Quick Facts
Biography
Gene MacLellan (February 2, 1938 – January 19, 1995) was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Prince Edward Island. Among his notable compositions were "Snowbird", made famous by Anne Murray, "Put Your Hand in the Hand, "The Call", "Pages of Time" and "Thorn in My Shoe". Elvis Presley, Joan Baez and Bing Crosby were among the many artists who recorded MacLellan's songs.
MacLellan was born in Val-d'Or, Quebec, and grew up in Toronto, Ontario. He would eventually move to Atlantic Canada, settling in Pownal, Prince Edward Island.
He won a Juno Award in 1971 as best songwriter. MacLellan was a frequent guest on Don Messer's Jubilee and later a regular cast member of Singalong Jubilee with Anne Murray and Bill Langstroth.
MacLellan committed suicide by hanging in Summerside, on January 19, 1995. He was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame later that year.
His daughter Catherine MacLellan is a folk singer-songwriter.
Discography
Albums
| 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) | — |
Singles
| 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 |