MUSIC
 |
| Island musician and recording engineer Ken MacCaull died unexpectedly in April. We asked a few people (of the many) who were close to him and worked with him—Marcella Richard, Nathan Wiley, Roland Beaulieu, and Philip MacLellan—to share a memory. |
Ken was a very special soul. Genius I used to call him. He’d raise up his big eye brows and laugh.
I started to work with Ken in a bar band called Neon Moon back in '96. I sang a French song with the band in the Evangeline area one night and he really liked the groove of the song and the response of the people. So we recorded it. Then we started to work on a French album. Now Ken didn't understand or speak any French, but he was gradually getting better at it. Even to the point that we wrote a few “French” songs together. He would write it in English and I would translate it in French. We were a great team. We eventually recorded three French albums which contained many hits on the Maritime French radio stations. His unique arrangements and sound influenced my solo musical career and is still being heard on the French airways today.
Ken understood everything in music and heard everything! You couldn’t get away with any bad notes around Ken. His ears were on all the time! He was a walking reference book. You could ask him anything about guitars, amps, gear, recording, artists, music, etc. He knew so much.
My band, which includes Tanya Bernard, Roland Beaulieu Wayne Robichaud and my sister Patricia Richard got together Sunday night [April 20] to talk about Ken. We had lots of stories and laughs to share. We have lost the great leader of the band, he will be missed.
All who knew Ken, were very fortunate to have crossed paths with him. He had many years of experience playing with great musicians across the country. When he moved back to PEI, the place he called home, he was very generous to share his knowledge and experience with everyone who wanted to listen and learn.
I was very lucky to have shared more than just music with Ken. We lived and shared our lives together for many years. I will cherish the memories forever.
—Marcella Richard
I had the opportunity to work with Ken since I moved here in 1997 mainly in a band setting, as well as some studio work. I was in Marcella Richard’s band (directed by Ken) since the beginning, first as their drummer, then guitar/mandolin/fiddle player, and most recently bass player.
In working with Ken, it immediately became obvious to me how high his standards were as a musician and director, something I only started to appreciate in the later years. I remember thinking that he was almost too fussy for little old PEI, but Ken always thought way beyond that scope... the man heard things, sometimes I thought he was crazy, but and he always knew what worked and what didn’t work. Maybe he couldn’t explain it all at the time, but he was always right.
I was always amazed at his patience, dedication and sense of humour with whatever he was working on.
I found myself many times picking his brain on anything from car repairs, to plumbing , and of course music...he seemed to have an answer for you no matter what, and, again, he was usually right.
I consider myself to be one of a few fortunate ones who had the chance to share the stage with such a great leader, and a wonderful player. I learned so much in that time from him. If you were a part of something with Ken, it was usually something special. My fondest memories as a musician were spent with Marcella’s band, a band that I always thought was the most professional and talented band I was ever in, and certainly the most fun.
—Roland Beaulieu
I met Ken about ten years ago at Westmanor, the studio he ran in Slemon Park. I did a series of demos there before I started the actual record. So I did my entire first record with him there, and the second record with him between Halifax and Charlottetown at the Power Post studios in the ATC.
I never would have gotten either record done if it hadn’t been for Ken stepping in and helping out so much…there were times when I ran out on money and Ken would say, let's press on and worry about that later. He coached my playing and singing and really brought a lot out of me that I didn’t realize was there. He was upfront and extremely honest. He had no worries about telling you that vocals take was horrible, or that guitar sounds like garbage. Made you feel all the better when you eventually got it right and he would perk up and smile.
He also had a great sense of humour and it made him fun to be around…which is a big deal when you’re talking about being locked in a little room with one other person for 8-10 hours a day. I remember times where we would get burned out, and we’d just hit the road and take a drive or go fishing or whatever. I remember him and Marcella one year hid chocolate eggs all over my front porch. Ken didn’t reveal to me that it was them that did it until weeks later.
Ken could play (and fix) any instrument, arrange, chart, figure out vocal harmonies, engineer, produce, edit, sync…etc. He could hear if something was slightly out of tune from a mile away. He had amazing ears for that stuff. He had the best work ethic and he was a great friend. I always thought of him as a big kid and he sure will be missed.
—Nathan Wiley
Ken and I worked together in the old fire hall in Slemon Park where we both had our own recording studios. It was the best of times. I watched him put a ton of albums out in just a few years. Then we got in to post production work with Katrina Walsh and Brad Fremlin. We worked around the clock at times and dreamed of talking mice when we did get some sleep. Brad described those days the best. “It was like going to Afghanistan every day except you didn’t have to drive as far.” Through it all Ken was the glue that kept the team together. Ken treated everyone with the respect they deserved and was one of the most encouraging people I have ever met. He has taught me so much and blessed so many other musicians on PEI with his talents and knowledge. When it comes to music and recording I will always find myself asking WWKMD (What Would Ken MacCaull Do).
—Philip MacLellan