The Mountain City Four were a
Canadian folk music
Canadian folk music has a long history, dating from the 16th and 17th century, mostly derived from the music of early settlers; much earlier for the music of indigenous people. Folk music thus differentiates between traditional and contemporary. ...
group, based in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
and active from 1963 to 1967. The group consisted of
Jack Nissenson
Jack Nissenson (1933-June 24, 2015 in Montreal) was a member of the Mountain City Four, a Canadian folk music group, based in Montreal and active in the 1960s. In addition to Nissenson, the group consisted of Peter Weldon, Kate McGarrigle and Anna ...
, Peter Weldon,
and
Anna McGarrigle
Anna McGarrigle, CM (born December 4, 1944) is a Canadian folk music singer and songwriter who recorded and performed with her sister, Kate McGarrigle, who died in 2010.
Early life
Anna McGarrigle studied at the École des beaux-arts de Montréa ...
.
They are primarily remembered for popularizing a number of songs by
Wade Hemsworth
Albert Wade Hemsworth (October 23, 1916 – January 19, 2002) was a Canadian folk music, folk singer and songwriter.Alan Hustak, "Canadian composer dies at 85". ''Calgary Herald'', January 20, 2002. Although he was not a prolific composer, h ...
, including the
National Film Board
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; french: Office national du film du Canada (ONF)) is Canada's public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary fi ...
animated short ''
The Log Driver's Waltz
The Log Driver's Waltz is a Canadian folk music, folk song, written by Wade Hemsworth.
''The Log Driver's Waltz'' is also a Canada, Canadian animated film from the National Film Board, released in 1979 as part of its Canada Vignettes series.
Song ...
'', as well as for Nissenson's recording of
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
's 1962
Finjan Club concert in Montreal.
History
The Mountain City Four formed in 1963 when the McGarrigle sisters were attending college in Montreal. The band performed in coffeehouses and for dances in the city. The participation of the Mountain City Four (as a group, and as individuals with others) during the early years of the Montreal Folk Workshop (launched 1965 at its original venue of Moose Hall, on Avenue du Parc) helped to promote this venue which became gathering place for emerging folk musicians, lasting well into the next decade.
In 1966 the band recorded music for the documentary film ''
Helicopter Canada
''Helicopter Canada'' (aka ''Hélicoptère Canada'') is a 1966 Canadian documentary film produced by the National Film Board of Canada and directed by Eugene Boyko. The film features aerial photography of all ten of Canada's provinces. ''Helico ...
'', which was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary film.
See also
*
List of bands from Canada
This is a list of bands from Canada. Only bands appear here; individual musicians are listed at list of Canadian musicians.
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See also
...
References
{{Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Musical groups established in 1963
Musical groups disestablished in 1967
Canadian folk music groups
Musical groups from Montreal
1963 establishments in Quebec
1967 disestablishments in Canada