Gene MacLellan

• Name — Gene MacLellan • Born — 2 February 1938 • Birthplace — Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada • Died — 19 January 1995 • Place of death — Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada • Genre — Country • Occupation — Singer-songwriter • Years Active — 1950s–1995 • Website — http: www.genemaclellan.com • Instruments — Guitar, vocals

MacLellan was born in Val-d'Or, Quebec, in 1938. He grew up in Toronto in a working class Presbyterian family. As a child, MacLellan contracted polio. MacLellan was one of the founding members of The Consuls, a Toronto rock band formed in 1956. He played lead and rhythm guitar and sang with the group between 1956 and 1960. In 1963, MacLellan was injured in a car accident in which his father died. MacLellan suffered scarring on the left side of his face as a result of the accident. In 1964, he moved to Pownal, Prince Edward Island, where he lived with his aunt and worked as a farm labourer and mental hospital attendant.

While living in Prince Edward Island, MacLellan began writing songs, including "Snowbird", which was inspired by his observation of a flock of snow buntings on a beach. He made his first television appearance in 1970 on Don Messer's Jubilee. In the same year, he became a regular performer on Singalong Jubilee with Anne Murray and Bill Langstroth. In 1970, Anne Murray's recording of "Snowbird" became a hit in Canada and the United States. BMI recognized MacLellan as the first Canadian lyricist to have a song broadcast over one million times in the United States. MacLellan won a Juno Award in 1971 as Canadian composer of the year, while Anne Murray was named best female vocalist. Anne Murray also recorded another MacLellan song, "Just Bidin' My Time", which was issued on the same 45 RPM single as "Snowbird". MacLellan released his self-titled album in 1970, which included "The Call", another of his compositions that became a hit for Anne Murray. His shy and introspective nature made public performances difficult for him. He made his first cross-country tour in early 1972. In Toronto, he played at Massey Hall, the Canadian National Exhibition, and the Riverboat coffee house. In 1971, Canadian band Ocean's recording of MacLellan's "Put Your Hand in the Hand" became a hit, reaching number two on the pop charts in the United States and number ten in Canada. Over 100 performers, including Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, and Bing Crosby have recorded "Put Your Hand in the Hand". MacLellan released a second album, If It's Alright with You, in 1977. In 1979, he recorded Gene and Marty, an album of gospel songs, with his fellow Prince Edward Islander Marty Reno. From 1980 until his death in 1995, MacLellan performed only in small noncommercial venues such as churches, prisons and nursing homes. He was active in "Cons for Christ", a Christian organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of prison inmates in Canada.

MacLellan suffered depression throughout his life. During his later years, his condition worsened, leading to hospitalization at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Shortly after his release from the hospital, MacLellan died by suicide at his home in Summerside, on January 19, 1995.

• Year — Album — CAN • 1970 — Gene MacLellan — 80 • Street Corner Preacher — — • 1977 — If It's Alright with You — — • 1979 — Gene & Marty (with Marty Reno) — — • 1997 — Lonesome River (posthumous compilation) — —

• Year — Single — Chart Positions — Album • CAN Country — CAN AC — CAN • 1970 — "The Call" — 15 — — — 91 — Gene MacLellan • "Thorn in My Shoe" — 20 — — — — • 1971 — "Isle of Saint Jean" — — — 8 — 84 • "Pages of Time" — 26 — — — — • 1972 — "Lonesome River" — 16 — — — — — singles only • "I Get Drunk on Monday" — — — 10 — — • 1977 — "Shilo Song" — 14 — — — — — If It's Alright with You