Death
McGarrigle was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and established the Kate McGarrigle Fund at the McGill University Health Centre, which she set up in 2008 to raise awareness of sarcoma, a rare cancer that affects connective tissue such as bone, muscle, nerves and cartilage.
She died of clear-cell sarcoma on January 18, 2010, aged 63 at her home in Montreal. Her sister Anna wrote on their website:
- "Sadly our sweet Kate had to leave us last night. She departed in a haze of song and love surrounded by family and good friends. She is irreplaceable and we are broken-hearted. Til we meet again dear sister."
She made her last public appearance, with Rufus and Martha Wainwright, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, just six weeks before her death. The show raised $55,000 for the Kate McGarrigle Fund.
On June 12, 2010, the Meltdown Festival staged a tribute concert in her honor, organized by Richard Thompson. The concert included performances by her daughter Martha Wainwright, son, Rufus Wainwright, sister Anna McGarrigle, Neil Tennant, Nick Cave, Emmylou Harris, Richard and Linda Thompson, and longtime friends and musical collaborators Chaim Tannenbaum and Joel Zifkin . Her close friend Emmylou Harris wrote "Darlin' Kate" in her memory - this appears on "Hard Bargain".
On May 12 and 13, 2011, at New York City's Town Hall, a "Celebration of Kate McGarrigle" was held. Among the participating artists honoring her at these concerts were: Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Anna McGarrigle, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Antony Hegarty, Jimmy Fallon, Krystle Warren, Justin Vivian Bond, Teddy Thompson, Jenni Muldaur writer Michael Ondaatje and longtime friends and McGarrigle sidemen Chaim Tannenbaum and Joel Zifkin. The celebration was curated by Joe Boyd and filmed by Lian Lunson.
Read more about this topic: Kate McGarrigle
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