Rita MacNeil holds her ECMA lifetime achievement award on Feb. 20, 2005 in Sydney, N.S. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
April 17, 2013 - 1:43 AM
SYDNEY, N.S. - Canadian singer Rita MacNeil, known as Cape Breton's first lady of song, has died at the age of 68.
Her website says she died Tuesday night from complications following surgery.
MacNeil, who was born in Big Pond, Cape Breton in 1944, recorded more than 24 albums during her career.
Some of her most popular songs include, “Working Man,” “Flying on Your Own,” ”Reason to Believe,” “I’ll Accept The Rose Tonight” and “Home I’ll Be.”
MacNeil won the first of three Junos in 1987 at the age of 42 as most promising female vocalist.
She also won numerous East Coast Music Awards, Country Music Awards, and a Gemini for her CBC variety show 'Rita & Friends' that ran from 1994 to 1997.
MacNeil was a Member of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013