Kate and Jane McGarrigle's sister, Anna McGarrigle was born to a musically-inclined family. Their formative years were spent singing, taking piano lessons, and learning to play a wide array of instruments. In the sixties, Anna and Kate became staples of the Montréal folk scene. Their international career took off the following decade, after Maria Muldaur and Linda Rondstadt recorded some of their songs. Fuelled by their new-found recognition, the McGarrigles released their first eponymous effort in 1975, followed by a handful of well-received albums. Having dedicated most of the eighties to family life, Anna and Kate re-emerged at the turn of the nineties. In 1998, the two sisters recorded The McGarrigle Hour with friends and family, followed by The McGarrigle Chrtistmas Hour in 2005.