Martha joined her established musical family in making music her life in the 1990’s with her own well-received albums. She was smitten after making appearances on stage with her brother Rufus, who as she tells us today, was much more driven at an earlier age.
Martha’s mother Kate McGarrigle, along with her sister Anna, made a series of wonderful albums for over 20 years starting with their 1975 debut which received rave reviews from The New York Times and Rolling Stone. They are probably best known for Linda Ronstadt’s cover of their song “Heart Like A Wheel.”
Kate McGarrigle died from cancer in January of 2011.
After Kate’s death her family and noted friends including Norah Jones, Teddy Thompson and even Jimmy Fallon appeared at a series of tribute concerts in Toronto, New York and London. Kate’s life is remembered in a film and a double CD called Sing Me The Songs: Celebrating The Works Of Kate McGarrigle (2CD)
. Proceeds from the concerts, the DVD’s and CD’s benefit The Kate Mcgarrigle Foundation for cancer research.
Teddy Thompson / "Saratoga Summer Song" / Sing Me the Songs
Martha Wainwright / "I Am A Diamond (live)
Martha Wainwright / "Talk To Me Mendicino" (live)
