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Outlook: Rufus Wainwright: My music and my mother

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Rufus Wainwright: My music and my mother

05/12/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Outlook, Rufus Wainwright: My music and my mother

Born into folk music royalty, Rufus took special inspiration from his mum Kate McGarrigle

The life and times of singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, who took special inspiration from his mother, the celebrated Canadian folk musician Kate McGarrigle.

Rufus Wainwright was once described by Elton John as 'the greatest songwriter on the planet'. He's the son of two North American folk music legends – Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle but went on to forge his own prolific career. He's got 12 albums under his belt including the Grammy-nominated Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, where he sang Over the Rainbow with his mother Kate on stage, a song they’ve performed since his childhood. Rufus was especially close to his mum, early on in his songwriting career he looked to her for advice and approval, and her support helped him through a destructive crystal meth addiction. They sang together often, right up until she died from cancer in 2010. A longer version of this episode was first broadcast on 8th July 2020.

Rufus' latest album is called Unfollow the Rules.

Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Maryam Maruf

Picture: Rufus Wainwright with his mother Kate McGarrigle
Credit: Getty Images

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