT

Martha is the daughter of folk legends Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle and sister of Rufus Wainwright. Born in New York City and raised in Montreal, she spent her childhood immersed in music and often performed with her parents. She took the first step in her own recording career in 1998 when she contributed her song “Year of the Dragon” to her mother and aunt’s album The McGarrigle Hour. The same year she started singing back-up for her brother both live and on record.

After leaving college early, Martha moved to New York City and began work on her debut album. Produced by Martha and producer Brad Albetta in his downtown studio over a period of a year and a half, the end result was Martha Wainwright, a testament to her burning creativity, determination and strength of character. Martha and Brad later married, and she gave birth to their son in 2009.

Martha followed her self-titled release with the Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole EP. The response to BMFA was immediate and landed Martha on many year-end lists. Since then, Martha has released the 2008 studio effort I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, and 2009’s live album Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, à Paris: Martha Wainwright’s Piaf Record.

A dynamic performer, Martha has toured in Europe, Canada, the United States and Australia. In May 2004, she took part in the acclaimed Leonard Cohen tribute concert at Brighton’s Dome Concert Hall. Martha has supported artists such as Cyndi Lauper and Van Morrison and has been a regular opener for her brother Rufus on recent tours.