Cyril MacPhee

CYRIL MACPHEE Cyril MacPhee’s professional musical career began to soar in 1995 as the lead singer of the Power Folk group “Brakin’ Traditions which contained both electric guitar, fiddle and drums’. This singer, songwriter and skilled guitarist has since released two solo albums, the first entitled “When I say I do” and the second entitled “Back on Track”. Most of the music has a country-folk sound much like that of Gordon Lightfoot whereas other songs have a pop sound. MacPhee has versatility in his music that is truly unique; He can take on a gentle melodic sound or a near-rock sound like Bob Lind. It is a welcomed treat to hear music with such a rich blend of folk, country and Celtic music.
MacPhee’s musical influences are extremely varied, “I loved everything from the Beatles to Harry Bibbs, a famous Newfoundland accordion player” and his mélange of styles shows through in his songwriting and musical style. Growing up just outside of St. Peter’s in a musical family, the young musician was immersed in Cape Breton ceilidhs and heavily influenced by his father’s Scottish and Irish fiddling as well as Country, Blue Grass and Folk singers like Stan Rodgers.

He has been nominated for two ECMA’s in 1998 for his first Album, “When I say I Do” and this rich tenor has toured with the famous American folk artist John Prine and has toured the Eastern Seaboard as well as Ontario and Quebec.
His love for music and his natural ability has been passed on to the up and coming generation. MacPhee’s 15-year-old daughter Haley has recently done a live recording for CBC at the Celtic Centre for the Arts in Judique . This young talented singer has proved herself to be just as engaging and talented as her father at the age of 13, accompanied him in his 2006 duo with Rob MacLean.