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Paul Quarrington, Canadian Musician and Author, Dead at 56
- Posted on Jan 21st 2010 3:30PM by Jonathan Dekel
Award-winning Canadian author and musician Paul Quarrington has died of lung cancer. He was 56.
"It is comforting to know that he didn't suffer," reads the memorial announcement on Quarrington's website. "He was calm and quiet, holding hands with those who were closest to him."
Quarrington, who lost his struggle with lung cancer in the early hours of January 21, was best known for his 1989 book, 'Whale Music' -- about a reclusive Brian Wilson-esque rock star -- which won the prestigious Governor General's Award for Fiction and was described by Penthouse Magazine as "the best novel written about rock 'n 'roll."
He spent much of his career writing about his three passions: music, hockey and fishing, and infused his novels -- including the award-winning 'King Leary,' 'Galveston,' and 'The Ravine' -- with the same sharp wit and humour that defined the man himself.
Born and raised in Toronto, Quarrington first gained notice as a musician with his 1979 Canadian hit, 'Baby and the Blues,' recorded with partner Martin Worthy.
He began writing novels at age 25 while playing bass for the legendary Toronto rock band Joe Hall and the Continental Drift, and would continue to balance his literary and musical worlds through country-blues ensemble Porkbelly Futures and his lyrical work with the Rheostatics.
A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre, Quarrington also had a successful career as a screenwriter. Adapting his own 'Whale Music' in 1994, which was nominated for several Genie awards -- the Canadian equivalent of the Oscars -- he also wrote the Gemini award-winning screenplay for the 1991 film 'Perfectly Normal,' as well as the screenplay for the Deepa Mehta directed 'Camilla,' and was a writer for several popular television shows, including 'Due South.'
The prolific Quarrington was also an accomplished playwright and journalist, penning several scripts for the stage, including 'The Invention of Poetry' and 'Dying is Easy' and winning three National Magazine Awards.
Diagnosed with lung cancer last spring, Quarrington worked at a fevered pace to squeeze as much as he could into his remaining time. His final months found him hard at work on his first solo CD, a third Porkbelly Futures release, as well as a memoir titled 'Cigar Box Banjo.'
Even as his health deteriorated, Quarrington never lost his trademark good humour and joie de vivre. "I [thought] I was one of the luckiest guys alive. And when I got the diagnosis, I thought, 'Well, my luck has just run out,'" he said in an interview with the CBC last year. "But actually, it hasn't really. You find out how lucky you are in terms of friends and people around you."
He leaves two daughters, Carson and Flannery.
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Biffer
Didn't anyone notice at Mr Quarrington sang in bands? Until recently, bands mostly played in bars and clubs where the customers smoked like chimneys! Singers take in huge amounts of air in order to sing. Could this incredible source of the deadly second-hand smoke contributed to his condition? Singers more that waiters, waitresses, barmen and even music sidemen fill their lungs over and over from the top to the bottom in order to sing. It is a shame that it has taken so long to ban smoking from these places. Perhaps we will now see a reduction in the early deaths of these fine artists.
January 24 2010 at 8:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Bobbi
@Courtenay--Wow! Not only do you ASSume and judge Mr. Quarrington to have been a smoker (did you know him personally?) but you are also apparently in charge of being the judge and juror of folks who may not be quite as perfect, grammatically speaking, as you are. Aren't YOU special. Does "Spinner" pay you for that or is it strictly from the kindness of your cold heart? Back on topic: Rest in peace Paul. You are sorely missed and forever loved.
January 22 2010 at 5:39 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Lesley Munday
Paul was a funny author. My favourite book is "Home Game" about a bunch of misfits playing a baseball game. I went to elementary school with his older brother.
January 22 2010 at 2:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
veemee69
It is a smoking thing! If he was a smoker and died of lung cancer, people, especially young people, should know that. If he wasn't, like Chris Reeves's wife, they should know that, as well. That he was an accomplished musician is immaterial. And for those of you who can't spell, capitalize or punctuate, go back to school.
January 22 2010 at 2:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
lita
I would be lying if I said that the same thought didn't cross my mind. But the sad truth of the matter is, more and more people are being diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked. (One well-known victim was Christopher Reeve's wife, Dana.) In the end, it really doesn't matter whether or not he smoked; it was a life cut short and his premature passing is a sad event.
January 22 2010 at 1:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
ctbhoneybee
Maybe he smoked, maybe he didn't; but look at what he did with his life people!
He was an award winning author, screenwriter, musician. Look him up on the BBC show "For What It's Worth" Yesterday they played an interview with him last year--what a talented and thoughtful fellow. He loved life and all that he could do!
Smoking is bad for you, but not realizing how blessed you are and embracing LIFE,
THAT is bad for you too! Paul worked up until the end... he wanted to use his talents for as long as he could. He was thankful for all he had experienced in his life. May God bless his family and friends in their time of grief. Paul is at peace.
Brian Workman
1 reply to Brian Workman's comment
Who cares whether he smoked or chewed or snuffed? Those who need to know are only after the ugly details. Like "looky loos" "Rubber Neckers" driving by a car accident and hoping to see the blood mess. Shame for Shame. He was a good man and should be left to rest in peace.
January 22 2010 at 12:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Bobbi
@Brian Workman-- I absolutely agree with you Brian, and I am of a mind that all the people who mention smoking at the very beginning of their comment (or any place else in the comment in a negative light) are more than likely those non-smokers who have somehow gotten the ridiculous impression that THEY are better than people who DO smoke, and those kinds of holier than thou attitudes they exude make me sick and really ashamed of them. A WHOLE LOT of people started smoking when no one knew about any dangers associated with it OR how addictive it could be. I am not a smoker, only by sheer luck, or as they say, "There but for the grace of God go I," but that same God never appointed me or anyone else on the planet as judge, juror and/or executioner of smokers either, so I will not pretend that I am better than ANY of my fellow human beings because that is one right. I will NEVER have, nor will any other living mortal, receive that assignment, as it is God's place to judge and his alone and I cannot imagine God EVER keeping ANYONE from going to Heaven just because they smoked. I, in fact, would hate to have to answer to him at the pearly gaits when he asks the inevitable question of "What gave YOU the right to pass judgement to the point of being cruel, on your fellow men and women of planet earth who became addicted to a plant that I, your God, created and put on earth to grow along side all the other living flora that grew out of the soil of what was then the good earth?" I really don't think He created it to harm mankind, but he gave mankind curiosity and ingenuity and so it was done. Blessings and condolences to the family, friends and fans of Paul Quarrington, and whether he smoked or not is totally irrelevant.
January 22 2010 at 5:09 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
jumpupspinaround
2 replies to jumpupspinaround's comment
ugh ... lung cancar statistics clearly indicate that it probobly is a smoking thing ...
January 22 2010 at 12:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
joeycaptjoey
can people really be this dense?
January 22 2010 at 1:04 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Kev
Grim, how do you explain non smokers dying from lung cancer and smokers who died in their old age who never got lung cancer! I believe smoking is used as a scapegoat because the doctors have no idea as to what really causes cancer.
January 22 2010 at 8:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
joeycaptjoey
what does smoking have to do with this time of sorrow? you anti smoking people make me ill. p.s. just in case you are wondering i dont smoke
January 21 2010 at 11:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
robert
3 replies to robert's comment
first thing i think is was he a long time smoker - like george harrison - when will everyone quit smoking ? the price of a pack should be enough of a reason
January 21 2010 at 11:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
19 Comments