17 Facts About Gene MacLellan

Gene MacLellan was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Prince Edward Island.

Gene MacLellan grew up in Toronto in a working class Presbyterian family.

Gene MacLellan was one of the founding members of The Consuls, a Toronto rock band formed in 1956.

Gene MacLellan played lead and rhythm guitar and sang with the group between 1956 and 1960.

In 1963, Gene MacLellan was injured in a car accident in which his father died.

Gene MacLellan suffered scarring on the left side of his face as a result of the accident.

Gene MacLellan made his first television appearance in 1970 on Don Messer's Jubilee.

Gene MacLellan won a Juno Award in 1971 as Canadian composer of the year, while Anne Murray was named best female vocalist.

Gene MacLellan released his self-titled album in 1970, which included "The Call", another of his compositions that became a hit for Anne Murray.

Gene MacLellan made his first cross-country tour in early 1972.

In 1971, Canadian band Ocean's recording of Gene MacLellan's "Put Your Hand in the Hand" became a hit, reaching number two on the pop charts in the United States and number ten in Canada.

Gene MacLellan released a second album, If It's Alright with You, in 1977.

From 1980 until his death in 1995, Gene MacLellan performed only in small noncommercial venues such as churches, prisons and nursing homes.

Gene MacLellan was active in "Cons for Christ", a Christian organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of prison inmates in Canada.

Shortly after his release from the hospital, Gene MacLellan died by suicide at his home in Summerside, on January 19,1995.

Gene MacLellan was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1995.

Gene MacLellan believes that her father would appreciate the tribute.