BIOGRAPHY
Robert "Mac" MacKenzie is an English and Gaelic folk singer, musician, poet, and essayist.
Mac has performed on a range of musical instruments over the years, including the Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Appalachian Dulcimer, 24-string “Cruite” (Gaelic for “Lyre”), Didjeridu, Native Flute, Tibetan Singing Bowls and various incarnations of things that can be hit, slapped, shaken and rattled. Mac writes and recites poetry in both English and Scottish Gaelic. He is a fluent Gaelic speaker and has a strong interest and preference for the old unaccompanied traditional Gaelic styles known as “Sean Nòs” (Gaelic for “old style”). He has a passion to expose the rich heritage and beauty of Gaelic song, literature and poetry to a wider audience.
His meandering musical journey as a singer and musician spans more than 30 years, taking him through the world of rock, blues-rock, folk-rock, folk, roots, Celtic, ethno-Celt, world-beat and traditional music. He is still very active writing and producing original tunes and songs and has released numerous recordings including: several originally penned Celtic and Ethno-Celt singles featuring the beautifully haunting sound of the Uilleann Pipes, singles featuring the native flute, “The Peace Project: Music For Prayer, Meditation, Movement and Healing,” and an EP recording with the Celtic ensemble, “An Realt” (Gaelic for “The Star”), including the heartwarming title track, “Dancing in the Morning.”
Mac also produces two blogs: 'Diary Of An Arts Farmer,' a growing portfolio of his poetry and essays and 'Among The White Lilies,' an online spiritual retreat of reflections, meditations and inspirational wisdom for ragamuffins and weary travellers.
Mac is a member of the American Federation of Musicians (Calgary Loc. 547) and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers (SOCAN).
Read more...