Bruce mackinnon rita macneil biography

Canadian singer-songwriter (1944–2013)

Musical artist

Rita MacNeilCM ONS (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer and songwriter from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island.

Bruce mackinnon rita macneil biography

Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray the following year, although she had hits on the country and adult contemporary charts throughout her career. In the United Kingdom, MacNeil's song "Working Man" was a No. 11 hit in 1990.^[1]

In 1990, she was the bestselling country artist in Canada, outselling even Garth Brooks and Clint Black.

She was also the only female singer ever to have three separate albums chart in the same year in Australia.^[2]

Through her career MacNeil received five honorary degrees, released 24 albums, won three Juno Awards, a SOCAN National Achievement Award,^[3] four CCMA awards, eleven ECMA awards, was inducted into the Canadian Coun